GMC Terrain Complaints

3,167 consumer complaints on file.

#11743318June 10, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The turbo went completely out at around 105k miles while I was driving to work. I had to coast into a repair shop because it was smoking and wouldn’t go over 20mph and then have it towed to the place that repaired it. Since then, the transmission is having trouble shifting gears. The car struggles to accelerate and I have to go abnormally slow after coming to a complete stop in order for the car to get into gear. The onstar diagnostic says everything is fine but it is clearly not fine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743328June 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am reporting an auto dealership and its finance company for contract fraud, electronic profile manipulation, and using illegal repossession threats to cover it up. During my vehicle purchase, the dealership used deceptive bait-and-switch tactics. They altered my final contract numbers without my consent, hid account ledgers, and changed how my down payment was applied. Crucially, they entered falsified financial metrics and manipulated personal tracking data within the electronic underwriting systems and lending networks to force a loan approval that never should have happened. The business records prove the companies have known about this active fraud dispute since March 31st, when I placed a formal cease-and-desist call to management. Instead of stopping collection activities to investigate the fraud, they ignored my notices, hid my payment histories, and completely refused to cooperate. Now, even though these companies are actively being sued in state court for these exact consumer protection violations, they are weaponizing aggressive repossession threats to try and bypass judicial oversight. The dealership sent a physical letter threatening immediate repossession while openly admitting my dispute flags had been active since March 31st. Shortly after, on the exact same day their legal counsel received the court lawsuit papers, the finance company mailed an aggressive notice threatening a live repossession of my vehicle by a strict deadline of July 2nd. They are deliberately using extrajudicial intimidation to seize the physical vehicle and cover their tracks before a state court judge can audit their electronic fraud. I request that NHTSA investigate this dealership and finance company for predatory marketplace practices and falsifying transaction information in electronic auto systems.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742996June 9, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
A diagnostic test was ran on my vehicle and the only code that came back was issues with my fuel pump system. A recall for the issue is in place. However, my VIN number is not included. I took the vehicle to the closes GMC dealer and they replaced the fuel pump module. Within 2 weeks, the engine light came back on. I contacted the dealer and was instructed to keep driving the vehicle, the vehicle maybe resetting itself. I did and the engine light went off. Within 2 more weeks, the engine light came back on. I took it to the dealer and now they are telling me I need a new fuel pump. This leads me to believe the problem was not fixed and anything related to the fuel pump should have been examined and/or fixed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742733June 8, 2026
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On June 7, 2026, I was driving my 2020 GMC Terrain. I was going at about 40MPH along a very busy main road. While slowing for a red light the Check Engine Light turned on and the car displayed a notice about reduced engine power. Seconds later, the brake pedal became stuck and would not press down all the way and I lost braking ability. The car rattled/shook violently, made a grinding noise, and then the engine shut off and the car stopped abruptly, narrowly avoiding hitting the car in front of us. I turned on the hazard lights. I was not able to get the car to start again, nor was I able to get the car to shift into any other gear including neutral. We were nearly hit by other vehicles multiple times while attempting to get the car to move again, and to get myself and my child safely out of the road. Myself and multiple bystanders attempted to engage the transmission interlock override multiple time. We were eventually able to engage it and push the car to the side of the road. This failure created an extremely unsafe situation for all involved as this road is very busy and there were numerous near-collisions both with my disabled vehicle, and with other drivers serving out of the way and into other lanes at the last second. As time went on and the battery drained, most of the car's exterior lights turned off and other drivers had a hard time seeing my car. I used a strobe flashlight to alert other drivers but this required that I had to stand in the road near the vehicle. Police were called immediately when I found that we could not move the car out of the road, but they did not arrive. Ultimately the vehicle was stuck and inoperable in a travel lane for over two hours. The car was then towed to a nearby repair shop. The mechanic evaluation stated that the brake vacuum pump had failed resulting in loss of braking ability and expensive damage to the engine and other components. The manufacturer is aware of this issue. See: Thieme, et al. v. General Motors LLC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742755June 8, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
The brake vacuum pump had a catastrophic failure which resulted in the immediate loss of all brakes in the vehicle. I had the vehicle repaired only to find that GM has issued numerous repair bulletins to dealers and mechanics. This appears to be an issue known to them. As the vehicle was repaired, the parts are no longer available for inspection. This was a danger to me and others around me because I was traveling 60mph down hill with no means to slow or stop. I narrowly avoided an accident. There were no warning lamps before the incident. A warning lamp did come on after the loss of brakes but only after I attempted to brake.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742854June 8, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
During my daily commute to work on the interstate the service break assist message came on my dash and when attempting to break the pedal was very hard, to the point where I had to push extremely hard and quickly realized I had to brake much much soon than normal to prevent hitting other vehicles. Sudden loss of brakes put me and other drivers at risk due to my near inability to slow down or stop and the sudden and unexpected nature of the event.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742437June 6, 2026
