9.5

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,670
Average Mileage:
80,600 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. replace rear main seal (3 reports)
  3. removing engine and replace seal (2 reports)
  4. replace engine (1 reports)
  5. replace valve cover with integrated pvc system (1 reports)
2017 GMC Terrain engine problems

engine problem

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2017 GMC Terrain Owner Comments

problem #12

Mar 292024

Terrain LX 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

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

My wife and I started on a family vacation and after 1 hour driving the engine began to make a rattling noise. There was no warning light or check engine light on. We pulled over and I checked the oil level and it was empty. I bought oil at a nearby store and tried to start engine. It made terrible clanking noises. We had to call AAA to tow us an hour back home. Had it looked at by a local repair shop and they said it was a forzen PVC valve and that the engine had been drained of oil and seized up. We have had all regular service and regular oil changes and it was not due for another service and only has 82000 miles. The repair shop said the engine needed to be replaced and they knew exactly what it would cost as they had done five of the same repairs in the last month. The cost was $9600. They also said the there were another 7 such engine failures in the past two months that the owner could not afford the repair and the cars were towed to the junk yard.

We are outraged that GMC has been aware of this design error problem for years and have not done a recall or even notified their customers. We can't junk it as we still owe about $8000. So we are stuck and GMC doesn't give a hoot about how they are effecting peoples lives as long as they get their $$$$ up front. Well we are no longer a GMC product customer and will make sure that everyone we can contact via social media are aware of how terrible these products are and how GMC will not stand behind their failures and expect the customers to just suck it up.

- Gary M., Auburn, US

problem #11

Jan 222024

Terrain SLE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,189 miles

My husband and I had an early appointment approximately 20 miles North, the temperature that morning was well below freezing. We drove on the interstate at 70 miles per hour to our appointment, no problem. Upon driving away the vehicle started acting like it was going to quit so we were looking at all gauges, NOTHING! so we decided to take a different route home, approximately 2 miles down the highway the gauge says "motor power down" at this point we had a line of vehicles behind us and were trying to get to a part of the highway that had a shoulder. The vehicle was not making any unusual noise nor did the gauges say anything. Well after avoiding 2 accidents we pulled over and called a tow truck. They said there was oil all underneath and upon further examination the motor was no more! Understand that I had had my vehicle serviced in the timely manner that is required and if I didn't owe $8,000,00 on my vehicle, I would have had it towed to a junk yard but unfortunately for me my vehicle is sitting in my driveway and has been since the tow truck dropped it off here. ...Upon contacting the dealership, GMC and every parts company online and local we are looking at around $6,000 plus to repair. And so, it can happen again??? GMC knows and has known about the PCV valve causing oil; to push out of the front and rear seal. So, my advice is DO NOT PURCHASE this year or make a vehicle!! And I had no luck with the dealership or GMC! No recall....BS

- Rene S., Sikeston, US

problem #10

Jan 222024

Terrain

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Vehicle just died in middle of main road and had to be towed to a service station. It was diagnosed that the main seal was blown probably because of a clogged PCV. Vehicle had no oil in it and is sitting in a parking lot waiting to be looked at again.

- Robert S., Dedham, US

problem #9

Jan 182024

Terrain SLE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

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

As numerous others have mentioned, the stabilitrak failure light first came on. Soon after the engine started making some noise. Low Oil Pressure Light, Turn Engine Off came on once the engine was completely drained of ALL oil. I put 2 quarts in the engine drove 4 miles home and the remains quart of oil in the vehicle completely drained out on my driveway. Had it towed to the dealership today. I reached out to a mechanic friend of mine who reports the job should take 8.2 hours according to a site the mechanics check. The dealership quoted me 14 hours @ 129/ hour for a total of $2400. This car has had the oil changed regularly and has been well taken care of, the tech reports it's normal for the rear seal to blow out @ 86,000 miles!

