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.
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 mph, the vehicle lost power steering and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the moran Chevrolet clinton twp located at (35500 S gratiot ave, clinton township, mi 48035) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall or to tsb-14882. The rear main seal was replaced and the PCV valve cleaned. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
The car has oil consumption issues which is causing it to stall. My car stalled while driving in traffic which could very easily cause a bad accident GM is aware of the issue but won't fix it. I am already on my second engine do to this excessive oil consumption.
On a cold 12 degree day on 1/19/2020 I was driving my 2013 GMC Terrain on a busy state highway doing the speed limit of 55 mph. Out of no where I began to smell the odor of burning oil and seen white smoke coming from the rear of my vehicle. As soon as I noticed it my car's gauges started coming on. The check engine light, a warning to for "service stabilitrak", then the warning for "engine power reduced". at the moment my car all the sudden shut off while driving down a major highway! there was no power steering and it was very hard for me steer my car into the parking lot of walmart and safely off the road. Once in the parking lot I got out of the car and checked my oil. Smoke is rolling out of the dipstick shaft. I check my oil weekly due to GM's oil consumption issues with the 2013 GMC Terrains and on 1/15/2020 the oil was at full, was of normal color and consistency when I fueled and checked it that day. So I was shocked to see that there was no oil on my dipstick and instead a milky brownish sludge on it. I sent my fiance to buy me 2 quarts of oil just to get it to the walmart service department so they could look at it since I was in the walmart parking lot. I added the oil drove it 100 yards to the service dept of walmart. The service man pulled it into the garage and then informed me a few minutes later that the rear main seal blew and oil was flowing out of it. It was not driveable so I had to have it towed to a GM dealer. The GM dealer called me this morning 1/21/2020 to inform me that the rear main seal blew due to moisture in the intake and a froze the PCV module and caused to much pressure to build up and blew the seal. The dealer quoted the repairs to be $2065.69 and informed me that the repairs are not covered under the GM service bulletin #14882 because my VIN number is not included in the service bulletin.
While moderately accelerating from a stop or while in motion, the transmission slams into a forward gear with a loud noise and jerk. This is an all wheel drive vehicle.
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact's wife heard a grinding noise coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who stated that there was a large hole in the transfer case and the transmission failed. The certified mechanic stated that the transfer case needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.
- Carl Junction, MO, USA
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The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. While the vehicle was stopped in the drive gear, it shut off and then restarted without warning. In addition, when the key was released from the ignition, the vehicle moved. Furthermore, the check engine indicator illuminated and the transmission control module and torque converter warning messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to williams Buick GMC (8201 South blvd, charlotte, nc 28273, (704) 697-1600), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 136,059.
I have to check and add oil to my 2013 GMC Terrain every single time I get gas. This is a huge hazard, because when it is low, the oil light does not illuminate. I am worried for mine and my daughters safety that I will get stranded on the road.
The rear main seal on the engine blew out while driving due to the PCV system being faulty. My car died in the middle of a busy intersection without warning in 10 degree weather with negative 10 degree windchill, leaving my family and stranded without the ability to even get heat into the car.
Local mechanic changes oil and realizes no oil leaks and excessive oil consumption. Tells me about the bulletin and sends me to GMC. Call to make appointment since they agree it's under the special coverage. First visit was to change the oil and start the test 9/28/18 100K miles. Second reading was good 10/27/18 101K miles. Next reading it failed at 102K miles on 12/1/18. They gave me description of what was wrong that fit the bulletin and this astronomical price. I informed them I knew about the bulletin and it should be covered. They then looked my VIN up and said unfortunately my VIN isn't covered even though the year, make, model and motor is the exact as the bulletin. I called GM customer service when my local mechanic told me to on my next oil change with him. 2/28/18 they tell me that the dealership was correct I'm not covered on the special coverage and they aren't sure why. There was nothing else they could do for me. So my motor is noticeably struggling at only 100K miles and there is nothing you can do.
