2018 GMC Terrain · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 81owner reports
- 66,084median miles
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 14, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
81 of the 222 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Terrain.
Narrower sheets: Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails (51 reports)
Tick what matches of 81 reports
Brake wear on other Terrain years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the booster (11 reports), the ABS module (4 reports) and the pads and rotors (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the brakes covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
All 5 recalls on the 2018 GMC Terrain, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 30,000 and 107,000 miles, from the 38 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 10 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 GMC Terrain that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This preliminary information discusses potential for a code C0010.5A to store in the brake controller which appears to be setting falsely or is induced by the customer.
This preliminary information discusses the possibility of brake module damage caused by performing the rear brake service incorrectly.
This service bulletin provides information for tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system concerns.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure for a squeak and/or creak type noise heard when applying the brake and/or cycling the pedal while in park.
6 more on the 2018 GMC Terrain page.
What owners wrote
“Driving on highway and all of a sudden I could not break - the car breaks failed to operate - had to slowdown by it self and pull to a McDonalds, I had the loss of effective braking with no warning whatsoever. We found out that the Break Booster Pump was destroyed without any warning from the electronics of the SUV.”
Filed Jul 31, 2023
“The vacuum pump started leaking and the car was parked immediately. When The pump was pulled out to be replaced, the reason for the leak was identified. The vacuum pump had busted into small pieces which are now in the engine.”
Filed Jul 19, 2023
“I was coming to a stop with my vehicle and the brakes would not work. I carefully got my car home and to a shop. It was determined that the break booster pump broke which caused metal parts to go into the engine. Now my engine is blown! Bought my car brand new in 2018 and kept up with regular vehicle maintenance has 90k miles.”
Filed Jan 3, 2023 · 90,000 miles
“Vehicle stuck in emergency assist mood. Without warning I couldn't slow down/stop without putting alot of my weight on the brake breaks were so hard to press down.”
Filed Sep 12, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 81 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 25 reports