GMC TruckTerrain2018Overview/gmc-truck/terrain/2018/base/

2018 GMC Truck Terrain

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Terrain.

Body SUV

The 2018 GMC Terrain is a compact SUV built on a front-wheel-drive platform, requiring 0W-20 engine oil for maintenance, and represents the culmination of eight model years within a generation that spanned from 2010 through 2018. While this model year sits at the tail end of that run, its 214 total owner complaints represent a notable improvement over the 397 complaints logged in 2011—the highest point in the model's history—though it remains elevated above the 133 complaints recorded in 2017, the lowest year on record. Service brakes emerged as the top complaint area across this period, and the 2018 model carries five recalls tied to issues ranging from electrical and visibility systems to suspension and structural components, indicating that while complaint volume has trended downward overall, certain systemic concerns persist throughout this generation.

Model year20242023202020182010

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacityFWDOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 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 Start Stop: 48; Without Start Stop: 47 · Start Stop: 730; Without Start Stop: 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 25206377. 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 Start Stop: 48; Without Start Stop: 47 · Start Stop: 730; Without Start Stop: 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235/50R19OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter25206377 alt 55593191
Engine air filter84390002
Fuel filter84428486
Spark plug12681659 alt 12683541
Battery88864541
Front wiper blades84574893 alt 84574892
Serpentine belt12664598 alt 12654472
Thermostat12630780 alt 12649163
Cabin air filter13508023

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds FWD of 0W-20 engine oil, Use Dexron LS Gear oil Part number 88862624 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. 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 FluidUse DEXRON(R)-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.6-6.3
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilUse Dexron LS Gear oil Part number 88862624
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.0 qt
Engine Coolant Capacity7.0
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil5W-30 · 0W-40

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs106.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs80.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.043 in
Spark Plug Torque14 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group NumberStart Stop: 48; Without Start Stop: 47
Standard BCI Cranking PerformanceStart Stop: 730; Without Start Stop: 525 cca
Standard BCI Group NumberStart Stop: 48; Without Start Stop: 47
Standard BCI Cranking PerformanceStart Stop: 730; Without Start Stop: 525 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50.0-94.0
RPM43.0-58.0 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)54.0-65.0
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50.0-94.0
RPM43.0-58.0 @ Idle rpm

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque30
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 111 ft-lbs; Rear: 74 ft-lbs
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: (J17) .984, (J60) .905; Rear: .393
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: (J17) .992, (J60) .913; Rear: .402
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.001
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45.0 degrees, Step 3: 199.0111 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45.0 degrees, Step 3: 199.0111 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 10022 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep Step 18.0 ft. lbs.

275.0
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
118.0 ft. lbs.18 ft. lbs
230.0 degrees30 degrees
315.0
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
118.0 ft. lbs.18 ft. lbs
2110.0
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
137.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4537 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 140111 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts.

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
2190 degrees190 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
270.0
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages
111 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
215 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
3Turn 60
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
18.8 ft. lbs.8.8 ft. lbs
28.8
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Lower crankcase crankshaft bolts

111.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
2180 degrees; Lower crankcase perimeter bolts180 degrees
144.0 inch lbs.44 in
289.0 inch lbs.89 in
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
137.0 ft. lbs.37 ft. lbs
245.0 degrees45 degrees
360.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Lower crankcase crankshaft bolts

115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
2140 degrees; Lower crankcase perimeter bolts140 degrees
118.0 ft. lbs.18 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 60,000 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 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory 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 2018 GMC Truck Terrain lead in one area — the service brakes, 41 of 214 reports (19%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the service brakes are also the target of recall 18V-576 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 14 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes 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.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1342
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
214
Owner complaints
14 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 214 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes41
Unknown Or Other19
Power Train17
Engine16
Electrical System13
Service Brakes,Engine10
Air Bags9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V340000Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control ModuleReported 24/05/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Terrain vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) that senses a crash and deploys the necessary air bags may not power down correctly when the vehicle is shut… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact GMC customer service at…

18V576000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:CaliperReported 30/08/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1342 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIT5992B2026-03-27Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information discusses a condition that may arise from the drivers window…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…

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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2018 Terrain take?

FWD of 0W-20 Use GM Dexos 1 Oil or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 Terrain have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.