2011 GMC Terrain Owner Complaints

No warning before headlights gave up

NHTSA ID

11741914

Incident

Jun 3, 2026

We have 2011 GMC Terrain. We bought it used so we have only had it a couple years. We noticed it seemed to be using a little more oil but then we were told to keep watch on it. My husband did. Then one day while I was driving it I thought I had heard a faint clicking noise. I said that car isn’t going anywhere until it’s fixed. Little did we know it wouldn’t ever start again. We didn’t know about a so call recall or not a recall. Still until we had to have it towed in to be fixed, I heard it mentioned. By then the car was repaired at our expense of $8000+. We are retired and don’t have or didn’t have money for that repair. The only reason we had a little money was because my husband got paid for back (lump sum) payment just a couple of days before this. We still owe on the car. Without it we only have an old 2001GMC SIERRA 1500. We live paycheck to paycheck. I called one of GMC’s phone numbers today and I was told if we didn’t have it done at a GMC FACILITY we get NO reimbursement. I cried. My husband is a real stickler when it comes to our vehicles and maintenance and logs and also keeps receipts.Please tell me there is some to help us.

NHTSA ID

11688571

Incident

Aug 1, 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 87,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11682188

Incident

Aug 21, 2025

Mileage

200,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking engine oil. The check engine warning light was illuminated while driving at undisclosed speeds. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who confirmed there was no warranty or recall coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the engine might be blown. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 110,714.

NHTSA ID

11676206

Incident

Jan 1, 2024

Mileage

110,714 mi

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact pulled over to the right side of the roadway and waited for towing assistance. The contact stated that an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and two separate auto body shops, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine was consuming engine oil, and the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the second time the vehicle was driven to the independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 114,114.

NHTSA ID

11669797

Incident

Jun 18, 2025

Mileage

114,114 mi

SUV gets a slow down warning and it stops shuts off , it’s happened several times now I’m scared!!you wait few minutes it turns back on , mechanic said this a complain about this vehicle all the time , it has not been repaired I’m disabled with no money , I was on the highway and thank God I was on the slow lane if not I would have been killed by an eighteen wheeler. GMC is waiting for someone to die and probably address this issue

NHTSA ID

11605745

Incident

Jul 25, 2024

Two of the valves failed and the dealership told me it was likely due to a manufacturer’s defect.

NHTSA ID

11574922

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

Engine Failure: Timing chain had excessive slack causing guide to be sheared off. Timing chain guide bolt was completely stripped requiring both the timing chain and cylinder head to be replaced. Safety: The vehicle stalled while driving Problem: Problem was confirmed by a dealer Warnings: The check engine light came on as the vehicle stalled

NHTSA ID

11571561

Incident

Aug 12, 2019

continuous excessive oil issues burns and uses 3-5 quarts of oil every week to 2 weeks causing engine issues slow acceleration lurching and chugging issues with engine won’t downshift or upshift correctly transmission seizing issues have spent 1000s of dollars trying to fix this issue and mechanic has said it’s just a commen issues with this make and model and year range just have to keep pouring oil in each week which is costly and eventually will cause my engine and transmission to fail.

NHTSA ID

11566176

Incident

Jan 10, 2021

Transmission

NHTSA ID

11562900

Incident

Jan 1, 2024

Temperature actuator door is broken, this causes my windshield to fog up therefore I can't see to drive.

NHTSA ID

11556469

Incident

Nov 22, 2023

My car wouldn’t start, later found out it was due to timing chain issue which ended up blowing up my engine. I live 40 minutes from work and am consistently driving on the interstate for at least an hour a day. GM said there’s nothing they can do even though there’s been class action lawsuits for the engine. My car has also had oil consumption problems. I bought my car in March of 2022. The engine blew up by November 2022. I barely got my car back in September 2023. After the engine replacement, still wouldn’t turn on, over heated immediately when I did get it back. After paying $7440 for the engine replacement I had to fork over snother $650 to replace the fuel pump control module, and an engine control unit. My car overheated AGAIN just 2 weeks ago!!!!

NHTSA ID

11551802

Incident

Nov 30, 2022

The windshield wiper blades stopped working while driving at night in the rain. This was a dangerous situation as i had a hard time seeing where i was driving.

