Is the Hyundai Tucson more reliable than the GMC Terrain?

No, they are effectively tied. Both hold a good reliability standing and average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year. The Tucson has lower repair costs and fewer major repairs. The Terrain has fewer owner complaints per car sold. Each wins on a different measure, so neither has a clear edge.

Which has more recalls, the Tucson or the Terrain?

The Tucson has more. Federal recall records show 23 recalls across its nine model years, against 19 for the Terrain. One Tucson recall covers an ABS electrical short that can start a fire, and owners reported waiting weeks or months for parts.

Which costs less to repair, the Tucson or the Terrain?

The Tucson costs less. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $426 a year, against $558 for the Terrain. Over five years that is roughly $660 saved. A Tucson repair is also less likely to be major, at 10% versus 17%.

What is the brake problem on the GMC Terrain?

Owners report brake assist disappearing without warning, leaving a very stiff pedal. Dealers most often blame the brake vacuum pump. Failures cluster between about 37,000 and 71,000 miles. In several cases the pump broke at the camshaft and ruined the engine, so ask for proof of pump service.

Does the Hyundai Tucson burn oil?

Many owners say so. Engine complaints describe losing a quart of oil every 1,000 miles or worse, usually around 70,000 to 85,000 miles. A brief low-oil light in turns may be the only warning. Dealers often run a 1,000-mile oil test before considering a new engine, so check the oil level and service records.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

GMC Terrain vs Hyundai Tucson: Reliability Compared

GMC Terrain

Good

Hyundai Tucson

Good

Reliability is effectively tied between the Hyundai Tucson and GMC Terrain. The Tucson costs less to repair, but it draws more owner complaints. The Terrain has fewer complaints and recalls, yet its repairs cost more and are more often major. Your pick depends on which risk you prefer.

How Do the GMC Terrain and Hyundai Tucson Generations Compare?

Most used Terrains you will see are second generation, which ran from 2018 through 2024 and received a refresh in 2022. The 2018 and 2019 cars are the weakest years of that run. The third generation arrived for the 2025 model year, and 2025 is the only year in it so far. Its good showing mostly reflects a short time on the road rather than proven durability. A second-generation car from after the 2022 refresh gives you more owner history to check.

Verdict

The GMC Terrain and Hyundai Tucson are evenly matched with a reliability score of 73/100.

Neither model pulls ahead. The Tucson is cheaper to keep running and less likely to hand you a major repair bill. The Terrain draws far fewer owner complaints per car sold and has fewer recalls. Those strengths cancel out, and both sit at a good standing with the same number of unscheduled shop visits. The deciding factor is which risk you would rather carry: a lower yearly cost with a heavier complaint history, or a lighter complaint history with pricier and more serious repairs when something does fail.

Key Differences

1Hyundai Tucson costs $132 less per year to repair
2Hyundai Tucson has 7% lower major repair risk
3GMC Terrain has 4.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2GMC Terrain

—

2Hyundai Tucson

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair Risk

GMC Terrain vs Hyundai Tucson: Which Is More Reliable?

GMC Terrain vs Hyundai Tucson at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	GMC Terrain	Hyundai Tucson
Reliability Score	73/100	73/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	19	23
Complaints per 10k Sold	4.8	8.9
Annual Repair Cost	$558/yr	$426/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	17%	10%
Year Wins	3 (3 tied)	3 (3 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the GMC Terrain and Hyundai Tucson?

Oil use and engine failure define the Tucson. Owners report a quart of oil lost every 1,000 miles, clogged catalytic converters, and engines that quit at highway speed. Its ABS fire recall also left owners waiting on parts. The Terrain's trouble centers on the brake vacuum pump. Brake assist can vanish with no warning, leaving a rock-hard pedal, and a failed pump can break the camshaft and ruin the engine. Crash-linked reports differ too. The Tucson has them in its engine, power train, electrical, and forward collision areas. Terrain engine complaints have no crash links, and its power train has far fewer. Its crash-linked reports center on brakes.

