2011 GMC Terrain Body & structure Problems

The failure point was the seal on the sunroof and the sunroof itself. A correct failure mode would be for it to leak into the cabin thus being immediately visable. Instead, an internal seal apparently failed allowing the intruding water to flow unobserved into the bulkhead region between the car body and the internal liner of the vehicle. As a consequence it flowed down a side post exiting into the dashboard and control panel. The dashboard shorted out elliminating the turn signal indicator (and possibly the turn signal itself). The radio and amplifier and the general alarm system went to maximum volume. Fortunately, it did not short out the airbag, thus it did not deploy while I was on the freeway, maybe next time. The salient point is that water was allowed to intrude through the sunroof and able to proceed unobserved to the back of the dashboard. The inside of the car was removed and replaced as was the major components behind the dashboard. The airbags were not replaced.

NHTSA ID

11441438

Incident

Oct 20, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS KICK OPEN AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR PULLED OPENED WHICH ALLOWED THE OCCUPANTS TO EXIT. ALSO DURING THE INCIDENT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT PROPERLY DEFLATE AFTER DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK, BACK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LUMBAR SPINE AND HIP AND THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BRUISED STERNUM. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11207570

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

AFTER BEING OPENED, REAR POWER LIFTGATE SUDDENLY FALLS, DROPS 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN, COMES BACK UP TO FULL HEIGHT, DROPS AGAIN ALL THE WAY DOWN, AND THEN THE DOOR CLOSES. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AS I WAS GETTING MY DOG OUT OF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10906883

Incident

Sep 14, 2016

Mileage

63,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT OBSERVED CORROSION ON THE INTERIOR DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000.

NHTSA ID

10795115

Incident

Nov 14, 2015

Mileage

26,000 mi

I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE IN CINCINNATI, OHIO WHEN A DEER CROSSED OVER THE JERSEY WALL ONTO THE ROADWAY AS I WAS JUST BEGINNING TO EXIT. I HIT THE DEER AT A MINIMUM SPEED OF 45-50MPH. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH I WAS UNHARMED I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY GIVEN MY SPEED AND FRONT IMPACT. MY VEHICLE HAS ALSO RECENTLY HAD AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WITH SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER THAT HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. GIVEN THE RECENT RASH OF INCIDENTS SURROUNDING GMC VEHICLES AND THE LACK OF RECALLS ON THE TERRAIN VEHICLE, I AM REPORTING THESE INCIDENTS AT THIS TIME AS I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY MAY BE INDICATIVE OF BROADER PROBLEM WITH THE TERRAIN MODEL OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606875

