NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 23 complaints against the 2023 GMC Terrain. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2023 GMC Terrain complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2023 GMC Terrain has generated 46 NHTSA complaints and has 2 active recalls. If your 2023 GMC Terrain has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. GMC pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2023 GMC Terrain have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 6 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “1st Failure. August 28, 2025. Vehicle stalled out while driving with NO warning. Check engine light stayed on. Could not drive. Car towed to dealership. Scanned codes found: p0089, p00c6 and p228c. Cause: Internal failure. Bulletin pertaining to this issue performed. Program of ecm per bulletin. 2nd Failure. February 19, 2026 Vehicle stalled out a 2nd time while driving with NO warning. Check engine light stayed on. Could not drive. Towed in a 2nd time. Scanned codes found: p0089, p00c6, p228c and p2c1f. Cause: internal Fault. Fuel pump power control module replacement. Fuel pump replacement. 3rd Failure. March 4th, 2026. Vehicle stalled out a 3rd time while driving with NO warning. Check engine light stayed on. Could not drive. Towed in again to dealership. Currently sitting at dealership waiting on repairs a 3rd time for the same thing. Wife is 76 years old and is terrified to drive this car. What if this stalls out on the freeway in traffic. Car is unsafe to drive.” (NHTSA Complaint #11722113)
Fuel and propulsion system defects can cause stalling, fuel leaks, or power loss — all substantial impairments of use and safety. The 2023 GMC Terrain has generated 6 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. Owner reports include: “While driving the fuel pump failed and started spraying gas everywhere in the engine compartment.” (NHTSA Complaint #11680943)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2023 GMC Terrain include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 4 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “The infotainment system is not working. It has the “black screen” issue.” (NHTSA Complaint #11715519)
The 2023 GMC Terrain has generated 4 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Complete engine failure @100,600 miles Engine power reduced and lost compression transmission module failure Will not exceed 20mph” (NHTSA Complaint #11712053)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2023 GMC Terrain have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 2 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “GMC Terrain with 12,564 total miles had experienced an engine failure. Under normal driving conditions, the car was sluggish and would not accelerate properly when pulling out into traffic or when getting on the freeway/interstate causing fear for driver safety and causing traffic slowdowns or congestion with a significantly increased risk of crash. While driving to work, the vehicle service engine light turned on and displayed “reduced engine power”. Upon investigation the dealership found codes P0011, P0014, P0016, P0017, and quoted “Cylinder 4 intake rocker had fallen off and laying on head, found excessive debris and metal material around rocker 4, Found cylinder 2 intake rocker to be worn sideways. Found heavy damage to intake camshaft. Removed oil filter – found excessive metal in oil filter”. Secondary issue, infotainment screen would randomly flash bright white on the right half, causing a major driver distraction. Engine, turbo, and infotainment system were all replaced, and vehicle returned 11.06.2025” (NHTSA Complaint #11698105)
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2023 GMC Terrain by the NHTSA or GMC. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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.
Remedy: 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.
Component: CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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.
Remedy: 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 Chevr
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2023 GMC Terrain:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to GMC to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), GMC must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2023 GMC Terrain qualifies as a lemon under California law, GMC may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give GMC a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized GMC dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), GMC pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send GMC a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), GMC is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2023 GMC Terrain has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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