We bought a 2013 GMC Terrain in April 2018 with 129K miles for approximately $15K after tax and title. We had it for about 8 months and were bringing it to a local Chevrolet dealership for routine oil changes every 5,000 miles. About 1000 miles before our next oil change in December 2018, we noticed the engine knocking. The dash illuminated the check engine symbol. We connected an obdii reader to the PCM at a nearby part store. The reader displayed the code P0014; which is relative to "camshaft position 'B' timing over-advanced or system performance bank 1". we discovered the code was associated with low engine oil. We checked the oil level and there was no oil on the dip stick. We needed to poor 3 1/4 quarts of oil into the engine. We needed to add approximately 1 quart of oil every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks thereafter. About a month went by, and in January 2019, the dash displayed an engine power loss message and the engine sounded like that of a diesel engine. When the engine was shut off, we noticed the oil had leaked all over the ground. The vehicle was brought to a mechanic who diagnosed it as having a rear main oil seal failure, piston rings were bad, and the timing chain was bad. We called the dealer where it was purchased. They noted the vehicle was no longer under warranty because it has over 135K miles on it and they were unable to compensate for the damage. We called the GM customer service headquarters directly, and they informed us the vehicle was not listed as having any issues or recalls according to the VIN. $3500 estimate to fix by private mechanic. Vehicle is currently being serviced.
My vehicle currently has approx. 54K miles and I began experiencing serious, dangerous defects with the vehicle on 9/12/2018 when I was backing out a parking stall my car just completely shut off with no warning. I was able to place it in park then restart it and drive about a mile before it shut off again as I was approaching a stop light. I had to coast the car onto a nearby street out of traffic for my and my son's safety. I waited a few moments and was able to restart the engine once more and drove about 2 blocks before it shut off again in the middle of an intersection. I pulled over and called the GM dealer where I purchased it to determine if there had been any recalls or a warranty. I was told I would have to cover towing and diagnostic fees and was not entitled to any type of warranty coverage. I had a test of the battery performed which came back that the battery was not good. I purchased a new battery and had it installed that night. Although, I had a new battery I had another episode of the car shutting off with no warning after trying to back out a parking stall. It will also periodically jerk and hesitate to accelerate at low speeds or when trying to accelerate after coming to a complete stop. On 10/22/18 as I was entering the on ramp to get on the highway in rush hour traffic, the car engine shut off with no warning nor light indicators. I put it in park and was able to restart it so that I can move it to a safe location. The car again would feel jerky at low idle speeds and when I tried to accelerate after coming to a complete stop as I was in bumper to bumper traffic. This has been a dangerous ordeal as a pregnant woman with kids in the car, while on a freeway or road I can easily be hit from behind. My car is only 6 years old with 54K miles on it and should not have such severe defects.
08/17 check engine light came on, took vehicle to a mechanic, he plugged in the computer to assess the code which was P420 after assessing my Terrain he decide that there was not an issue with the converter and reset the computer, told me if the check engine light came on again to bring it back. For the past year I have noticed that I had to add 1 to 2 quarts of oil in between oil changes. I made a right turn and went to excelerate up a small incline and my dash went completely black and my vehicle shut off and started rolling backwards. I applied the break, turned the key off and attempted to restart my Terrain and it would not start. I had to have the vehicle towed home. The next day our mechanic came by our home to look over my vehicle, when the computer was plugged in numerous codes were listed. At that time our mechanic informed us that the motor needed to be replaced. I started to do research and found that this issue is known by GM. I contact GM customer service and was told that my vehicle is outside of the parameters that GM is willing to cover. After additional research found that there is a class action lawsuit for this exact issue with equinoxes and Terrains. Called the dealership where we purchased our Terrain and was referred back to GM customer service, so I called GM customer service again, the representive was very rude and again informed me that I would have to pay out of pocket to repair my vehicle or I could file a complaint with the NHTSA. I have contacted GM customer service 2 additional times as well as the dealership with no luck of a resolution and GM acknowledging that my vehicle would have been included in the "special warranty" however I am outside the 120,000 miles, per the GM representative I have to pay out of pocket to repair or replace my vehicle as they are not responsible due to my current mileage.
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle's power seized without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. A local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000. The VIN was not available.
