GMC Terrain Engine Problems
Owners have filed 1,211 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the GMC Terrain across 17 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (197). The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (16% of reports).
- 1,211engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $3,900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%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 198 of 1,211 complaints (16%)
- Timing chain: mentioned in 167 of 1,211 complaints (14%)
- Engine power: mentioned in 98 of 1,211 complaints (8%)
- Rear main: mentioned in 82 of 1,211 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the GMC Terrain at $3,900, and half of them between $1,950 and $7,800.
Based on 63 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2026), 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 637 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,211 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 16 a fire, 9 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 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.
On XXX while driving my 2018 GMC Terrain SLE 1.5L turbo on the highway at approximately 70 MPH near [XXX]. I experienced a sudden loss of power brake assist without any prior dashboard warning lights or messages. I was traveling with children to [XXX] for a youth wrestling tournament, approximately…
VIN: [XXX] Mileage: Approximately 103,576 Incident location: [XXX] Safety Complaint: While my wife was driving our 2019 GMC Terrain into a shopping center parking lot, the vehicle suddenly experienced a severe loss of braking assistance. The brake pedal became extremely stiff and difficult to…
Timing Chain driving, clanging noise while driving on I-475 expressway near Perrysburg exit
My 2023 GMC Terrain has experienced two separate incidents of complete loss of motive power/engine propulsion while being driven. The vehicle suddenly loses the ability to accelerate and maintain normal propulsion, creating a serious safety risk in traffic. The first occurrence was on August 8…
Without any type of warning, I was driving down the road when my car started making a knocking/ticking type noise then my engine light came on. I attempted to hit my brakes and stop, and I had no control. There was no brakes without pushing it all the way to the floor it was very hard to get my car…
Frequently asked questions
Do all GMC Terrains have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,211 owner complaints about engine for the GMC Terrain. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the GMC Terrain engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the GMC Terrain?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,900 (half paid between $1,950 and $7,800), from 63 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the GMC Terrain?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 198 of 1,211 complaints, followed by “timing chain” (167).
Other GMC Terrain problems
See all GMC Terrain problems.