10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,788 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 GMC Terrain engine problems

engine problem

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2010 GMC Terrain Owner Comments (Page 2 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #84

Oct 152018

Terrain

  • 104,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At stop light car kept turning off. First start start shaking then turn off. Several times. Almost got hit in rear of car several times. About 3 weeks. Took to shop C & M. in NY. Had to stay in NY 2 weeks. Timing chain. Broken. And engine light. Paid $1500, had 3 oil changes. Have to keep adding motor oil.

- Whitakers, NC, USA

problem #83

Feb 172017

Terrain

  • miles
Car is losing oil, no drip on ground, must be burning in motor, having to add oil every few month. This is being going own for about 3yrs. When we get oil changed, have to add oil within 3 or 4 months. Have stopped driving car. Need to sale it need to get car fixed. Losing oil when driving. Not while parked.

- Ringgold, GA, USA

problem #82

Sep 022010

Terrain

  • 80,000 miles
Takata recall I was just driving down the road not in motion and several things happen to my GMC Terrain within less then a week first my window on drivers side stopped rolling all the way up. Then the back seat lower air pocket in seat burst while doing nothing but driving. Then my heater in car went out. After this my heated seat on car went out. Then came a clicking noise behind my stereo. Not to mention my car started vibrating. Then defoggong system, thermostat and radiator went out. Lastly my remote stopped working. And my light senors for the check engine light won't go off. It's also got weird codes it's reading. City street. While in motion or stationary

- Coeur D Alene, ID, USA

problem #81

Apr 042019

Terrain

  • 108,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I own a 2010 GMC Terrain, I had to replace the timing belt mid 2016 which cost around $2000, now less than 3 years later I'm told it needs replaced again, another $2400 this time. My vehicle is barley over 100,000 miles. This is absolutely ridiculous. Of course the first time my warranty had just expired and the replacements warranty is 12 months/12,000 miles. So of course not covered again. I would think that GMC would want to address this as an issue. Almost 4000 in repairs and vehicle less than 10 years old and apparently 108,000 miles. I've seen several other complaints online and feel GMC should help cover the repairs or do a recall and cover it. I won't by another GMC.

- New Palestine, IN, USA

problem #80

Mar 022019

Terrain

  • 150,000 miles
PCV system has a service bulliten on this. PCV system froze uo causing the rear main seal to blow out.

- Whittaker, MI, USA

problem #79

Oct 172018

Terrain

  • 98,000 miles
While driving my car the stabili-track service light comes on. Then the check engine, brake, ABS, AWD, as well as the power steering lights come on. Then I lose power steering and my speed is throttled down a lot. Its happened on the expressway and city streets. When on the expressway I have to immediately get to the shoulder without getting into an accident. I've had my car towed to the mechanics shop multiple times and they've told me that there are no codes when hooking up the computer. They kept it a few times in the last 3 years and have told me there were misfires after letting the car sit and testing it out (test driving) and work was needed (throttle body replacement, spark plug replacement, cam shaft swap out and a full tune-up). $1000 and less than a year later it happens again and then again. This is the 3rd year (2016, 2017, 2018) it has happened to me in a row and all the mechanic can say is that it may be something GM should investigate. I've called GM with no luck. This is extremely unsafe and I am thankful that my kids were not in the car when it happens. Trying to navigate traffic on the expressway when your car throttles down to 25-35 mph is insane.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #78

Sep 242018

Terrain

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle's engine make loud noise when stationary and in motion. Never has made this sound before. All recalls that were listed which were the high fuel pump and carbon monoxide have been completed yet no change in vehicle. Dealership stated that it mayexhaust and catalyst converter are the issues. After doing some research online, I've discovered that other owners of this vehicle along with owners of the equinox have the same issue.

- Mason, TN, USA

problem #77

Dec 172017

Terrain

  • 77,000 miles
Engine - slows down and speed up and jolt as it accelerate in speed. Heated seats - a month after purchase they stopped worked oil pump - the filter gets clogged with metal shaving and would not allow the oil to get to the engine. As a result, I had to get oil changes 3 times in a month. Dash board and stereo light would flicker and dim. Stereo would repeat words and get stuck in one place. The wind shield wipers stopped working during a rain storm and were wiping in two separate directions at the same time.

- Long Eddy, NY, USA

problem #76

Apr 182018

Terrain

  • 115,000 miles
We purchased the 2010 GMC Terrain on March 30th and since we have had to change the oil 3 times and once refill the oil. We have to check it daily to make sure it has oil and is safe for our daughter to drive it. There are so many people that have complained about this exact problem we have found out since we purchased the car. I would have never purchased and dont want to sell it to someone else with the same problem. I feel the company should stand behind the issue. There is no leaks we have no oil in our driveway and the car does not smoke. The oil just burns away I guess. I feel the dealership we purchased from should have fixed this before they sold it.

