RoadVitals

2010 GMC Terrain Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Aug 2, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 290 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 GMC Terrain submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Aug 2, 2020

THE VEHICLE WILL SHUTTER VERY HARD WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS OR WHEN YOU HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL IN A COMPLETE U-TURN TYPE ACTION. THE SHUDDER IS FELT THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND CAN BE VERY ALARMING. IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES ARE LOCKED UP. IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH SOME NOTICE TO ALL TERRAIN OWNERS. I HAVE NOW SPENT SERIOUS TIME AND $1K ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11342788
Incident
Mar 2, 2020
Mileage
125,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Nov 15, 2018

WHILE DRIVING THE STABILITY TRACK SERVICE LIFT COMES ON, THE ABS, BRAKES, SERVICE ALL WHEEL DRIVE, AS WELL AS THE SERVICE POWER STEERING AT WHICH TIME I LOSE POWER STEERING. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS ACCELERATING SLUGGISHLY WHEN DRIVE SOMETIMES. THIS HAPPENS AND GOES OFF SOMETIMES WITH OUT ME TURNING THE CAR OFF OR STOPPING BUT OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF. IT HAPPENS VARIOUS TIMES. AT ONE MOMENT IT IS DRIVING FINE AND THEN THESE LIGHTS COME ON. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF AND THEY GET NO CODES.

NHTSA ID
11151681
Incident
Nov 15, 2018
Mileage
132,685 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Mar 20, 2018

WHILE DRIVING THE STABILITY TRACK SERVICE LIFT COMES ON, THE ABS, BRAKES, SERVICE ALL WHEEL DRIVE, AS WELL AS THE SERVICE POWER STEERING AT WHICH TIME I LOSE POWER STEERING. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS ACCELERATING SLUGGISHLY WHEN DRIVE SOMETIMES. THIS HAPPENS AND GOES OFF SOMETIMES WITH OUT ME TURNING THE CAR OFF OR STOPPING BUT OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF. IT HAPPENS VARIOUS TIMES. AT ONE MOMENT IT IS DRIVING FINE AND THEN THESE LIGHTS COME ON. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF AND THEY GET NO CODES. I WAS TOLD THE THAT IT SAYS A MISCOMMUNICATION AND NO CODE IS RECORDED. THE SERVICE LIGHT ISSUES HAPPEN ON CITY STREETS. THE SLUGGISH ACCELERATION HAPPENS ON BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN TO THE GMC DEALER SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 2-3 WEEKS.

NHTSA ID
11080328
Incident
Mar 19, 2018
Mileage
80,300 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 24, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" SO FAR AT 140,000 MILES ON MY 2010 TERRAIN I HAVE HAD TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN, ALL 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND NOW A POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK. I COULD HAVE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR BY NOW. NO RECALLS ON ANY OF THESE??? THERE SHOULD BE. THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONCE REPLACED THEN THE STEERING BECAME TIGHT AND BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOP

NHTSA ID
10947390
Incident
Jan 16, 2017
Mileage
140,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Dec 29, 2016

GMC SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT #14159A TOOK AN UNNECESSARILY LONG TIME TO FIX(OVER 6 MONTHS) BECAUSE GM SAID THE VEHICLE HAS TO CONSUME A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES FOR THEM TO HONOR THE VEHICLE. I WAS FORCED INTO DRIVING THE VEHICLE LESS TO AVOID CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. THE LONGER DURATION I DROVE IT THE MORE OIL IT WOULD CONSUME. WHY WOULD I KEEP DRIVING A VEHICLE IF THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED EARLY ENOUGH THAT I COULD AVOID CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. I WAS BASICALLY TOLD THE VEHICLE HAS TO RUN OUT OF OIL WITHIN 3000 MILES FOR THEM TO WARRANTY SCA#14159A. IT ENDED UP HAPPENING AND THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT IT TOOK AN ADDITIONAL 3 MONTHS OF FILLING OUT AN OIL CONSUMPTION SHEET. WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY MOST SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN ABOUT THE VEHICLE. SCA#14232A- POWER STEERING. I CAN NOT GET AN ANSWER FROM GM ON WHETHER THIS IS A PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING ISSUE WITHIN THE STEERING GEAR OR DOES IT FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THEIR RESPONSE IS THE CONDITION MUST HAPPEN BEFORE THEY WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR. ACCORDING TO SCA#14232A THE CONDITION IS THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE INCREASED FRICTION IN THE STEERING SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY. THIS COULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO STICK IN THE STRAIGHT-AHEAD POSITION. PRETTY SCARY SCENARIO HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THEY WOULD FIX A FLAW THEY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BAD THINGS MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME WHEN I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR I AM NOT THAT PARANOID TO THINK ABOUT THEM. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTS SOMETHING SPECIFIC AND DEADLY MAY HAPPEN I AM GOING TO AVOID THAT SITUATION. MAY HAPPEN IS MORE LIKELY THAN MIGHT HAPPEN. FINALLY, MY TRANSMISSION WENT UP THREE WEEKS AGO WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT. ETHICALLY I CAN NOT SELL IT EVEN IF I FIX THE TRANSMISSION AND WON'T DRIVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10938600
Incident
Feb 27, 2015
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Sep 19, 2016

