2013 GMC Terrain Engine Problems
Owners have filed 197 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2013 GMC Terrain, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 91,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (26% of reports).
- 197engine complaints
- 91,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $2,650typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 51 of 197 complaints (26%)
- Timing chain: mentioned in 27 of 197 complaints (14%)
- Rear main: mentioned in 19 of 197 complaints (10%)
- Special coverage: mentioned in 10 of 197 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2013 GMC Terrain at $2,650, and half of them between $1,750 and $4,200.
Based on 18 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2018–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 133 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 197 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
GMC Terrain engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Terrain | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2025 Terrain | 2 | 15% | 1,126 |
| 2024 Terrain | 11 | 21% | 6,766 |
| 2023 Terrain | 15 | 38% | 41,000 |
| 2022 Terrain | 10 | 17% | 66,000 |
| 2021 Terrain | 10 | 28% | 61,000 |
| 2020 Terrain | 58 | 29% | 67,000 |
| 2019 Terrain | 70 | 38% | 72,000 |
| 2018 Terrain | 55 | 25% | 18,000 |
| 2017 Terrain | 79 | 59% | 79,750 |
| 2016 Terrain | 46 | 30% | 70,000 |
| 2015 Terrain | 80 | 27% | 83,000 |
| 2014 Terrain | 123 | 41% | 91,000 |
| 2013 Terrain | 197 | 54% | 91,000 |
| 2012 Terrain | 169 | 46% | 85,000 |
| 2011 Terrain | 178 | 46% | 85,500 |
| 2010 Terrain | 107 | 37% | 79,839 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2013 GMC Terrain. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The exhaust and emissions system appears to have failed or is malfunctioning, including the catalytic converter and potentially the exhaust manifold or upstream exhaust components. The engine and fuel/propulsion system are also affected, as evidenced by sputtering and drivability issues. The…
Was driving my terrain and suddenly it started to shake and then check engine Light came on. Upon getting out I checked the dipstick and no oil was on dipstick. Start to put oil in and it's running out of the oil pan underneath the vehicle. Towed it home removed oil pan and engine parts laying…
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while coming to a complete stop or shifting into reverse, the vehicle lost automotive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was shifted into park(P) to regain motive power…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 GMC Terrains have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 197 owner complaints about engine for the 2013 GMC Terrain (54% of the 364 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 GMC Terrain engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 91,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2013 GMC Terrain?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,650 (half paid between $1,750 and $4,200), from 18 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2013 GMC Terrain?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 51 of 197 complaints, followed by “timing chain” (27).
Other 2013 GMC Terrain problems
See all 2013 GMC Terrain problems or engine problems across all Terrain years.