GMC Terrain vs Hyundai Tucson common problem areas comparison
Component	GMC Terrain	Hyundai Tucson
POWER TRAIN	1Very Low	1.3Low
ENGINE	0.4Very Low	1.9Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1Very Low	1.1Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	1.1Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.5Very Low	1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	0.4Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.5Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.3Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: GMC Terrain or Hyundai Tucson?

Repairs cost less on the Tucson, at an estimated $426 a year against $558 for the Terrain. That gap is $132 a year, or about $660 over five years. Both average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits per year, so you will be at the shop equally often. The difference is in what happens there. A Tucson repair has a 10% chance of being major, while a Terrain repair has a 17% chance, so the Terrain's bills run larger as well as higher.

How Does GMC Terrain vs Hyundai Tucson Reliability Compare by Year?

GMC Terrain vs Hyundai Tucson year-by-year reliability scores
Year	GMC Terrain	Hyundai Tucson	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 0C	80/1004R / 3C	GMC Terrain
2025	78/1000R / 8C	75/1006R / 251C	GMC Terrain
2024	77/1001R / 29C	77/1004R / 87C	Tie
2023	75/1002R / 21C	75/1002R / 142C	Tie
2022	72/1004R / 65C	66/1003R / 433C	GMC Terrain
2021	74/1002R / 28C	78/1001R / 58C	Hyundai Tucson
2020	68/1002R / 160C	73/1001R / 153C	Hyundai Tucson
2019	68/1003R / 163C	68/1001R / 349C	Tie
2018	66/1005R / 201C	68/1001R / 362C	Hyundai Tucson

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 GMC Terrain scored 77/100 and the 2021 Hyundai Tucson scored 78/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the GMC Terrain vs the Hyundai Tucson?

Pick the Tucson if lower running costs matter most. Its estimated annual repair cost is lower, and only about one repair in ten is major. Target the 2021 model year, which ranks among its strongest, and avoid 2019 and 2022, its weakest. Whatever year you shop, check the oil consumption history and confirm the ABS fire recall work was done. Pick the Terrain if you want fewer complaints overall and can accept a pricier repair when one comes. Steer clear of 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. The 2025 and 2026 models rank well, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so do not read that as proof they are better. On any Terrain, ask whether the brake vacuum pump has been replaced, because failures cluster between roughly 37,000 and 71,000 miles. A car near that range with no pump service should make you pause before you buy.

GMC Terrain vs Hyundai Tucson: Common Questions

Is the Hyundai Tucson more reliable than the GMC Terrain?: No, they are effectively tied. Both hold a good reliability standing and average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year. The Tucson has lower repair costs and fewer major repairs. The Terrain has fewer owner complaints per car sold. Each wins on a different measure, so neither has a clear edge.
Which has more recalls, the Tucson or the Terrain?: The Tucson has more. Federal recall records show 23 recalls across its nine model years, against 19 for the Terrain. One Tucson recall covers an ABS electrical short that can start a fire, and owners reported waiting weeks or months for parts.
Which costs less to repair, the Tucson or the Terrain?: The Tucson costs less. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $426 a year, against $558 for the Terrain. Over five years that is roughly $660 saved. A Tucson repair is also less likely to be major, at 10% versus 17%.
What is the brake problem on the GMC Terrain?: Owners report brake assist disappearing without warning, leaving a very stiff pedal. Dealers most often blame the brake vacuum pump. Failures cluster between about 37,000 and 71,000 miles. In several cases the pump broke at the camshaft and ruined the engine, so ask for proof of pump service.
Does the Hyundai Tucson burn oil?: Many owners say so. Engine complaints describe losing a quart of oil every 1,000 miles or worse, usually around 70,000 to 85,000 miles. A brief low-oil light in turns may be the only warning. Dealers often run a 1,000-mile oil test before considering a new engine, so check the oil level and service records.

More GMC Terrain comparisons

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More Hyundai Tucson comparisons

Hyundai Tucson vs Honda CR-V reliability Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota RAV4 reliability Hyundai Tucson vs Nissan Rogue reliability Hyundai Tucson vs Mazda CX-50 reliability Hyundai Tucson reliability by year Hyundai Tucson years to avoid

Decided between GMC Terrain and Hyundai Tucson? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the GMC Terrain and Hyundai Tucson

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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