2016 GMC Terrain Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2016 GMC Terrain, and owners have filed 152 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2016 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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Labels (equipment) and tires
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles manufactured October 16, 2015. The certification labels may have incorrect tire/rim size and cold tire pressure information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1050, or GMC customer…
152 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 GMC Terrain have filed 152 complaints with NHTSA; 9 describe a crash. Reports cite 9 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 59,988 miles. Complaints peaked in 2022 with 23 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The timing chain snapped and caused the engine to seize on our 2016 GMC Terrain 2.4L SLC-1 SUV/Truck. Since this has occurred multiple times on the 2.4L engines in this model from 2012 - 2016, we beli”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 14, 2026 · Engine
“For an undetermined amount of time- many months for certain, I have been unable to get the key removed from the ignition when the car is shut off and placed in the locked position. I am forced to star”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 9, 2026 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2016 GMC Terrain (Terrain AWD, Terrain FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–26 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–22 / 23–31 |
| Fuel | Gasoline or E85, Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.4/3.6 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 2016 GMC Terrain
How do I know if my 2016 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 2016 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 16V449000).
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.