Model year guide

2018 GMC Terrain

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2018 GMC Terrain is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 50 on record.

2018 GMC Terrain — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2018 GMC Terrain at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints212
Combined28 mpg
Typical price$23,489

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2018 GMC Terrain recalls 5

Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module NHTSA Campaign #18V340000 · 24/05/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Terrain vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) that senses a crash and deploys the necessary air bags may not power down correctly when the vehicle is shut off, causing it to be inoperative when the vehicle is restarted.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18179.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper NHTSA Campaign #18V576000 · 30/08/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer serv…

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #18V358000 · 31/05/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-22…

Power Train:automatic Transmission NHTSA Campaign #20V668000 · 29/10/2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet custo…

Power Train:driveline:driveshaft NHTSA Campaign #17V516000 · 22/08/2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2018 GMC Terrain common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 212 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

2018 GMC Terrain MPG & running costs

Combined28 mpg
City25 mpg
Highway32 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,667

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2018 GMC Terrain worth?

Low
$18,495
Typical price
$23,489
High
$28,488

From 44 comparable 2018 GMC Terrain listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2018 GMC Terrain costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,335
Depreciation (5 yrs)$6,150
Total$19,485
Per mile$0.26

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($23,489) with the same model 5 model-years older ($17,327), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2018 GMC Terrain trims & engines on record

Trims
SLE · SLT · Denali
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl · 1.5L 4-cyl · 1.6L 4-cyl

2018 GMC Terrain vehicles on record

Other GMC Terrain model years

2018 GMC Terrain — frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 GMC Terrain have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2018 GMC Terrain. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 GMC Terrain?

Based on 212 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are service brakes, engine, fuel/propulsion system.

What gas mileage does the 2018 GMC Terrain get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2018 GMC Terrain at about 28 mpg combined (25 city / 32 highway).

How much is a 2018 GMC Terrain worth?

Comparable 2018 GMC Terrain listings run roughly $18,495–$28,488, typically around $23,489 (from 44 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.