The 2012 GMC Terrain was not a popular vehicle when it first hit the market. There were only four trim versions available, its acceleration was weak, and its gas mileage was a bit on the sluggish side in the crowded Compact SUV field. Based on Owner Ratings, the vehicle ranks #13 among Crossover SUVs that came out that same year. But with that being said, the 2012 GMC Terrain has had very good longevity, and has only been subjected to three safety recalls during its eight-year history, which is a relatively low number.
Recall #1: Tire Pressure Monitoring
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is a handy feature that lets you know when your tires don’t have enough air pressure in them. A warning light illuminates on the vehicle’s dashboard when the tire pressure drops below 25 percent of the recommended cold tire threshold, so you know that it’s time to reinflate or even replace them. But in certain 2012 GMC Terrain vehicles, the Body Control Module (BCM) that is supposed to cause the dashboard warning light to come on malfunctioned.
This problem could result in tires not having the proper amount of air pressure in them. Underinflated tires can impact everything from gas mileage to vehicle handling. If an underinflated tire overheats due to improperly contacting with pavement, it can cause a blowout or a crash. Under the terms of this recall, GM dealers will update the BCM in the vehicle so that the Tire Pressure Monitoring System functions correctly, and the repair is free of charge.
This recall was issued in November of 2011 and was assigned National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall number 11V511000.
Recall #2: Front Seat Power Adjust
The second safety recall on this vehicle was a fairly serious one. The 2012 GMC Terrain was equipped with front seat power height adjusters on both the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle. That adjuster is secured on the bottom of the seat with a shoulder bolt that was supposed to (in theory) hold the seat at the particular height it was adjusted to. But after a few years of operation, the NHTSA discovered that the shoulder bolt could fall off. The result was that the driver’s seat could suddenly collapse to the lowest possible setting.
Imagine driving down the freeway when this scenario occurs, and you can easily see why this was an important safety recall. GM dealers will replace the shoulder bolt on the power seat adjustment free of charge in vehicles affected by this issue.
This recall was initiated in December of 2014 and was assigned NHTSA recall number 14V447000.
Recall #3: Key Cylinder Lock Housing
This recall impacted the 2012 GMC Terrain and several additional Buick and Chevrolet vehicles that were manufactured during the same time frame. The key cylinder lock was defective, which allowed drivers to pull the key out of the ignition without the automatic transmission being placed in Park.
This could allow the vehicle to roll away as occupants are trying to get out of the vehicle, causing a potentially serious injury. GM dealers will replace the key cylinder lock housing with a properly functioning module at no cost to owners.
This recall was initiated in October of 2016 and was assigned NHTSA recall number 16V502000.
Checking Your 2012 GMC Terrain Against a Safety Recall
To determine whether your specific 2012 GMC Terrain vehicle is impacted by any of the safety recalls listed above, first locate your vehicle’s 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Then, you can either call GMC customer service at (800) 222-1020 or type in the VIN on the GMC Recall Service website.