- Sheridan, IL, USA

problem #75

Jun 112018

Terrain

  • 88,000 miles
Vehicle is exhibiting excess oil consumption. I have had the vehicle since February of 2018 and have had the oil changed twice- both times the dipstick barely had an oil on it. I experienced engine knocking at one point (between oil changes) and checked the oil to realize it was almost dry.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #74

May 092018

Terrain

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Just like so many others that have complained, the engine seized with just 85,000 miles on it. It was always well maintained and out of the blue, while driving on the highway at about 45mph (in light traffic), the check engine light came on and it died. I've had two mechanics look at it and both say it needs a new engine. They both also say that this is one of the worst engines that has ever been manufactured. I now have to decide if I want to pay $6000 for a new (used) motor, or if I want to walk away and eat the balance of my loan. Thanks GMC!

- South Weymouth, MA, USA

problem #73

May 072018

Terrain

  • miles
Had one catalytic converter replaced a few weeks ago now need the 2nd one replaced. GM has a special coverage notice for 2010-2011 catalytic converters on the 2.4 liter engine but not the 3.0. my 3.0 has the same issue and GM should include covering this under special coverage.....I phoned to voice the issue and they gave me a case number should there be inclusion for the 3.0 in the future. Had a few cars over the years and never had to replace one catalytic converter, two on a car that does not have alot of mileage and not included in the special coverage for the 2.4 engine does not seem right.

- Beacon, NY, USA

problem #72

Mar 212018

Terrain

  • 87,091 miles
General Motors knowingly and willfully manufactured an engine with an oil consumption issue causing damage to the engine. This is a well known issue, and GM is requiring me to pay for the replacement. I cannot stress enough that sundance Chevrolet (lansing, mi) had a fiduciary responsibility to notify me of the oil consumption problem when I brought it in to them. They were negligent in their duty to me as their customer. GM has also been derelict in their duty to accept responsibility for the faulty engine they manufactured and their dealer sold to me.

- East Lansing, MI, USA

problem #71

Apr 052018

Terrain

  • 125,000 miles
Vehicle intermittently (drives fine for a week, day, month with no problem) dies on me while driving, or wont accelerate above 35mph. System says overheat condition but the temperature gauge does not say it's overheating. Dealership runs diagnostics and says nothing wrong but it keeps happening unexpectedly. Causes problems on highway and is dangerous. 3 mechanics said bad ECM, but Chevy dealership will not replace or reflash ECM. I've spent thousands of dollars flushing radiator, replacing thermostat, replacing camshaft sensors, mass airflow sensor, running diagnostics, renting vehicles, and nothing helps. I see where there are recalls of GMC Terrain ECM's but not mine? this is getting ridiculous. I need help. I owe more than the car is worth and I'm paying so much to diagnose something that should be taken care of by GM.

- Galloway, OH, USA

problem #70

Mar 232018

Terrain

  • 87,091 miles
Vehicle has consistently run low/out of oil, and oil would need to be added weekly to maintain levels. After asking/checking for recalls, nothing was found. Two weeks ago the vehicle kept stalling when driving. Mechanic found that timing chain had stretched causing engine damage. This is the same as reported in NHTSA #10053269.

- East Lansing, MI, USA

problem #69

Mar 012018

Terrain

  • 170,011 miles
The contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. While driving 45 mph, the "engine power reduced" warning indicator displayed and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the failure occurred on more than one occasion. Hertrich Buick GMC in seaford, Delaware was made aware of the failure and requested that the vehicle be brought in for service. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,011.

- Seaford, DE, USA

problem #68

Feb 182018

Terrain

  • 110,000 miles
Internal issue with transmission as diagnosed by GMC dealer. Car will not go into reverse or gear up passed 40 km/H. failure happened suddenly and with no warning signs while driving and exciting highway. Car was purchased new and was well maintained. 8-9 years old car, with 110,000 km. Four cylinder, 2.4L engine, front wheel drive.

- Brampton, CA, USA

problem #67

Feb 212018

Terrain

  • 65,775 miles
My vehicle, 2010 GMC Terrain, at times would sputter and act like it wants to die at idle, so I took it into the dealership and they found that the high pressure fuel pump was leaking into the crankcase contaminating the oil with fuel. There is currently a recall for this issue, #43180: Product emission recall ' high pressure fuel pump, reference # N16204318, release date: September 2016. I was told that my vehicle was not part of this recall because it did not include my VIN. I believe that the recall needs to be expanded to cover more vehicles because there are more vehicles that are affected by this issue.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #66

Dec 162017

Terrain

  • miles
The contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. While the vehicle was stationary or while driving various speeds, the engine indicator illuminated. An independent mechanic replaced the catalytic converter twice in the vehicle, but the failure recurred. It was later determined that there was a cracked intake manifold and moisture in the manifold. A dealer was not contacted about the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Gynn Oak, MD, USA

problem #65

Jan 222018

Terrain

  • 149,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed oil on the ground underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to joe cooper Chevrolet Cadillac (4920 N automall dr, shawnee, ok 74804) where it was diagnosed that the PCV valve failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and case number: 8-3863678608 was filed. The failure mileage was 149,000.

- Mcloud, OK, USA

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