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
I am a [XXX] resident. While commuting to work in [XXX], my GMC Terrain experienced a sudden, catastrophic failure of the brake vacuum pump while traveling at highway speeds. When I attempted to slow down for the exit, the brake pedal instantly became extremely stiff and nearly impossible to depress. I realized I had suffered an absolute loss of power braking assist. To avoid a high-speed collision with heavy highway traffic, I was forced to deliberately steer onto the roadside rumble strips, relying on tire friction to slow the vehicle down. This severe near-miss left me terrified and distraught. Because the shoulder was narrow, my disabled vehicle was left partially protruding into the active roadway. Passing cars sped by so close that my vehicle was violently rocking, creating an incredibly unsafe situation. I was forced to call the State Police for emergency assistance. They dispatched a trooper and a tow truck to remove me and the vehicle safely from the highway. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic in Massachusetts. The mechanic discovered that the vacuum pump had internally exploded. This explosion sent catastrophic metal shards and debris directly into the engines oil galleys and oiling system. While the vehicle has 121,776 miles, this is not a normal wear-and-tear component failure. The brake vacuum pump suffered a catastrophic internal mechanical explosion at highway speeds, completely eliminating my ability to stop the vehicle. A mechanical component failure should never cause an immediate, life-threatening loss of brake control, regardless of mileage. This is a known, systemic engineering defect that is currently the subject of active federal class-action litigation (XXX v. General Motors LLC). This defect did not just cause an immediate life-threatening braking failure, it completely contaminated the oiling system, destroyed the entire engine, and rendered the vehicle a total loss requiring a full engine replacement. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742386June 5, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
My 2016 GMC Terrain 2.4L Ecotec first stalled while idling at a red light in Raleigh, NC. I restarted it and it sounded different, so I drove it home. The next morning it would not start. The failure occurred at approximately 69,939 miles with no meaningful warning. The dealer’s diagnostic report states there were no current relevant codes and no relevant codes in history. The dealer documented major timing-system failure: timing chain tensioner failure, timing chain guide failure, a timing chain guide bolt pulled out of the cylinder head, aluminum contamination in the cylinder head/oiling system, and engine replacement recommended. The vehicle was found unsafe to operate. This vehicle regularly transported my family, including my children. If the stall/no-start failure had occurred at highway speed, while merging, or in heavier traffic, it could have created a serious crash risk. The oil was maintained outside the dealership network and had been serviced before failure. I also topped off the oil shortly before this occurred. The 2.4L Ecotec engine family is known for oil-consumption issues, yet this vehicle gave me no direct warning that oil consumption had reached a dangerous level. A reasonable owner would not know to check oil every day when there were no relevant stored warning codes. Other NHTSA complaints involving 2016 GMC Terrain vehicles describe similar patterns: oil consumption, no warning lights, sudden stalling or no-start conditions, timing-chain failure, and engine replacement recommendations. I am filing because this appears to be an ongoing safety risk involving oil consumption without adequate warning, timing-chain/timing-guide failure, internal contamination, and sudden engine failure. I request NHTSA review this issue for investigation or recall expansion before this failure mode causes a preventable serious crash, injury, or fatality. The vehicle was inspected by a GMC dealer and remains unrepaired.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742410June 5, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
Vacuum pump that supplies vacuum to brake booster failed without any warnings beforehand leaving us without the ability to stop. Luckily was able to avoid an accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741914June 3, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
No warning before headlights gave up
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741552June 2, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My car has started stalling and dying when i slow down, take off or when idling. No power when accelerated, and the smell of exhaust comes into my car. I was making a turn from a red light and my car spit, sputtered, and died right in the middle of the busy intersection. I was almost hit from the rear and another car had to go into on coming traffic to avoid T boning me. I took it to 2 different places to get a diagnosis reading and both places said it was a catalyst problem, and I was told that there was a recall about that because of engine oil clogging it up. My car has been using more oil than usual here lately and im guessing thats why. Now, im afraid to drive anywhere because I don't feel like it safe and the fact that my car doesn't run good enough to drive. I was told by more than 1 person that knows mechanics, that its a issue with the catalyst and that it had a recall on it but I never received one. This is a very concerning safety issue, and one that needs immediate attention before someone gets badly hurt (or worse) because of a bad car part . My car is literally just a lawn ornament now until I can get this issue resolved. I need my car to make a living and support my family. PLEASE, get the recall letters out and get this fixed before someone loses a life.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741516June 2, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have had 2 different instances where my vehicle stops in the middle of a busy intersection or traffic and have no warning what so ever. Vehicle just shuts off and I am not able to turn back on to move out of the way. First time I got it repaired it was related to the fuel pump and now I am waiting to hear back from my mechanic to see what the issue is but so far it is an indication of the fuel pump as well. Both times I required help from law enforcement because vehicle shut off in the middle of the road and safety to myself and other drivers was an issue until tow truck arrived to move my vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741315June 1, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Transmission wouldnt shift. Sensor in car is causing issue, code is N 202321840
