Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 GMC Terrain. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Child Seat Anchors May Not Function/FMVSS 225
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.
Tire Tread Separation
- Summary
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with certain Hankook tires. The tires may have been manufactured with an insufficient amount of curative agent, which could cause tread separation.
- Consequence
- Tread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the tire DOT numbers, and replace any affected tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782; and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212343560.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (36)
36 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 36 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 10 | 27.8% |
| Power train | 8 | 22.2% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 22.2% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 19.4% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 8.3% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 8.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 5.6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 5.6% |
| Lane departure | 2 | 5.6% |
How 2021 compares with other Terrain years
Best and worst Terrain years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 134 | 1 |
| 2018 | 223 | 5 |
| 2019 | 185 | 3 |
| 2020 | 197 | 2 |
| 2021 | 36 | 2 |
| 2022 | 60 | 2 |
| 2023 | 40 | 2 |
| 2024 | 52 | 1 |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 |
| 2026 | 33 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 GMC Terrain suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 27 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 329 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 27 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 30 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 25 / 28 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Terrain for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 GMC Terrain FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 GMC Terrain have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 23V339000 (latch), 21V612000 (tire). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 GMC Terrain problems?
Owners filed 36 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (10), Power train (8), Service brakes (8) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 GMC Terrain get?
EPA rates the 1.5 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic version at 25 city, 30 highway and 27 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 GMC Terrain get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 GMC Terrain suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (18.5% rollover risk).
How does the 2021 Terrain compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 GMC Terrain model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (36) and the 2018 the most (223). The 2021 drew 36. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.