GMC Terrain Complaints

3,167 consumer complaints on file.

#11758896August 23, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
The brake suddenly became impossible to depress more than 3/4 of an inch. Almost unable to stop nearly hitting another vehicle. The dashboard then lit up with a "service brake system" warning. Luckily was only a few minutes from home brought it home and began the search for the issue. The brake vacuum pump failed. Unsure of further damage at this point. It being Sunday am unable to contact a shop or dealer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758926August 23, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Subject: Urgent: Unresolved Ongoing Vehicle Issues - Request for Contact To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong frustration regarding ongoing and unresolved issues with my vehicle. Ever since I purchased it, I have been plagued by constant alerts regarding various vehicle failures. My vehicle has already been reset and updated twice to address these issues. I just picked it up after it was supposedly fixed at the dealership this past Thursday. However, today, Sunday, [XXX], the exact same warning alerts have started popping up once again. This situation is unacceptable, and I need someone to reach out to us immediately to discuss a permanent resolution. Please contact us at either of the following numbers: Primary Phone: [XXX] Secondary Phone: [XXX] I expect a prompt reply to arrange the next steps. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758788August 22, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
The paint on top of these kind of vehicles is peeling off tremendously, I've seen several vehicles like the same model& make in my neighborhood that have the same issues like mine with the paint coming off from the top of the vehicle. It's so badd to where it's corroding from the paint coming off!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758514August 21, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while her son was driving 45 MPH, the brake pedal was firm while depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, excessive force was needed on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The following day, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with an inoperable vacuum pump that was shredded and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758591August 21, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On Saturday, August 15th we were driving on the freeway when with no warning the check engine light came on and the vehicle began to run poorly, and then the vehicle lost electrical power and it became difficult to steer and the brake pedal became stiff, making it difficult to stop and pull over. The vehicle would not start on command but kept running very poorly, it also became impossible to shut the vehicle off until it seized. It was later towed to a local repair shop, and today, Friday August 21st the shop confirmed that the vacuum pump on the brake assist failed and it would need a total engine replacement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758661August 21, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER, STRUCTURE:BODY
This is the second time I have noticed storm heavy rain that my car is taken on water. We had an extremely heavy rain in June and no windows was left open. I did not know water had gotten into my car for an entire month when I heard a solution sale when I came to a break, what I did realize is that there was condensation buildup is inside of my car, but it was not sure why. After searching, I was able to locate and discover thatI had at least 3 inches of water standing water in my spare tire, section of my trunk. There was also an extreme amount of water on my floors in the back row once I took out my mats, I found there to be mold back there.Still unsure of how t the water got into the car I used my shop vac to suck out the water. We just had an extreme amount of heavy rain again. We are now in August. We just had extremely heavy amounts of rain and once again there’s water in the well trunk of my car where the spare tire is. I actually made sure to sit outside in my car during this heavy rain storm to see where the water was coming from. It appears that the water is coming from the sunroof, which then leaks to the back on the right hand side where the outlet socket is. I watched it dripped down into the back of the trunk into the spare tire well. I do not understand why this issue has not triggered a a recall yet as I’m noticing this is not just with my car. This is apparently the sixth or seventh car that has experienced this issue and GMC has yet to do a recall on it. This is very alarming and concerning God forbid I’m driving to work or I have one of my children in the car during a heavy rain storm and it hits the electrical wires or electrical panel with something else bad happens.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757862August 19, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
While driving, I suddenly smelled something burning. Immediately after, a warning popped up stating 'Engine power is reducing,' the check engine light came on, and I experienced a sudden, near-total loss of power braking assist, making the brake pedal extremely hard to press. I had to use intense force to bring the vehicle to a stop. A scan of the vehicle's OBD-II codes revealed codes P0556 (Brake Booster Pressure Sensor Circuit), P0014 (Exhaust Camshaft Position Timing Over-Advanced), and P0017 (Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation). This is a known failure where the engine-driven mechanical brake vacuum pump seizes up, destroys the braking vacuum assist, and bends or shifts the exhaust camshaft reluctor wheel, causing a severe and immediate safety hazard while in motion.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757612August 18, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
