YearToAvoid

2023 GMC Terrain Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#13 most-complained of 16 Terrain years

The 2023 GMC Terrain has a Complaint Index of 20, ranking 13th worst out of 16 model years, earning a 'Best' verdict relative to other Terrains. It has 39 complaints, 2 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls.

Complaints
39
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
24 city / 28.5 hwy

Top 2023 GMC Terrain problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Fuel System21 (54%)
  2. Engine16 (41%)
  3. Electrical System7 (18%)
  4. Other7 (18%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain7 (18%)
  6. Lane Departure4 (10%)
  7. Airbags2 (5%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (5%)
  9. Steering1 (3%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of motive power with a check engine light and messages like 'Engine Power Reduced,' often diagnosed as fuel injector or high-pressure fuel pump failure.
  • Some describe the vehicle stalling or shutting off at a stop or low speed, then requiring the Push to Start button to be pressed multiple times before restarting.
  • One owner reported the steering wheel locking up completely during a low-speed turn, causing the vehicle to roll into a ditch.
  • Owners describe the transmission slipping and jerking out of gear, with a software update failing to resolve the issue.
  • A lane departure system reportedly failed to warn of nearby obstacles even at very low speed, including near a piece of wood at the edge of a road.
  • One owner reported an engine rear main seal leak that led to a possible engine replacement.
2023 GMC Terrain complaints: complaints filed per month10Oct 2023Apr 2024Dec 2024Jun 2025Nov 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026
69 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2023 to Sep 2026; peak May 2026 (10).

2023 GMC Terrain recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V339000May 11, 2023Other668,187 vehicles

    Child seat:vehicle latch anchor

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

    Risk: The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232403240.

  2. NHTSA 22V929000Dec 15, 2022Airbags9 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with ventilated front passenger seats. The Occupant Classification System may not properly disable the front passenger air bag when there is a small child or child restraint detected in the seat.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, a front passenger air bag that deploys with a child or infant in the front passenger seat can increase their risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger presence system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222388911.

2023 GMC Terrain fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
28.5 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2023 compared with other Terrain years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Best035226.5
2022Best760226.5
2023Best2039226
2024Good3349125.5
2025Best1313026

All GMC Terrain years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 GMC Terrain reliable?
Compared with other Terrain model years, the 2023 ranks well: it has a Complaint Index of 20 and ranks 13th worst out of 16 years tracked, giving it a 'Best' verdict relative to other Terrains.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 GMC Terrain?
NHTSA complaints show Fuel System issues lead at 54% of complaints (21 complaints, median mileage 35,600), followed by Engine problems at 41% (16 complaints, median mileage 34,000).
Does the 2023 GMC Terrain have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2023 Terrain: one for excessive powder coating on rear-seat LATCH anchorage bars, and one for an airbag Occupant Classification System that may not disable the front passenger airbag properly. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2023 Terrain compare to the worst Terrain years?
The 2023 model's Complaint Index of 20 is far below the worst year, 2011, which has a Complaint Index of 100. The 2023 ranks 13th worst of 16 years, meaning it performs better than most other Terrain model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.