Incident

Jun 29, 2011

Mileage

18,380 mi

I WAS GOING TO A 930 AM DOCTOR APPT@THE CANCER CLINIC, WITH MY HUSBAND & FATHER AS PASSENGERS. I WAS IN THE LEFT TURN LANE NORTHBOUND ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO THE HOSPITAL. IT WAS 910 AM. THERE WAS A LG. DELIVERY TRUCK OPPOSITE ME IN THE SOUTHBOUND LEFT TURN LANE. AS I PULLED IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANE,EASING FORWARD TO ENSURE CLEARANCE THE OTHER CAR BEHIND THE DELIVERY TRUCK PULLED OUT AND AROUND THE TRUCK AND SPED UP TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO MAKE THE LIGHTTHAT WAS AMBER AT THIS POINT. MY FATHER SAID THAT HER HEAD WAS DOWN AND SHE DIDN'T LOOK UP UNTIL JUST BEFORE IMPACT. THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS & THE IMPACT WAS HIGH ON THE PASS. SIDE OF MY VEHICLE ROCKING US UP ONTO 2 WHEELS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE & THEN BACK DOWN ON ALL 4. MY VEHICLE WAS T-BONED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE LADY CAME OUT FROM BEHIND THE DELIVERY TRUCK AT THE LAST SECOND, CHANGED LANES & PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION AT THE SAME TIME I WAS TRYING TO TURN LEFT. AT THIS POINT THE LIGHT WAS YELLOW. I HAVE, I DO BELIEVE 8 AIR BAGS, WITH 8 SENSORS IN THE TERRAIN'S. ALSO I HAVE A FULL SUBSCRIPTION TO ONSTAR WHICH ALSO HAS CRASH SENSORS IN MY CAR. **NOT ONE AIR BAG WENT OFF NOR DID ANY SENSORS**. ONSTAR DID NOT CALL ME AFTER THE CRASH TO TELL ME THAT THEY WOULD BE SENDING HELP, AMBULANCE, POLICE ETC. MY INJURIES WERE: CONTUSION TO LEFT SIDE OF HEAD ABOVE EAR. SCALP WOUND ABOVE RIGHT EAR, WITH PERMANENT INDENTATION TO RIGHT SIDE OF MY HEAD,2 SMALL CUTS RIGHT SIDE OF FOREHEAD. BLACK EYES. PAIN IN NECK & STIFFNESS. RIGHT EYE SOCKET @ EYE BROW SWOLLEN. HUSBAND: SEATBELT BRUISING, NECK PAIN/STIFFNESS. MY FATHER, NECK PAIN, STIFFNESS,SCRAPED SKIN ON INSTEP OF RIGHT FOOT. THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT IS WITH GENERAL MOTORS, GMC TERRAIN, & ONSTAR FOR NOT 1 AIRBAG HAVING NOT GONE OFF/DEPLOYED, NOR DID ONSTAR MAKE ANY EFFORT TO CONTACT ME. I CONTACTED BOTH GM & ONSTAR & THEY DID NOTHING TO COMPENSATE ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577796

Incident

Jun 21, 2011

Mileage

24,185 mi

THE SELECT THE PARTS WONT LET ME ENTER THE DESCRIPTION. WHEN MY VEHICLE IS IN CRUISE CONTROL THE SWITCH CAN BE ACCIDENTALLY SLIGHTLY TOUCHED AND WILL SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. GMC HAS A NEW CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FOR 2012 WHICH IS A PUSH ON AND PUSH OFF SWITCH WHICH ALLEVIATES THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND THEY INFORMED THAT THERE IS NO PLAN TO RETROFIT THE 2011 TERRAIN WITH THE NEW 2012 SWITCH. PLEASE ADVISE! GMC KNOWS THAT THE TOGGLE SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED IT WITH A PUSH ON PUSH OFF SWITCH. I JUST WANT MY VEHICLE TO BE SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475006

Incident

Oct 15, 2011

Mileage

1,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 25 MPH AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO A PEDESTRIAN ON A BICYCLE. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE PEDESTRIAN UNTIL SHE WAS WITHIN AN EXTREMELY CLOSE PROXIMITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY READ IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT THE DRIVER SHOULD BE OVER 5'2 HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CONTACT'S FINDINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/07/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE READ IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT A PERSON UNDER 5'2' SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10463601

Incident

Jun 8, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHEN BEING DRIVEN OVER 30 MPH WITH BOTH REAR WINDOWS OPENED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS SO SEVERE, THAT IT WOULD CAUSE HEADACHES FOR THOSE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITHIN THE VEHICLE THAT WAS CAUSING ABNORMAL WIND PRESSURE AND VIBRATIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A REPAIR AVAILABLE THAT WOULD REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ID

10452439

Incident

Jan 10, 2012

Mileage

6,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE HEADLINER SEAL OF THE ROOF BECAME WRINKLED AND SAGGING. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ROOF AND THE HEADLINER CLIPS FRACTURED FROM THE ROOF AND THE ROOF FLOPPED DOWNWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN APPLIED ADHESIVE AND FOAM TO THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ID

10416659

Incident

Jun 17, 2011

Mileage

3,000 mi

ON 11-21-10 MY FIVE YEAR OLD SON BUMPED HIS HEAD ON A HARD SURFACE THAT WAS NOT SAFELY DESIGNED OR PADDED PROPERLY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED STRONGLY. NOTHING WAS DONE BY GM TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371832

Incident

Nov 21, 2010

Mileage

200 mi