Last updated: 2026-03-04
GMC Terrain vs Kia Sportage: Reliability Compared
GMC Terrain
Kia Sportage
Choosing between the GMC Terrain and the Kia Sportage? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Kia Sportage currently leads with an average score of 74/100 compared to 72/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the GMC Terrain and Kia Sportage Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Kia Sportage is more reliable than the GMC Terrain, scoring 74/100 vs 72/100.
The Kia Sportage boasts a higher average reliability score of 84/100 compared to the GMC Terrain's 76/100, indicating a stronger overall performance in this area. While the Sportage has experienced more recalls over nine years, with 28 compared to the Terrain's 19, it benefits from a lower estimated annual repair cost of $462 versus $558 for the Terrain. Both vehicles have similar rates of owner complaints per 10,000 sold, with the Terrain slightly lower at 4.8 compared to the Sportage's 5.3. Overall, the Kia Sportage emerges as the more reliable choice, particularly due to its higher reliability score and lower repair costs.
Key Differences
- 1Kia Sportage costs $96 less per year to repair
- 2GMC Terrain has 9 fewer total recalls
- 3Kia Sportage has 6% lower major repair risk
Category Scoreboard
GMC Terrain vs Kia Sportage: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | GMC Terrain | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 72/100 | 74/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 19 | 28 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 4.8 | 5.3 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $558/yr | $462/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.2/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 17% | 11% |
| Year Wins | 1 | 7 |
What Are the Common Problems With the GMC Terrain and Kia Sportage?
The Kia Sportage exhibits a higher frequency of complaints in the engine and electrical system categories, with the electrical system notably having six crash-linked incidents. Additionally, the Sportage has a significant number of complaints related to vehicle speed control and steering, each with a noteworthy number of crash-linked reports, indicating potential safety concerns. In contrast, the GMC Terrain's most problematic areas are the service brakes and power train, with the service brakes alone accounting for 146 complaints and eight crash-linked incidents, suggesting a critical area of concern. Overall, while both vehicles have substantial issues with their electrical systems, the Kia Sportage shows more diverse problem areas with higher crash-linkage, whereas the GMC Terrain's issues are more concentrated in the service brakes and power train.
| Component | GMC Terrain | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.6Very Low | 0.9Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.4Very Low | 1Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.5Very Low | 0.8Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| TRAILER HITCHES | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —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 Kia Sportage?
How Does GMC Terrain vs Kia Sportage Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | GMC Terrain | Kia Sportage | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78/1000R / 8C | 82/1002R / 44C | Kia Sportage |
| 2024 | 77/1001R / 29C | 78/1004R / 83C | Kia Sportage |
| 2023 | 75/1002R / 21C | 67/1009R / 257C | GMC Terrain |
| 2022 | 72/1004R / 65C | 79/1001R / 39C | Kia Sportage |
| 2021 | 74/1002R / 28C | 76/1002R / 34C | Kia Sportage |
| 2020 | 68/1002R / 160C | 69/1002R / 139C | Kia Sportage |
| 2019 | 68/1003R / 163C | 74/1002R / 63C | Kia Sportage |
| 2018 | 66/1005R / 201C | 68/1003R / 147C | Kia Sportage |
| 2026(predicted) | 77/100(predicted) | 76/100(predicted) | GMC Terrain |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 GMC Terrain scored 78/100 and the 2025 Kia Sportage scored 82/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the GMC Terrain vs the Kia Sportage?
GMC Terrain vs Kia Sportage: Common Questions
- Is the GMC Terrain more reliable than the Kia Sportage?
- Based on our data, the Kia Sportage is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 72/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the GMC Terrain or the Kia Sportage?
- The Kia Sportage has more recalls (28) compared to the GMC Terrain (19). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the GMC Terrain or the Kia Sportage?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the GMC Terrain has a lower complaint rate at 4.8 per 10,000 sold versus 5.3 for the Kia Sportage. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the GMC Terrain or the Kia Sportage?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Kia Sportage is cheaper to maintain at $462/year versus $558/year for the GMC Terrain.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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