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2012 GMC Truck Terrain

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Terrain.

The 2012 GMC Terrain calls for a 5-quart 5W-30 oil fill and generated 370 owner complaints across four recalls, with engine problems standing out as the single largest trouble area. Within the nameplate’s 2010–2026 span, that complaint volume sits just under the 2011 peak of 397. Compared with later years such as 2025, which recorded only 12 complaints, the 2012 model sits near the most complained-about extreme of the Terrain’s documented history.

Model year2016 2015 2014 2013 2012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified

Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Tire sizeP235-55R18OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731742 alt 12580255
Engine air filter	23335811
Spark plug	12681658 alt 12681660
Front wiper blades	19432579 alt 19432580
Serpentine belt	12636138 alt 12634319
Thermostat	03522676 alt 12622410
Cabin air filter	20901295

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	4.2-6.4
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	2.0 qt
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	10 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	10.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	NVG900: 11.0, Gertag 760: 29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	NVG900: 18.0, Gertag 760: 29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	151 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	151 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.43 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	48

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Injector Primary Resistance	1.9-2.3 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	1.9-2.3 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi
Engine Compression	140 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure	30-70 psi

Brakes

Minimum Pad Thickness	0.080
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.06 in / 0.72 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 100 ft. lbs., step 3: 150

74 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil.

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	155 degrees	155 degrees
3	Front bolts 26.0 ft. lbs.	26 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. · M11 Bolts

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	150 degrees; M8 Bolts	150 degrees
1	11.0 ft. lbs.	11 ft. lbs
2	75 degrees	75 degrees

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

15-22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 34

15–22 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 22,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 mi	Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2012 GMC Truck Terrain lead in one area — the engine, 104 of 370 reports (28%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 4 recall campaigns target the engine, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 17 of the reports describe a crash and 5 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

370

Owner complaints

17 involved a crash · 5 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’10 ’11’12’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 370 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine104

Visibility/Wiper70

Unknown Or Other20

Power Train,Engine15

Air Bags14

Unknown Or Other,Engine10

Electrical System8

Structure8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V502000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 05/07/2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact…

14V447000Seats:Front Assembly:Power AdjustReported 23/07/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Terrain. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 47 battery Vehicles taking 5 qt Engine oil filter 12731742 Engine air filter 23335811 Spark plug 12681658 Front wiper blades 19432579

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Terrain take?

5 qt of 5W-30 MEETING GM DEXOS 1 SPECIFICATION, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Terrain have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.