Update from Mar 22, 2024: The dealership we took the car to explained that it is normal for the rear main seal to blow and that nothing else was needed. We took it to a privately owned garage where it was meticulously explained that 1. These engines are known to blow the rear main due to the small hole clogging in extreme cold weather and that 2. the extent of the damage would not be known until the mechanic was inside the engine. Due to the thorough explanation and the fact the manager of this shop worked at a prominent Chevrolet dealer we decided to have the car fixed at this garage. The manager, Chad reported he had fixed hundreds of 2.4 L Chevy engines. Once inside the engine it was found that yes the small vent was clogged, 2. The timing chain guard was broke and 3. The exhaust manifold was cracked in 2 places. No scoring was discovered within the cylinders; however, due to the fact the whole top of the engine would be apart we decided to spend an extra 1200 to make it essentially a brand new engine. The total bill was $5169.90. FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 86,000 miles. Oil was regularly changed by the DEALER (who apparently was not using the correct type of oil!) If anyone lives in Lancaster, Ohio or the surrounding area and needs work done I would highly recommend Junes Auto. Call (740)277-7507. Chad is the manager and is incredibly knowledgable. He took his time to explain all the possible scenarios and was up front and honest about every facet of the process.

- Chad H., Lancaster, OH, US

problem #8

Feb 042023

Terrain SLT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,587 miles

GM 2.4L PCV System Froze, Engine Main Real Seal Failure

My wife and I own a 2017 GMC Terrain SLT with a 2.4L engine. On Saturday morning, February 4, 2023, with the temperature down to 1 degree Fahrenheit here in Buffalo, New York with a wind chill temperature of around negative -12 degrees.

While waiting in a drive thru about 2 miles from my home, we heard a pop and the engine sputtered, close to stalling a few times. The engine then seemed to run OK, so we drove the vehicle directly home and parked it in the driveway, Later that morning when I pulled it into the garage, I noticed a large oil stain on the driveway where the vehicle had been parked, which is odd since we’ve not had any drips from this engine prior to this incident. I then checked the oil level and didn’t see any registering on the dipstick. It took 2 quarts to bring it back up to normal levels. I then started the engine again and looking under the vehicle, I could see oil dripping heavily where the back of the engine meets the transmission. We kept the vehicle parked in the garage until I could get it in for service on Monday Feb 6, 2023.

Searching the internet, I found that the above scenario, in which the PCV system builds up pressure and blows out the main rear seal, occurred to a number of other 2.4L owners, especially those in colder climates. Paddock Chevrolet is less than 1 mile from my house so I felt I could get there with the engine oil being topped off. On Monday morning, February 6, 2023, I drove my vehicle over to Paddock Chevy and explained the situation to them and the possible issue. Paddock Chevrolet called me back later that morning and confirmed the PCV system clogged/froze and the main real seal failed. The total repair bill ended up being $3,177 but could have been higher if the engine had lost all of its oil. The Service Advisor told me that they actually had another vehicle in for service with the same exact problem as mine.

I see that there was a GM Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 14882) opened back in March 2015 but this TSB only covered 2010-2013 GMC Terrains with a 2.4L. In this TSB, GM did recommend for full customer reimbursement but only up to March 2016. I feel that my 2017 GMC Terrain (2.4L) had the same engine problem as referenced under TSB 14882 and feel GM should reimburse me as well as other customers in this same situation.

- William M., Buffalo, US

problem #7

Dec 242022

Terrain SLE 2.4L Echotec

  • Automatic transmission
  • 144,000 miles

I live approximately 9 miles west of Joplin, MO. I was returning home from the North Park Mall in Joplin on Christmas Eve at 10 am. The temperature was 2 degrees and when I was on Route 66 highway, two miles from home, the engine shuttered, lost power, and kept running like on a "fail-safe" mode. The rocker arms started becoming really bad as well. As I turned into my driveway, the engine started knocking. As soon as I parked, I shut it off and went inside my house. I did not go back outside until Christmas Day. I checked my oil and my dipstick was dry; there was not oil in the engine. I walked out of my driveway and could see an oil trail from the path I took on Christmas Eve. We normally don't have weather that severe in my location. After researching online, I found there is a common problem with the PVC Evac system. When it warmed up, I pulled the tube out of the PVC system and water poured out from thawing. I have not driven the car since and I'm quite unsure of what to do about it. If anybody has any solutions or suggestions, please let me know. Thank you and have a great day.

