CarModelProblems.com

2013 GMC Terrain Transmission & Power Train Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026

42Power Train complaints
11.6%Of all 363 complaints
#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE197 · 54.3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER50 · 13.8%
POWER TRAIN42 · 11.6%
Unspecified / other25 · 6.9%

Share of the 363 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 GMC Terrain overview page.

What owners report

“08/17 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, HE PLUGGED IN THE COMPUTER TO ASSESS THE CODE WHICH WAS P420 AFTER ASSESSING…”NHTSA complaint 11121138 — filed 08/20/2018
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S POWER SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT…”NHTSA complaint 11080230 — filed 03/19/2018
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO…”NHTSA complaint 11043080 — filed 11/03/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train complaints by year filed

22014112016242018772020652022322024112026

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 GMC Terrain have transmission & power train problems?

Power Train is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2013 GMC Terrain: 42 of 363 complaints on file (11.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 GMC Terrain have in total?

363 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 14 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 25 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train category include?

NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.