2019 GMC Terrain · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 71owner reports
- 60,000median miles
- $900median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
71 of the 185 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2019 Terrain.
Narrower sheets: Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails (54 reports)
Tick what matches of 71 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) and the ABS module (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the brakes covers the 2019 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 3 recalls on the 2019 GMC Terrain, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
What owners paid
11 of the 71 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $540 to $4,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 40,000 and 76,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 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.
2 more on the 2019 GMC Terrain page.
What owners wrote
“The brakes failed with zero warning while driving. Car only has 60,000 miles. Extremely dangerous and it looks like it has been reported and known issue! It needs to be recalled.”
Filed Aug 4, 2024 · 60,000 miles
“When parked in home driveway brake lights came on with no one in car or driven during the day. Only way to turn off brake is to remote start & then cut off engine with Fob. Dealer diagnostic unable to find issue & condition didn't occur when at their location.”
Filed Jul 8, 2023
“Brake booster failure detected by rumbling sound during braking and certified gmc tech advised of brake booster failure on a 2019 gmc terrain with only 24k miles.”
Filed May 5, 2023 · 24,000 miles
“Vacuum pump went out while getting off the freeway, going around a roundabout. Brake petal extremely hard to depress and was unable to slow down or stop in a timely manner. Tooke vehicle to GMC for diagnostics and they said the vacuum pump shattered causing damage to my cam shaft and possible engine damage.”
Filed Nov 14, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 71 reports involved a crash and 3 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