My car starting sputtering yesterday morning. By lunch, I was a quart low on oil. I added a quart of oil and made it approximately 20 miles when my car started sputtering again, a dashboard light came on saying engine was slowing down and then it died. When I restarted it, the low oil light was on and it said stop engine now. I called tow truck and had it towed to thompson sales in springfield mo - the official GMC dealer. I was called today and told it was the PCV valve that froze up, causing a back up in pressure, causing the rear main seal to blow. I have been doing research on this today, only to find that apparantly there are many GMC Terrains in the 2010-2013 years that have been having the exact same problems. Why is there not a recall on this? when I research it myself, I find numerous complaints of the exact same problem. Apparantly, GMC issued a service bulletin on this exact problem, but there has been no recall. Now, I am looking at having to have a whole new engine put into a car that is only 5 years old.
There are several issues with this vehicle which makes me think this car was a lemon, unreported by original owner, or in a flood; 1st, the rear hatch struts were totally rusted out and inoperable (reinforcing my flood thought.) 2nd, the vehicles mpg is nowhere near the advertised 22/32 - I mentioned my concern several times to the service dept, the sales man, and the certified sale manager; their solution - they reset the gauge on the dashboard! 3rd, within days of my purchase, I noticed a knock under my car that sounded like an axle was going to bust through my floorboard it was knocking so hard! after numerous service repair attempts & visits back to the dealer, one visit lasting approximately 7 days, they think they've fixed the problem. Secondary fuel tank fuel pump module - (contributing to fuel consumption issue?) 4th, the windshield wipers stopped working while I was driving to work, in the fast lane, @ 6am one dark, rainy morning, during a torrential down pour almost causing a major pile up! 5th, check engine light, stumbles and misfires on acceleration, shuts off when stopped at a stop sign or traffic light. Repaired/several hundred dollars later. 6th, the continuing issues have been, but not limited to reduced engine power, rough idle, engine sputters, hesitates, poor gas mileage, & excessive oil consumption. 7th, another check engine light, now fuel-injectors need replaced (another contributor to fuel consumption issue?). after further review of the vehicle's cpo paperwork, this is not the certified vehicle being referred to on the paperwork. There are items checked off on the report that do not apply to this vehicle. I would have never overpaid for a cpo vehicle had I know their "rigorous standards" meant absolutely nothing! I have bought many cars in my life, both new and used cars and never had any of the issues I am having with this vehicle!
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. While driving 35 mph, the gear shifted from drive to neutral without warning. The key was unable to be removed from the ignition because it failed to register when the gear was shifted to park. The vehicle was taken to victory Chevrolet (717 rhyne rd, charlotte, nc 28214 (704) 790-7800), but was not diagnosed due to the diagnostic fees. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V502000 (electrical system, power train). The failure mileage was 93,685.
I have a 2013 GMC Terrain. I bought it used in 2014. It had one previous owner. When I bought this car, I didn't notice the abnormal noise it makes. While the car is either in driver or reverse, it makes a weird ticking noise coming from under the front hood. The noise goes away in park. However, the noise can only be heard when the car idols at a certain RPM. The car makes a rattle like sound when the rpms are low, like between 500 to 1500. For example: When I'm cruising down town at speeds of about 25-45mph, I can here the rattle sound. When I back into my garage, the noise can be heard even louder because the garage amplifies the sound. When I use cruise control to accelerate, it does not make this noise. Only when I put my foot on the gas pedal. When I take my food off the gas, or speed up, the sound goes away. It's not a low oil tick sound. It's a little different, like something is loose and rattling. This noise has always been there but it took me a while to realize it.
GMC Terrain hesitates in shifting between gears. Tachometer shows engine speeds up between shifts, causing a stall/ learch forward between shifting happens more when warm then when cold. Happens consistently after transmission is warmed up.
I notice my car was jerking a little so I took it to the dealer to see what the problem was, the service guy told me I need my air induction clean (cost will be over $200), this cleaning has something to do with my transmission. I have only had my vehicle for a year and the transmission needs cleaning, really. Should this be covered on warranty. A couple of days later, I received a letter in the mail stating a recall on vehicle with E85 fuel system, so call the nearest dealer and see if my vehicle is cover. My question is: Does the E85 have anything to do the air induction system.
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while stopped on an incline and pressure was released from the brake, the vehicle rolled backward and the engine stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who could not diagnose the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 14,945.
- Annaheim, CA, USA
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- Roseville, MI, USA