NHTSA ID

11551493

Incident

Oct 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign making a left turn, the vehicle started sputtering. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the timing belt being loose. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

NHTSA ID

11549667

Incident

Aug 23, 2023

Mileage

175,000 mi

Transmission and control arms

NHTSA ID

11543242

Incident

Aug 20, 2023

Transmission failure

NHTSA ID

11540198

Incident

Aug 21, 2023

I was driving my vehicle down the road and the vehicle just shut off. This was dangerous and could have cost my son and I our lives. I have spoken with many mechanics and they state that this car has issues with oil consumption This model vehicle has been reported to have a major oil consumption issues. The oil is dissolved within the engine.

NHTSA ID

11530810

Incident

May 11, 2023

My teenage daughter was driving vehicle home as she was approaching a traffic light Our 2011 GMC Terrain just turned off by itself leaving my daughter strand it in a middle of the road.I had to towed vehicle home called a mechanic to come inspect what had happened just to find out that my vehicle Timing chain had given out just like that. Vehicle was running good didn’t show any symptoms and just like that with no prior warnings it stop working. This vehicle put my daughters life in danger by living her stranded on the middle of a very busy transit road.

NHTSA ID

11520231

Incident

Apr 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine made a loud knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact added 3 quarts of oil to the engine. The mechanic informed the contact that the piston ring also needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

NHTSA ID

11520001

Incident

Apr 25, 2023

Mileage

107,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized. Additionally, the ABS, traction control, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the ABS module and traction control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11514392

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of GM Special Coverage Adjustment Campaign Number: N192266181. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in inclement weather, the driver's side windshield wiper detached and flew off the vehicle while it was set at maximum wiper speed. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys, where a technician determined that the windshield wipers were corroded, and the driver's side windshield wiper was replaced. However, the contact stated that upon engaging the windshield wipers the following day, the driver's side and passenger's side became stuck together. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,280.

NHTSA ID

11513233

Incident

Mar 21, 2023

Mileage

44,280 mi

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11507104

Incident

Feb 12, 2023

I bought this vehicle and NHTSA made GM release an extended warranty on this vehicle for excessive loss of engine oil. In 2019 I had to take this vehicle and pay several thousand dollars for the pistons to be replaced in my engine because I was 1 year past the extended warranty. Now 3 years after spending thousands of dollars through a certified GM store I am having the same problem excessive loss of engine oil. I have zero leaks and I have to put oil in my engine every other day. If I do not by the end of the week I will have an empty engine.

NHTSA ID

11503073

Incident

Jan 22, 2023

Ok so my 2011 GMC terrain just went over 150,000 miles I bought this vehicle used from a dealership not knowing that there was a big lawsuit or that GMC continuted making this make and model knowing that it had a oil usage problem. So mmm mmm with that being said let's start with my vehicle uses oil, my vehicle idles high low and always rough at times, my service stabilitrak flashes, my motor sounds like a HEMI kock knock knock instead of a 2.4, doesn't matter where I'm at or where I'm going I let off of the gas and my car dies.... Let me clarify on that last one me and my 9 year old daughter we're headed home today let off the gas to go around a curve and a hill and you guesswd it my 2011 GMC TERRAIN died I lost all control and all power had no power steering and no brakes... I just thank Jesus I wasn't speeding and that there was no oncoming traffic cuz I don't think me nor my 9 year old would have made it out ok. So thanks to whatever faulty motor engine or power train GMC has with this make and model putting people's safety and lives in danger due to these issues and only choosing certain VINS eligible instead of all VINS from 2011 GMC TERRAINS in my opinion is just choosing which owners survive because this make and model is dangerous to whoever drives it and to whoever meets it on the highway.

NHTSA ID

11497780

Incident

Dec 15, 2022

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH with the windshield wipers in use, the contact attempted to use the high setting for the windshield wipers and the driver’s side windshield wiper detached and struck the driver’s side mirror. The contact stated that the windshield wiper was replaced. The failure recurred three times. The dealer had not been informed of the failure. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000.

NHTSA ID

11496245

Incident

Jul 31, 2022

Mileage

139,000 mi