10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,369 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 GMC Terrain engine problems

engine problem

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2010 GMC Terrain Owner Comments

problem #17

May 142022

Terrain

  • miles

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

My 2010 Terrain had been been intermittent dash warnings for -€œService StabiliTrac-€ and -€œEngine Power Reduced-€ which would force the engine to reduce the speed itself down to about 30 MPH. After turning off car and restarting, warnings would go away. Yesterday, while driving on a secondary road, with no check engine light on, the engine stalled while traveling at approx 35 MPH. I was able to drop the vehicle into neutral and coast onto a side street, while also attempting to restart the engine. I was able to pull over without causing an accident. After letting the car sit for a few minutes I attempted to restart the engine, but only got a strange noise from the area of the upper cylinders. At his point the check engine light was now on. While waiting for a tow truck, and independent mechanic pulled up to ask if I needed help. After listening to the noice from the upper engine he asked if he could get tools and look in the engine. I said yes. He quickly pulled parts off the upper engine and opened and removed the upper cylinder cover. This revealed that the timing chain had no tension, as well as shards of shattered plastic all over the place, in and around the upper cylinders. After pointing this out he put everything back together and suggested I contact the dealership I got the vehicle from, which I have done already. He then stated that it appears that the engine would need to be replaced or rebuilt, due to catastrophic engine failure. He said my quick thinking of putting the vehicle into neutral probably avoided causing an accident and allowed me to get myself to a safe spot before stopping the vehicle. He also stated that this particular GM motor is known for catastrophic failure, which GM has failed or refused to acknowledge

- Westfield , MA, USA

problem #16

Feb 142021

Terrain

  • 59,000 miles
Driving 50 mph on the highway, my car decided to 'reduce engine power' and 'service stabilitrak' came on, immediately making the car slow dance forcibly to 25 mph. The car was shaking and stepping on the gas did nothing. That's dangerous, because the person behind me has to swerve or hit into the back of me for sudden drop in speed. You guys should know better! happened twice in one day. I had to restart the car, and it happened going onto the bridge. Someone could be seriously hurt, or killed. Do better!

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #15

Dec 182019

Terrain

  • 80,000 miles
2010 GMC Terrain with V6 loss of power, engine codes timing issue, camshaft sensor fault, crankshaft sensor fault. Stabil-track fault. Rough idle, oil consumption. The list goes on. This is a common thing with these engines and GM has done nothing. This has been going on with this vehicle for awhile. Stay away from GM vehicles they do not stand behind there products, I will be buying a Ford and I will tell everyone I know!

- Fountain City, IN, USA

problem #14

May 102019

Terrain

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that various warning indicators and gauges flashed. Cadillac vera pembrooke pines (954-517-7827, 300 South university drive, pembroke pines, fl 33025) was notified of the failure, but was not authorized to schedule an appointment. In addition, while attempting to accelerate from a stop sign, the vehicle failed to gain speed when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was not available.

- Miami Gardens, FL, USA

problem #13

Oct 172018

Terrain

  • 98,000 miles
While driving my car the stabili-track service light comes on. Then the check engine, brake, ABS, AWD, as well as the power steering lights come on. Then I lose power steering and my speed is throttled down a lot. Its happened on the expressway and city streets. When on the expressway I have to immediately get to the shoulder without getting into an accident. I've had my car towed to the mechanics shop multiple times and they've told me that there are no codes when hooking up the computer. They kept it a few times in the last 3 years and have told me there were misfires after letting the car sit and testing it out (test driving) and work was needed (throttle body replacement, spark plug replacement, cam shaft swap out and a full tune-up). $1000 and less than a year later it happens again and then again. This is the 3rd year (2016, 2017, 2018) it has happened to me in a row and all the mechanic can say is that it may be something GM should investigate. I've called GM with no luck. This is extremely unsafe and I am thankful that my kids were not in the car when it happens. Trying to navigate traffic on the expressway when your car throttles down to 25-35 mph is insane.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #12

Sep 242017

Terrain

  • 130,000 miles
The drakes lock up and will not release until the car sits for sometime about 2-8 hours.the service stabilitrack light comes on and you lose engine power almost instantly. I have had four different shop fix what they suspected was the problem and the last shop was a dealership and it happened to me a week later while out of town for a wedding.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #11

Feb 232017

Terrain

  • 83,137 miles

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

While driving on freeway in san diego, ca during morning rush hour, car suddenly lost power. Dashboard message was "reduced power to engine." Car would suddenly only go 30 mph. Very dangerous. I was in the middle lane of freeway and luckily avoided collisions, as traffic flow was 70 mph. Took car to GMC dealer and throttle body had to be replaced. Total cost was $458. I could have easily created a major traffic accident causing injury to myself and many others because I suddenly could only drive 30 mph.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #10

May 022016

Terrain

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to reverse. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.

- Bloomington, IL, USA

problem #9

Nov 242014

Terrain

  • 60,000 miles
Driving back from a two hour trip at aprox 55 mph our 2010 GMC started flashing "reduced engine power" with the check engine light, and "service stabilitrak" with the stabilitrak light. Speed dropped down to about 30 mph without control. The car was idling heaving with rmps jumping. We pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the car, the only light that remained on was the check engine light. Speed control was restored. By the time we made it home, aprox 20 miles, the check engine light turned off. Then a couple weeks later again, twice in one night, back to back. I called the dealer for an appointment because I assumed it would be covered by a GMC warranty, they did not have availability for 7+ days. The night before my appointment it happened again but did not correct itself and we had to drive it to the dealership at 30 mph. I just received the news, $800 later, it needs a new throttle body, exhaust cam solenoid and another repair to the camshaft. I do not have the paperwork back from the dealer yet for additional details, but am disappointed that this is a common problem with the 2010 GMC Terrains and they take no responsibility for the repairs. This should be a recall. There is a lot of potential danger to having your speed drop with no warning or control.