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740826May 29, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and the engine stalled. The contact attempted to drive the vehicle to the shoulder of the road, the engine seized. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel pump. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel injector. The contact was informed that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed Number 3 fuel injector. The contact was informed that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. The parts were ordered, and the vehicle was being repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740175May 26, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious and dangerous brake failure involving my 2020 GMC Terrain SLT with approximately 150,000 miles. While driving, the vehicle suddenly experienced a vacuum pump failure that caused a severe loss of braking ability with no warning beforehand. The brake pedal became extremely hard, and the vehicle would barely stop. This created a very dangerous situation and could have easily resulted in a serious accident. Thankfully, I was not driving at a high speed when the failure occurred, and there were no vehicles directly in front of me at the time. However, only minutes earlier I had been traveling approximately 65–70 mph on the highway. If this brake failure had occurred while driving at highway speeds or in heavy traffic, I truly believe it could have caused a major crash resulting in serious injury or death. What concerns me most is that there was no warning before the brakes failed. No warning lights and no issues with my brakes. The sudden loss of braking power was extremely frightening and created an immediate safety hazard. After researching this issue, I discovered that other GMC and GM vehicle owners have reported similar vacuum pump failures and brake assist problems. I believe this is a significant safety issue that should be investigated further. Drivers should not experience sudden brake failure without warning, especially on a vehicle that otherwise appeared to be operating normally beforehand. I am very thankful no one was injured in my situation, but I am concerned that another driver may not be as fortunate. My vehicle had to be towed to a nearby shop and they suspected it was the vacuum pump failure and the car started smoking badly. so I had it towed to the GMC dealership and they called me today to confirm that was the problem and it also caused damage to the camshaft. This is a known issue with the terrain and there is currently a class action lawsuit.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740102May 26, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was driving the vehicle on the highway the cruise control was on. All of a sudden I got a warning on vehicle info panel that stated vehicle power is reduced. The vehicle decelerated on its own and I could not accelerate past 55. The check engine light came on. I pulled off the road and turned the vehicle off. After about 10 minutes, I started the car back up and proceeded down the highway at normal speed. The check engine light remained on. I stopped at a Chevrolet dealer service center in Ft Stockton, TX, to have the vehicle looked at. They could find no error codes and could not duplicate the problem. I was sent on my way. This has happened multiple times while driving on roads in my area. Mostly while on the highway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739875May 25, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
While traveling on the highway in traffic, brakes became very stiff when depressed after attempting to slow down to exit. Was able to put full bodyweight into the brake pedal to slow enough to exit and navigate to the gas station right off the exit. Had to roll stop signs and unsafely navigate traffic because brakes were not working. Service Brake System warning light came on after the incident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739681May 23, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Gas leaking from the hood. High pressure fuel pump
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739556May 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2022 GMC Terrain after experiencing a sudden infotainment system failure that also disabled my backup camera functionality. The infotainment screen in my vehicle suddenly went completely black without warning and without any physical damage to the vehicle. The screen failure caused the backup camera to stop functioning as well, creating a significant safety concern while reversing and parking. The vehicle currently has approximately 50,000 miles. When I contacted the GMC dealership regarding the issue, I was informed that this is a common problem with GMC Terrains. However, because my factory warranty expired only weeks before the failure occurred, GMC declined to provide any financial assistance or goodwill repair coverage despite acknowledging the issue is commonly seen. This defect directly impacts federally required rear visibility safety equipment and creates unnecessary risk to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and surrounding vehicles. Backup cameras are an essential safety feature, and the sudden failure of the infotainment system removes access to that safety function entirely. I believe this may be a widespread defect involving the infotainment and electrical systems in the 2022 GMC Terrain and request that NHTSA investigate this issue further for potential recall or manufacturer accountability.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738911May 19, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2019 GMC Terrain has a faulty back up camera system. It shows a blue screen that says Service rear view camera system, This has been a faulty system for years until it finally stopped working completely. I have researched the issue and have discovered this is a known problem. There was a Service Bulletin 19-NA-076 dated April of 2019. Why has there not been a recall for this safety issue?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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