GMC TruckTerrain2020Overview/gmc-truck/terrain/2020/base/

2020 GMC Truck Terrain

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Terrain.

The 2020 GMC Terrain specifies a 4.2-quart 0W-20 oil fill, and its reliability profile for the model year registers 183 owner complaints with Service Brakes identified as the top concern alongside two recalls. Measured against the nameplate’s 20102018 complaint history, which ranged from a high of 397 in 2011 to a low of 133 in 2017, the 2020 total sits in the lower half of that documented span. That positioning signals a comparatively restrained volume of owner-reported problems relative to the peak year, while still remaining above the quietest period on record.

Model year20242023202020182010

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque103.0 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 48 Must use a AGM VRLA Battery. · 730 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 48 Must use a AGM VRLA Battery. · 730 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size235/50R19 99HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter25206377
Engine air filter84390002
Spark plug12683541 alt 12681659
Battery88864541
Front wiper blades84566977 alt 84574892
Serpentine belt12664598 alt 12654472
Thermostat12649163 alt 12630780
Cabin air filter13508023

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidDEXRON®-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6T40, 6T45
Automatic Transmission FluidDEXRON®-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6T40, 6T45
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5.3 - 6.3 QTS
Brake FluidDOT 3
Brake FluidDot 3

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 Studs8.8 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Differential Fill Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Driveshaft Flange to TransmissionSlip Drive ft-lbs
Lug Nuts103.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts103 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.024-0.028 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.037-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity1.50-3.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number48 Must use a AGM VRLA Battery.
Standard BCI Cranking Performance730 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-94
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-100
Engine Compression100
Engine Oil Pressure29-36 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM100C @ 1,500 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure20-29 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM@700 RPM 100°C rpm
Engine Oil Pressure20-29 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 30; Rear: 30
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 4.4; Rear: 4.4
Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque30.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.078; Rear: 0.078 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: J17: 0.984, J60: 0.905, Rear: 0.393
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: J17: 0.992, J60: 0.913, Rear: 0.402
Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring DepthFront: 0.059; Rear: 0.059

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
180°-90°
Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 20°-40°74 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 15°-30°74 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 90°15 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 100°22 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 50°30 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 75°18 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 110°18 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Center Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 180°74 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1140°
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 240°22 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 190°22 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 70°15 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs. Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 40°15 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 40°15 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 70°15 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs. Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 40°15 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 140°15 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 77°15 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the 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) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
Every 15,000 miWindshield Wiper Blade (replace)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 75,000 miHood Hinge (inspect)
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 2020 GMC Truck Terrain lead in one area — the service brakes, 33 of 183 reports (18%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 recall campaigns target the service brakes, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 7 of the reports describe a crash and 2 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.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
842
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
183
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 2 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 183 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes33
Unknown Or Other18
Engine11
Service Brakes,Engine10
Electrical System10
Power Train9
Fuel/Propulsion System7
Fuel System, Gasoline5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V668000Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 29/10/2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15…

23V339000Child Seat:Vehicle Latch AnchorReported 11/05/2023

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child… Remedy: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 842 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…
PIT6425D2026-03-02Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue…

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 2020 Terrain take?

4.2 qt of 0W-20 meeting GM specification Dexos 1 or equivalent., per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 Terrain have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.