The car’s brakes hardened on the highway, posing a life-threatening danger, right before the engine died. Following a tow to the dealership’s service center, an initial inspection revealed a broken vacuum pump and broken camshaft. The dealership stated that there was evidence that camshaft debris may be scattered throughout the engine. No further inspection has been done at this time due to the probability of major engine damage and/or potential repairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756995August 14, 2026
ENGINE
The timing chain snapped and caused the engine to seize on our 2016 GMC Terrain 2.4L SLC-1 SUV/Truck. Since this has occurred multiple times on the 2.4L engines in this model from 2012 - 2016, we believe that there should be a recall as this issue could cause a major accident if the timing chain snaps or breaks while traveling. It had 101000 miles on it when we bought it used from Klein Automotive, on April 12, 2024. We have only had it for 2 years and 4 months and kept it in good repair. We took it in for its oil change, brought it home, went to dinner 4 days after and the very next day it wouldn't start. We thought it was most likely the starter/solenoid, but the mechanic said those were both fine and that's when we got the bad news that the motor was shot because the timing chain broke which caused some engine rods to break. The GMC dealer, in Marinette, WI, we brought our used 2016 GMC Terrain to, told us that the timing chain stretched and broke the rods in the engine and therefore both the timing chain and engine need to be replaced. The check engine light was turning on all of the time, and we were told that it was because it needed the 88 fuels (medium grade). As long as we put in the 88, the light check engine light stayed off. We believe there should be a recall for the 2012 - 2016 GMC Terrain SLC-1 2.4L timing chain and engine. We also need assistance with the cost of the repairs because I'm on a limited income and cannot afford the $10,000 cost of getting this repaired, while I still owe $7800 on it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757080August 14, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SUV shut down when I was driving with no warning. OBD reader Code P129F Fuel pump power control Module is bad GM has recall #N252516900 lists my year and make of my SUV but my VIN# is not included and GMC said that it will not covered because the vin is not on the list.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756698August 13, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
During heavy rain, the sunroof on my Terrain leaked badly enough to allow a substantial amount of water into the vehicle. The rear floor area became completely saturated, and the sunroof controls stopped working. I brought the vehicle to Hudson Cadillac Buick GMC in Poughkeepsie, New York, to have the problem diagnosed and repaired. The resulting repairs and water-damage cleanup cost me nearly $3,000 out of pocket. I was advised that the damage was not covered by my warranty or by my insurance. What concerns me most, however, is that this does not appear to have been an isolated incident. While my Terrain was at the dealership, I learned that four other GMC Terrains were also at the dealership experiencing water damage related to leaking sunroofs. Mine was the fifth. Finding five Terrains at the same dealership with what appeared to be similar water-intrusion problems was extremely concerning to me and made me question whether this is a recurring issue with these vehicles. I also have a video provided by the dealership documenting the water damage to my vehicle, and I am happy to provide that video, my repair invoice, photographs, or any other documentation you would like to review. They went to great lengths to dry the vehicle, which was especially important to me because I was extremely concerned about hidden moisture and dangerous mold. Thankfully, after their work, there is no odor and no indication of remaining moisture or mold, and I am very satisfied with the quality of the repair and cleanup. The extent of the water damage was frightening. At one point, I was genuinely concerned that I might have to get rid of the vehicle simply because I was afraid of the long-term consequences of having so much water inside it. I am very grateful that the dealership was able to restore the vehicle so thoroughly but there is still a possibility that the repair will fail and I will have to replace the sunroof module.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755920August 10, 2026
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
While driving my 2018 GMC Terrain, the vehicle suddenly displayed an “Engine Power Reduced” warning and the brakes became extremely hard to press. The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of normal power-brake assist while it was in motion, creating a serious safety risk because significantly greater pedal force was required to stop the vehicle. I was able to pull over safely. After stopping, the vehicle would crank but would not start. The vehicle was towed to a GMC dealership for inspection. The dealership documented that the vehicle had a suspected failed/broken vacuum pump, a damaged exhaust camshaft, and a damaged exhaust camshaft actuator. The dealership subsequently documented that the engine was severely sludged and stated that the sludge caused the vacuum pump to fail, which then caused the exhaust camshaft to twist and damage the exhaust camshaft actuator. The dealership’s written diagnosis recommends replacement of the exhaust camshaft, exhaust camshaft actuator, vacuum pump, and associated one-time-use parts. The dealership has also documented diagnostic trouble codes P0014 and P0017. The failed vacuum pump and related components should be available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has been inspected by a GMC dealership, which has documented the suspected vacuum pump failure and resulting engine damage. The sudden loss of power-brake assist occurred while the vehicle was being driven and created a potentially dangerous loss of braking capability. I am reporting this because I believe the failure of the vacuum pump and resulting loss of brake assist may represent a safety-related defect requiring investigation, particularly because the vehicle experienced a hard brake pedal without prior warning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755772August 9, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