- penevets, Riverton, US

problem #6

Dec 252022

Terrain SLE-2 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,150 miles

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

On Sunday, December 25th, 2022 (Christmas Morning), my husband and I were driving to our church from Jackson MI to Chelsea MI, then had plans to go to our daughter's home in Pontiac MI afterwards. We drove on I94 to our exit, and on the offramp my husband noticed that the Terrain was making a funny noise--we went right around the corner into the parking lot and by then it was shaking and getting noisier. My husband popped the hood and realized the engine was knocking, and there was a trail of oil in front of it--he had backed it into the space. He shut the engine off and after church we had it towed home. We had it towed to Jim Winter Auto Group on Tuesday, December 27th, and the service department diagnosed the problem as the emissions (PCV) being clogged, and because of this the rear main seal on the engine blew out.

We have a 7 year/125,000 mile extended warranty on this Terrain--(bought on 1/11/2019--and now has just over 80,000 miles on it). We were sold this warranty when we bought the vehicle at Jim Winter, and we were told it would cover "everything except wear and tear". It certainly does NOT fall within the same category as brakes, struts, etc.

Upon further investigation we are finding that this is a known manufacturer defect, and the only real "fix" is to make sure the ports are cleaned out when we have the oil changed. Jim Winter has done all of the oil changes on this vehicle--never once was it suggested we have this done. Now we are told the warranty we bought will not cover the repair. This is not "wear and tear"--there should be a recall on this issue for the vehicles with that certain PCV emissions part. There is a class action lawsuit that was filed for this--there are lots of others who have had the exact same issue with the PCV clogging up and blowing out the rear main seal.

We feel the repairs should have been completely covered by GM and the extended warranty we paid for, and there needs to be a solution to this problem so it does not happen again. GM should be standing by their vehicles and own it when there is a known issue. I will NEVER buy another GM product.

- Patricia A., Jackson, MI, US

problem #5

Dec 272022

Terrain 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,445 miles

Had a rear main seal installed in February after a cold spell. Dealer said it wasn't covered in the bulletin and they don't know why it would do that. Now the 2017 is in the new technical service bulletin but has no special coverage or recalls. I guess I will have to pay to get it done again and do the other stuff that is in the technical service bulletin now.

- Robert J., Columbia, US

problem #4

Feb 082021

Terrain SLE-2 2.4L Dohc 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,219 miles

I don't like the fact that I had to pay 1,900.00$ for a manufactured flaw in a 32,500.00$ vehicle with 60,000 miles, not to mention that they have known about it since 2010, and the same thing could happen to it again. I think its time to fix the problem General Motor. $$$$

- pitzer, Canfield, US

problem #3

Feb 142020

Terrain

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles

GMC terrain has a poor design. Engine has vibration issues which will all lead to future issues.

- Pat B., Grover, US

problem #2

Mar 052021

Terrain SLE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,163 miles

Well this is first GMC we purchased and it will be our last!! Bought 2017 Terrain for $15,000.00 and only 1 year later had to spend $1,900 to fix!! Apparently GMC knew of this issue and instead of recalls for the Positive crankcase ventilation system freezing causing oil pressure to rise too high and blow out the rear main seal (because that would be too costly for them), they let supply auto shop with revised engine valve cover and drill out ports on the intake manifold/engine and replace the rear main seal (all at the customers expense) and not only that but was informed to keep an eye on oil levels in between oil changes because these are known for excessive oil consumption... A quart of oil every 1,000 miles... sooo sorry we chose this vehicle to purchase (NEVER AGAIN GMC)...

We have owned a Chrysler Town n Country since 2007 and have NEVER had to spend this kind of money in repairs!!!! And it still runs great, so save the headache and pocketbook and buy yourself a Chrysler instead!!! I will tell everyone i know how shady GMC is and how crappy their vehicles are!! And shame on you GMC for being aware of these issues and not taking any action to correct them. I am only thankful this did not blow the engine since there was absolutely NO WARNING THAT THE OIL WAS LOW OR EMPTY... SERIOUS FLAW!!!

- Denise S., Grand Rapids, MI, US

problem #1

Feb 062021

Terrain SLE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

Faulty PCV and intake gets clogged and then freeze, causing crank case pressure to blow the rear main seal. Extended warranty purchased from Serpentini Chevrolet of Medina refuses to cover the repair because they don't cover gaskets or seals even though the faulty non serviceable pcv and intake caused it to blow.

The vehicle only has 68000 miles and there is no reason the seal should have blown. I just purchased the car in October. Now I'm going to have to fix this myself and evidently repeat it again every winter since the faulty parts aren't serviceable and there is no way that I can prevent it from happening again.

- Big C., Canton, OH, US

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