- Stanardsville, VA, USA

problem #8

Dec 082013

Terrain

  • 41,000 miles
Vehicle quickly decelerated from about 46 mph to 5 mph. It would not accelerate above 5 mph. No warning signs before hand, happened out of nowhere. Then an error light came on the dashboard. GMC mechanic stated the throttle body was bad and replaced it, it was not covered under warranty (cost $540). This could have caused a major accident on a freeway or busy street, or could leave someone stranded on the side of the road with no warning.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #7

Feb 032014

Terrain 6-cyl

  • 62,000 miles

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

I hit a bump about a month ago, and now my "service airbags" light keeps coming on. I have not had a collision, but now everytimes I hit a bump I get a ding and the "service airbags." Not sure if any recalss on are for this problems.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #6

Nov 092013

Terrain 6-cyl

  • 44,000 miles
I was going about 40 mph about to get on the freeway, when my car begin a loud noise, shaking, and dropped speed to about 20 mph. The dashboard said something also about no power, no matter how much I pushed the gas pedal, car would not accelerate. Instead of getting on freeway I pulled over to a gas station. I cut the car off and left off for a minute. I cut it back on and was running normal. I immediately went to the dealership where I was told there was a recall on the throttle body and they would replace for me. The problem is that no one bother to notify me, and if I had not had this problem might not had known.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #5

Jul 082013

Terrain 4-cyl

  • 46,786 miles
It stalled and the check engine lights came on. This happened again 12/13 replaced exhaust cam solenoid and again in January 2014 when they had to replace the camshaft position exhaust actuator. The have also at different times had to replace the high pressure fuel pump, water pump and balance shaft chain, replaced the condenser, evac on the air conditioner on this vehicle and the other 2010 GMC Terrain we own. We do not feel like we should have had to pay for the ac condenser since it happened on both vehicles we own within months of each other but we did. The other 2010 Terrain we own was in the shop in January 2014 because it stalled and it was cam shaft and the throttle body about 2 weeks later we had to take this one in for the cam. The other Terrain has we own has also had the cam worked on several times. This vehicle has also had several recalls for other issues. Something needs to be done about these vehicles because there are so many people having these same problems. Look on edmonds online forum at all the complaints about the 2010 Terrains and the 2010 equinox. Something needs to be done so the owners can get rid of these vehicles before they stall again and somebody hits them and kills them like the six people who died because the 2007 GM cobalt stalled on them while driving. We need the NHTSA to help us. They were also going to charge us on the other vehicle almost $900 to fix the cam shaft and throttle body, when the problem had obviously not been fixed one of the other times that GMC dealerships worked on it until I complained to GMC. Then the dealership said we had to pay about $250 because the owner has to pay something when its out of warranty. That vehicle had about 43,000 miles. I don't feel like the owners should have to pay one penny when there is a repeat problem on a vehicle and they can't seem to keep it fixed.

- Athens, AL, USA

problem #4

Sep 072010

Terrain 4-cyl

  • 500 miles
TL- the contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and all of the warning lamps illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to dealer. The technician diagnosed that the throttle body and cam shaft were defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 500 and the current mileage was 44,000.

- Athens, AL, USA

problem #3

Jan 062014

Terrain

  • 40,888 miles
Was driving down the road doing speed limit of 40 mph. All of a sudden the car started shaking and by it self dropped to 20 mph. Drove to apt and shut car off. When started back up it seemed ok. Took to the dealer, they said it was the throttle body and stabilizers. Which those lights came on as it happened. Engine power control light also came on. Dealer said they had to order parts and would cost around $600. Wow. Seems like a lot of the same issues on here. I believe they should put a recall on this issue.

- Aztec, , NM, USA

problem #2

Oct 172013

Terrain 4-cyl

  • 23,970 miles
On 10/17/2013 my wife experienced a sudden acceleration while pulling into a parking space at our local walgreen's pharmacy. As she was pulling into a parking space in front of the pharmacy the car kept moving forward slowly although she was pressing on the brake pedal as hard as she could. The car crawled up the concrete curb stop slowly and hit the steel pipe bollard placed in front of the curb stop to protect the walkway front of the store. No injuries occurred to my wife, no one was on the walkway at the time. Only damage was to the bollard (bent over) plastic bumper, grill and right front fender of the car. Bollard and a trash receptacle brought the car to a stop. This is the second time this occurred. The first occasion was about a year ago when I was driving on a neighborhood residential street approaching a stop sign. As the car was slowing down and I was pressing on the brake pedal the car kept moving forward with the brakes being fully applied. Could hear the engine straining at an increased RPM. I lifted my foot off the brake pedal and jammed it down hard again and the car came to a stop at the stop sign with the engine in normal idle. In the three years we have owned this car these are the only occasions the problem has occurred.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

problem #1

Nov 302010

Terrain

  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. The contact was driving 5 mph when the vehicle began abnormally skipping gears. The contact was accelerating from a traffic stop when the vehicle abnormally lunged forward and caused the contact to crash into the rear of a preceding vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle was injured. A police report was available. The contact sustained substantial damage to the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for further inspection. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 22,000.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

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