While driving my 2019 GMC Terrain on local roads, the vehicle suffered a sudden and complete failure of the braking system. The brake pedal became extremely hard to press, and the dashboard displayed a critical error message stating 'Engine Power is Reduced.' during this frightening safety incident i felt lucky to bring the car to a stop without an accident. The vehicle had to be flatbed towed to a repair facility. This sudden loss of power braking is a known, documented defect matching the engine-driven brake vacuum pump failures currently subject to federal class-action litigation (Thieme v. General Motors). I am requesting a formal safety investigation into why the GMC Terrain was excluded from previous GM vacuum pump recalls despite posing an identical, life-threatening risk to occupants."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755777August 9, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
For an undetermined amount of time- many months for certain, I have been unable to get the key removed from the ignition when the car is shut off and placed in the locked position. I am forced to start and shut off the car for multiple times before I am finally able to remove the key. There is no rhyme no reason as to why the key finally decides to come out. This is obviously caused no accidents, however, it has become a constant source of frustration as it happens constantly. I have taken it to the dealership, and other than charging me for their exam, they had no answers as to the problem or how to resolve it. That was an absolute waste of time, and certainly my money. I have also taken it to a couple of other places without any diagnosis of the problem. I am finally taking it to someone who I know to be reputable, and hope the diagnosis can be made, without tremendous expense on my part.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755736August 9, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car suffered a long crank, then stalled completely while moving on a public road, which is a severe safety hazard.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755672August 8, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My 2022 GMC Terrain left me on the side of the road today with a fuel pump module failure. After having it towed to the dealership I began looking to see if this is a known problem. I see that there was a recall for the 2022 GMC Terrain, but my VIN is not listed on that recall. MY FUEL PUMP MODULE FAILED! I think that my VIN was left off of recall list. GMC should pay to repair this!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755525August 7, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving home from work my 2020 GMC Terrain stalled and turned off. I was on a very busy 2 lane road, crossing a intersection in a tourist area in [XXX]. This could have be come fatal very easily. I was able to get the car started and Home but had to take it very slow. Next day we weren't able to get the car started nor turned on. Battery is new and still works, we also had a mechanic come to the house and run his computer telling us it was the Fuel Pump Control Module. There were no warning signs leading up to this moment. I see there has been recalls for the same issue for 2021 and 2022 models but my GMC dealership I bought my car at is telling this isn't an issue in any Terrain that they are aware of. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755351August 6, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When the gas is mashed to accelerate, the car does not want to go. It has left me stranded and rolling in the middle of traffic. I am scared to drive it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755239August 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:BLINDSPOT:SOFTWARE, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
The contact owns a 2026 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that after a software update was performed, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Departure Lane Limited due to the Trailer" was displayed. The failure affected the blind spot warning system. The warning light failed to display while approaching a vehicle on the blindside and erroneously operated while there were no vehicles on the side of the vehicle. Additionally, the "Rear Cross Traffic Warning" light was affected by the failure. The vehicle experienced hard braking while there was no other vehicle nearby. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with sensor failure caused by an impact to the sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,350.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755143August 5, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Because of the intentional failure of GMC and there promise of “We are Professional Grade”, I almost got plowed down by a semi when the car began to quit on the highway going 60. After pulling into the next driveway, which happened to be a Parker’s Kitchen, and ending up on the curb spot, thanking God I wasn’t dead, I sat there for a moment wondering what just happened. As I went to restart the car, it wasn’t having any of it. 40,000 miles, not professional grade GMC, circus grade. Towed it to my home, figuring it has to be something minor and a diy fix. Bought the hyper-tough code reader delivered by Walmart and it delivered professional grade results: U18A2, P1787 and P187E. I am beyond pissed. I could have died due to your intentional negligence in manufacturing. I have a car that will not start, with payments. I have searched the internet and found your “save ourselves plan” and let’s do a voluntary recall starting with 2021 on the same failed parts I am dealing with at the moment. Thanks GMC, who is the ringleader of your circus?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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