Problem Lookup › GMC › Terrain › 2023
Car problem report
2023 GMC Terrain problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2023 GMC Terrain has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 2safety recalls
- 41owner complaints
- 2crash reports
- 1fire report
- 1injury reported
41 complaints, against an average of 176 for the other 14 GMC Terrain model years.
Every GMC Terrain model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2023 GMC Terrain?
The components named most often in the 41 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2023 GMC Terrain owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 41 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2023 GMC Terrain stall, lose power or shut off while driving?17 owners · 41.5%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2023 GMC Terrain?13 owners · 31.7%
- Why does my 2023 GMC Terrain smell of fuel or gas?4 owners · 9.8%
- Why does my 2023 GMC Terrain idle rough, misfire or hesitate?4 owners · 9.8%
- Why won't my 2023 GMC Terrain start?3 owners · 7.3%
- Has the 2023 GMC Terrain had engine failures?3 owners · 7.3%
- Does the 2023 GMC Terrain have emissions system or DPF problems?3 owners · 7.3%
Has the 2023 GMC Terrain been recalled?
2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
What do 2023 GMC Terrain owners report?
12 of the 41 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
My 2023 GMC Terrain has experienced two separate incidents of complete loss of motive power/engine propulsion while being driven. The vehicle suddenly loses the ability to accelerate and maintain normal propulsion, creating a serious safety risk in traffic. The first occurrence was on August 8, 2026. The vehicle was subsequently diagnosed and repaired by an authorized Chevrolet dealership with General Motors involvement. After those repairs were completed and the vehicle was returned to me, the same loss-of-propulsion symptom occurred again on September 26, 2026, approximately two weeks after…
I purchased this vehicle two weeks ago. It was my first time driving it since I bought it home from the dealer. I was on the highway driving about 55 mph in the left lane. All of a sudden the car started to slow down on its own going down to 15 mph without knowing what was happening. I tried to ease my way to the left and was almost hit by multiple vehicles. Once I got to the left lane the vehicle stopped running. I couldn’t start it. I noticed a pool of liquid on the right side of the vehicle. I also started to detect a strong smell of gasoline. I had to get towed off the road by calling 911…
Harness for the airbag gave out. Puts the passenger at risk. Confirmed by service members at Rodenroth Motors Inc. in Sault Ste Marie MI. Message said service "Restraint system". There was no official incident date. One day whenever somebody sat in the passenger side the warning would appear.
adaptive cruise disengaging alert on dash- no cars or weather conditions to induce this. loss of power and bucking on highway( near accident caused) catostostrophic sudden loss of power engine/transmission failure while mechanic driving resulting in car towed back to dealer. loss of power multiple times causing near accidents. sudden jolting at stop light causing car to propel forward requiered both feet on brake pedal to stop. 4 episodes of near collision 1st altert started 04/4/2024 adaptive cruise light on dash 14,700 miles on vehicle 5 episodes continued and now car is still at dealership…
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated and failed to properly accelerate. The service transmission and service fuel management system messages were displayed, and the check engine warning light was flashing with several other unknown warnings illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and while test-driving the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and an engineer…
I have had 2 different instances where my vehicle stops in the middle of a busy intersection or traffic and have no warning what so ever. Vehicle just shuts off and I am not able to turn back on to move out of the way. First time I got it repaired it was related to the fuel pump and now I am waiting to hear back from my mechanic to see what the issue is but so far it is an indication of the fuel pump as well. Both times I required help from law enforcement because vehicle shut off in the middle of the road and safety to myself and other drivers was an issue until tow truck arrived to move my…
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and the engine stalled. The contact attempted to drive the vehicle to the shoulder of the road, the engine seized. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel pump. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic where…
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, the message "Engine Power Reduced" was displayed, and the vehicle lost power. The vehicle stalled on three separate occasions. The vehicle was able to restart each time after approximately 15 minutes of waiting, but the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and DTC: P228C, P0089, and P006C were retrieved, and the contact was informed that the fuel pump and fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The…
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact was informed by his wife that while attempting to accelerate from being stationary, the vehicle was shaking abnormally and hesitated before accelerating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed but the cause of failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer opened a case for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.
Took dealer 3/26 for Sam issue Engine Power reduced after already cause me hit curb. Got it out 4/1/26 Now 4/5/26 it happened again same codes after they claimed they fixed it. Also keep having Emergency services come on a caused my dashboard out. My issues is car keeps stalling losing power. Same codes as week ago after dealer fix. Also 4 time took for noises in my car from passenger side. They keep telling me they can’t replicate it, but you can clearly see where the door is not lined up. This has been going on for over 30,000 miles for that. Like some of these issues have been going on…
Out of nowhere and driving this morning, my engine reduced power came on. Then I started losing power in the car then it died on me once out of nowhere. I managed to make it home an hour and a half later, but that could’ve got me killed stopped by AutoZone since dealerships closed today and it tells me that it’s code P228C, P0089 fuel pump. And then last night my emergency service calling came on which one I looked it up so something to do with OnStar and could be a module so I’m not sure what that is. And then you add on the fact all the sudden in the last 24 hours, my screen keeps going in…
My son was making a left onto a freeway on ramp after traffic cleared and the steering wheel completely locked up resulting in him going over the curb and rolling completely over in a steep ditch. This occurred at a low speed (no more than 25mph), confirmed by the Life369 app. My son's description was that it felt like the wheels were against a wall and the wheel wouldn't turn even though he was using both hands in an attempt to turn. My son said there was no warning lights or any other indication that he noticed, other than the complete locking up of the steering. The resulting rollover into…
2023 GMC Terrain: questions owners ask
Is the 2023 GMC Terrain reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 GMC Terrain; the most common categories were fuel/propulsion system (16, 39%), engine (15, 36.6%), power train (8, 19.5%). There are 2 safety recalls. 2 complaints mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 1 injury was reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 GMC Terrain?
Across 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are fuel/propulsion system (39% of complaints), engine (36.6% of complaints), power train (19.5% of complaints), electrical system (17.1% of complaints), fuel system (14.6% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2023 GMC Terrain have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2023 GMC Terrain; the most recent (campaign 23V339000, 2023-05-11) concerns Child Seat: Vehicle Latch Anchor. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2023 GMC Terrain stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
17 of the 41 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 GMC Terrain (41.5%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Vehicle stalled while driving and would not restart. Strong gasoline smell present and on ground. Third occurrence. Vehicle stalled while driving at on busy road (safety issue both times). Strong raw gas smell. Would not crank afterward." (NHTSA complaint 11738493, May 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2023 GMC Terrain?
13 of the 41 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 GMC Terrain (31.7%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Vehicle stalled while driving and would not restart. Strong gasoline smell present and on ground. Third occurrence. Vehicle stalled while driving at on busy road (safety issue both times). Strong raw gas smell. Would not crank afterward." (NHTSA complaint 11738493, May 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2023 GMC Terrain smell of fuel or gas?
4 of the 41 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 GMC Terrain (9.8%) describe a fuel or gasoline smell, or a fuel leak. One owner wrote: "Vehicle stalled while driving and would not restart. Strong gasoline smell present and on ground. Third occurrence. Vehicle stalled while driving at on busy road (safety issue both times). Strong raw gas smell. Would not crank afterward." (NHTSA complaint 11738493, May 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2023 GMC Terrain idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
4 of the 41 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 GMC Terrain (9.8%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "GM Flier PIP6071A - continued engine misfire/chugging/buck/skip under load, going up hills, trying to pass, etc. Was taken to shop January 2025 ~90,000 with these symptoms. Charged for spark plug replacement (visit 1)." (NHTSA complaint 11719589, February 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why won't my 2023 GMC Terrain start?
3 of the 41 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 GMC Terrain (7.3%) describe the car failing to start. One owner wrote: "Vehicle stalled while driving and would not restart. Strong gasoline smell present and on ground. Third occurrence. Vehicle stalled while driving at on busy road (safety issue both times). Strong raw gas smell. Would not crank afterward." (NHTSA complaint 11738493, May 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2023 GMC Terrain had engine failures?
3 of the 41 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 GMC Terrain (7.3%) describe complete engine failure or a replaced engine. One owner wrote: "Complete engine failure @100,600 miles Engine power reduced and lost compression transmission module failure Will not exceed 20mph" (NHTSA complaint 11712053, January 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Does the 2023 GMC Terrain have emissions system or DPF problems?
3 of the 41 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 GMC Terrain (7.3%) describe emissions faults such as DPF, EGR, catalytic converter, AdBlue/DEF or NOx sensor problems. One owner wrote: "GM Flier PIP6071A - continued engine misfire/chugging/buck/skip under load, going up hills, trying to pass, etc. Was taken to shop January 2025 ~90,000 with these symptoms. Charged for spark plug replacement (visit 1)." (NHTSA complaint 11719589, February 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Terrain
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2023 only.