REQUESTING A RECALL ON THE 2010 GMC TERRAIN. MILEAGE THAT WAS ON THE STICKER WAS INCORRECT. FAR FROM THE TRUTH. MAJOR OIL CONSUMPTION, NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. TAPPING NOISE WAS REPORTED @ 3,000 WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. KNEW IT WAS NOT. HAD TO REPLACE CAMSHAFT, ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, HEAD LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GOING, NEVER LASTING ANYTIME. WILL NOW HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND PROBABLY ENGINE. GMC STATED THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TERRAIN THEY STATED IF THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLS AND THAT THE NHTSA WOULD HAVE DONE THIS. WILL THIS BE DONE? NOT SURE HOW GMC IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS. SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE. ARE THERE ANY CLASS ACTION SUITS FOR THE TERRAIN? CAN WE START ONE? THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. NOT EVEN SIMILAR IT'S EXACT.

NHTSA ID
10908058
Incident
Sep 19, 2016
EngineSteering
Filed Apr 27, 2016

ENGINE BURNING OIL RAPIDLY MAKING LOUD NOISE HAD TO GET A NEW ENGINE FROM GMC AND HAD IT INSTALLED AT THE DEALERSHIP. POWER STEERING LOCKED TWICE TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS NOT CONNECTING PROPERLY AND MADE THE ADJUSTMENT. WAS WORKING FINE FOR 1 MONTH AND NOW THE POWER STEERING LOCKED AGAIN AND I ALMOST HIT A WALL AND PEDESTRIAN WHILE ENTERING A PARKING GARAGE, I AM TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP

NHTSA ID
10861914
Incident
Apr 27, 2016
Mileage
166,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineSteering
Filed Dec 10, 2015

MY CAR IS IDLING WHEN IT SUDDENLY BEGINS TO IDLE ROUGHLY THEN STALLS. THERE IS A "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" WARNING THAT APPEARS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND "SERVICE STABILITRAK" WITH THE STABILITRAK LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, TWICE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, ANOTHER TIME IN MOTION, DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE IT DIED. IN READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE FOR 2010 GMC TERRAINS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A RECALL ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10809521
Incident
Dec 5, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Oct 26, 2014

I COULDN'T RESTART MY CAR RIGHT AFTER I STOPPED AT A PARKING STALL IN THE MORNING, BUT I CAN HEAR "CLICK" SOUND. DASH BOARD SHOWS WARNINGS:"STABILITRAK.."(I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY THE WORDS), "BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE!" AND "SERVICE POWER STEERING". HOWEVER, I MANAGED TO JUMP MY CABLE AFTER 20MINS, AND STEP ON GAS AT THE SAME TIME WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY, FINALLY I START MY ENGINE AFTER 3 OR 4 TIMES. IN THE AFTERNOON, WHEN I TURNED ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS BUT NOT CRANK, POWER WINDOWS DIDN'T WORK AT ALL, WHICH USED TO WORK WELL, AND "SERVICE POWER STEERING" APPEARS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10650018
Incident
Oct 25, 2014
Mileage
47,600 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Aug 30, 2014

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT A STOP. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AND SHE INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE HER VEHICLE BASICALLY SHUTS OFF AND LEAVES HER VERY VULNERABLE? WHAT IF THE VEHICLE STALLS DURING DRIVING? GMC IS NO HELP, I HAVE CALLED AND ALL THEY SAY IS THERE IS NO RECALL. I GET ON THEIR WEBSITE AND IT DOES NOT WORK. WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION, HAVING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND ALSO THE TIMING CHAIN MAKING HORRIBLE NOISE. THE LATEST INCIDENT REALLY CONCERNS ME AS IT MAY PLACE MY WIFE IN SERIOUS DANGER. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID
10629590
Incident
Aug 29, 2014
Mileage
58,236 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Aug 13, 2014

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 $540.00). 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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10622150
Incident
Dec 8, 2013
Mileage
41,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 2, 2013

DEALER WAS ROTATING TIRES AND FOUND THE SWAY BAR LINK ON THE DRIVER FRONT SIDE WAS BROKEN IN TWO. THIS IS A ALL WHEEL DRIVE MODEL. I HAVE TO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THIS TO BREAK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10522966
Incident
Jun 28, 2013
Mileage
22,692 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .