2017 GMC Terrain Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Terrain years
- Fewer complaints than other years 11th of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 GMC Terrain. That ranks 11th out of 17 Terrain model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (79 complaints, 59%), typically at around 79,750 miles. Complaints mention 11 crashes, 2 fires, 7 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 135owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 11complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2017 GMC Terrain problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 79 | 59% | 79,750 | “main seal” (37%) | $9,000 |
| Power Train | 24 | 18% | 46,580 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 20 | 15% | 7,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 12 | 9% | 39,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 7% | 45,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 5% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 5% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 3% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 2% | 42,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 1% | 112,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 46,580 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 GMC Terrain recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: 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 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Timing Chain driving, clanging noise while driving on I-475 expressway near Perrysburg exit
I bought this 2017 used on XXX I have had to put 1 quart of oil in the car every 500 miles. Because it burns oil like crazy. And now at this point, the transmission has just quit. I believe they call it the drive train. I am taking it to D and D auto repair in [XXX] on Thursday of this week. GMC…
The head unit quit working around 98k. The head unit is the radio, and screen which includes the back up camera. From what we have been told and find online, this is a known problem with them and affects other models as well. For the most part the head unit doesn't work but once in a while, once a…
Have had to replace the VVT solenoids several times within a year spam. Had to replace the rear main seal because it blew out due to carbon build up. Having issues with excessive oil consumption. Now the vehicle just started with: going from a stop position to accelerating at low speeds the vehicle…
Wiper blades transmission plastic parts keep popping or breaking this is the THIRD time this has happened at a cost of $350. Why would you use plastic parts for this knowing that it will break easily? Who can afford to keep replacing this? 12
Other GMC Terrain years
← 2016 Terrain · 2018 Terrain →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Terrain | 33 | 1 |
| 2025 Terrain | 13 | 0 |
| 2024 Terrain | 52 | 1 |
| 2023 Terrain | 40 | 2 |
| 2022 Terrain | 60 | 2 |
| 2021 Terrain | 36 | 2 |
| 2020 Terrain | 197 | 2 |
| 2019 Terrain | 186 | 3 |
| 2018 Terrain | 223 | 5 |
| 2017 | 135 | 1 |
| 2016 Terrain | 152 | 2 |
| 2015 Terrain | 298 | 3 |
| 2014 Terrain | 297 | 2 |
| 2013 Terrain | 364 | 3 |
| 2012 Terrain | 364 | 4 |
| 2011 Terrain | 386 | 4 |
| 2010 Terrain | 290 | 3 |
See all GMC Terrain problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 GMC Terrain?
Owners most often report engine, power train, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 79 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2017 GMC Terrain?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 GMC Terrain a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Terrain model years, the 2017 has fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.