2012 GMC Terrain Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2012 GMC Terrain, and owners have filed 364 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2012 GMC Terrain
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Headlights (exterior lighting)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number…
Remedy: Dealers will install headlamp appliques, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222363740.
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Ignition (electrical system) and power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…
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Power adjust (seats)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014.…
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Pressure monitoring and regulating systems (tires)
General motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 chevrolet equinox and GMC terrain vehicles, manufactured from july 18, 2011, through september 6, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 138, "tire pressure monitoring system" (TPMS). The tire pressure monitoring system is…
Remedy: GM dealers will update the body control module free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about november 9, 2011. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
364 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 GMC Terrain have filed 364 complaints with NHTSA; 17 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 19 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 80,599 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 67 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My car has started stalling and dying when i slow down, take off or when idling. No power when accelerated, and the smell of exhaust comes into my car. I was making a turn from a red light and my car”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 2, 2026 · Engine
“The engine blew. This was already the 2nd engine in the car. Oil consumption. Metal in the oil. No signs. Needs new engine”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 9, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 GMC Terrain (Terrain AWD, Terrain FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–26 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–22 / 23–31 |
| Fuel | Gasoline or E85, Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.4/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd |
Compare GMC Terrain model years
Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Terrain model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 GMC Terrain | 3 | 290 |
| 2011 GMC Terrain | 4 | 386 |
| 2012 GMC Terrain | 4 | 364 |
| 2013 GMC Terrain | 3 | 364 |
| 2014 GMC Terrain | 2 | 297 |
| 2015 GMC Terrain | 3 | 298 |
| 2016 GMC Terrain | 2 | 152 |
| 2017 GMC Terrain | 1 | 134 |
| 2018 GMC Terrain | 5 | 223 |
| 2019 GMC Terrain | 3 | 185 |
| 2020 GMC Terrain | 2 | 197 |
| 2021 GMC Terrain | 2 | 36 |
| 2022 GMC Terrain | 2 | 60 |
| 2023 GMC Terrain | 2 | 40 |
| 2024 GMC Terrain | 1 | 52 |
| 2025 GMC Terrain | 0 | 13 |
| 2026 GMC Terrain | 1 | 33 |
Checking a specific 2012 GMC Terrain
How do I know if my 2012 GMC Terrain has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2012 GMC Terrain; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V511000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other GMC models
- Sierra 15008,930 complaints
- Acadia5,569 complaints
- Yukon4,989 complaints
- Sierra3,937 complaints
- Jimmy2,720 complaints
- Envoy2,459 complaints
- Yukon XL2,417 complaints
- Sierra 25001,821 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.