2013 GMC Terrain Powertrain (other) Problems

The exhaust and emissions system appears to have failed or is malfunctioning, including the catalytic converter and potentially the exhaust manifold or upstream exhaust components. The engine and fuel/propulsion system are also affected, as evidenced by sputtering and drivability issues. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection upon request. Exhaust and/or fuel fumes enter the passenger cabin, particularly when the heater or air conditioning is operating. This creates a risk of exposure to harmful exhaust gases, including potential carbon monoxide, which poses a serious health and safety risk to vehicle occupants. The vehicle also sputters and hesitates, which could lead to unsafe driving conditions, especially in traffic or at highway speeds. Yes. The issue has been confirmed through diagnostic trouble codes indicating catalytic converter efficiency failure. Despite replacement of spark plugs and sensors, the problem continues to recur, indicating an underlying exhaust or emissions system defect rather than routine maintenance. The vehicle has been inspected by service professionals for diagnostic purposes. The manufacturer has not physically inspected the vehicle, and no inspections have been performed by police or insurance representatives to date. The check engine light illuminated prior to and during the issue. Additional symptoms included engine sputtering, loss of smooth acceleration, and a strong exhaust or fuel odor inside the cabin when the HVAC system is in use. These symptoms have recurred over time despite repairs.

NHTSA ID

11709455

Incident

Feb 24, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the transmission failed to shift as needed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stopped and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a transmission center, which determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a claim. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.

NHTSA ID

11663347

Incident

May 21, 2025

Mileage

172,000 mi

I hit a pot hole and a stabilitrack error popped up. Also reduced engine power I was miles from home and could have easily caused a major accident on the road.

NHTSA ID

11599815

Incident

Jul 3, 2024

Excessive oil consumption, and had to change out timing belt at 50,000 miles

NHTSA ID

11595847

Incident

Aug 7, 2019

Transmission failed for no Reason

NHTSA ID

11552155

Incident

Jul 13, 2022

When I put car in park it tools Bach about half a foot before it actually stops this happens everytime it's put into park

NHTSA ID

11545299

Incident

Sep 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with the check the engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and pulled over in a parking lot, where the vehicle again lost motive power and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 143,083.

NHTSA ID

11509316

Incident

Feb 6, 2023

Mileage

143,083 mi

A loud popping noise was coming from the middle to back of vehicle. Upon inspection by independent repair shop a hole in side of transfer casing was found. No warning lamps came on to indicate any problem even after noise was heard. Once problem was determined it was felt that if vehicle had not been taken out of operation when it was and continued to be driven that a possibility could exist of the transfer case gearing becoming bound up and causing loss of control of vehicle due to various wheels possibly binding or maybe locking up. Transfer case has been replaced.The transfer case was disassembled and found to have intermediate shaft bearing (if I have identified it correctly) completely destroyed causing shaft to come out of alignment and all attached gears to mesh incorrectly causing gear damage. In reviewing this site it was noticed that this problem has occurred three to four times over the past few years to other vehicles as well. It would appear that there may be an issue with the bearing associated with the intermediate shaft on the side of the transfer case where the hole in the case is found and could possibly be associated with something in either the design of the transfer case or quality of the bearing itself.

NHTSA ID

11496981

Incident

Dec 1, 2022

While driving on the highway at speed limit 75mph, the vehicle (without warning ⚠️) suddenly went into (Reduced Power Engine Mode/ Service Stabilitrack) jerked and slowed down to 35mp almost causing a pile up as cars behind and next to me where still driving above 70mph. If not for my quick reaction to turn on emergency lights cars behind me would have hit me. Immediately after I got off the highway I drove the car (at 35mph as fast as it went) to my nearest Pepboys. Here the vehicle was serviced for nearly a month until the problem was fixed. The cost was almost $6500 GMC has failed to notify customers if this potential issue which not only risks the lives of the drivers and passengers of the 2013 Terrain but those driving alongside it. This is not a new issue as I found the testimonies of many other GMC owners tell a similar dangerous experience. Please help! I have detailed invoices of the repairs.

NHTSA ID

11496272

Incident

Oct 24, 2022

Vehicle burns excessive amounts of oil. I need to add oil almost every time I drive. This could result in catastrophic engine failure. GMC and Chevrolet know about this problem, but refuse to issue a recall for this engine.

NHTSA ID

11490893

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

Hello, I have spent a lot of money on this mobile car and even so, it continues to cause problems and the oil runs out too quickly.

NHTSA ID

11463744

Incident

Apr 20, 2022

Vehicle stopped while driving three different times. Whenever alarm is turned on, car sometimes does not start next day. I've had to jump start it over 7 times in 9 months. Vehicle scheduled for review by dealer in three weeks.

NHTSA ID

11449269

Incident

May 6, 2021

When driving my Terrain, my traction control light came on, then a message on the display saying service stabilitrack and engine power is reduced. I couldn't go over a certain speed. I've taken it to Autozone to be put on the computer and it shows up stabilitrack. The car stops running and it takes a few minutes to get it running again. I just bought the car and I'm having problems with these lights and controls. I have read online about this same issue. Is this a recall or does it have to be more complaints about this first? I love my car but these issues are too much. The car has 211k miles on it. Please help me

NHTSA ID

11432439

Incident

Aug 28, 2021

IIN EARLY 2020 I REACHED OUT TO 2 DIFFERENT GMC DEALERSHIPS IN REGARD TO THE RECALLS THAT EXISTED ON MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE AND OIL CONSUMPTION. THE VEHICLE WAS OVERCONSUMING OIL (I WOULD TRACK THE OIL LEVELS) AND NEEDED EXCESSIVE OIL CHANGES. THE FIRST DEALERSHIP SAID THAT MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL DUE TO MILEAGE WHEN I JUST RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. SECOND DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT VEHICLE. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE BLEW, SPILLING OIL EVERYWHERE. THE ENGINE NOW NEEDS A TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. HAD THE DEALERSHIPS AGREED TO LOOK AT THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING AND HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE GMC RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, I WOULDN'T HAVE AN INOPERABLE VEHICLE AND NEEDED TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE DUE TO THE ENGINE ISSUES NOT BEING COVERED THAT WERE COMMON KNOWLEDGE ON THESE MAKE/MODEL/YEAR VEHICLES. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH DEALERSHIPS AS WELL AS MY THE FINANCER OF THE VEHICLE, GMC NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND CONTACT ME. SINCE THE WARRANTY ENDED ON THE VEHICLE THE 1ST YEAR I OWNED IT, I HAVE PUT NEARLY $10,000 INTO FAULTY PARTS AND REPLACEMENTS ON THE VEHICLE THAT WEREN'T "COVERED". I WOULD LIKE THIS SITUATION INVESTIGATED DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES THE ENGINE CAUSED THAT WERE REFUSED TO BE LOOKED AT AND NOW THE NEGATIVE FINANCIAL ASPECT IT HAS CAUSED ME.

NHTSA ID

11407547

Incident

Sep 20, 2020

GMC 2013 TERRAIN. FAULTY ENGINE MAKE. CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. NEVER ALERTED BY ANY WARNING LIGHTS. SAFETY CONCERN OF ENGINE POSSIBLY DYING AT ANY MOMENT. GMC NOT WILLING TO COVER REPAIR COSTS, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT REACHED, AND THEY ADMITTED OVER 40,000 CUSTOMERS NOT NOTIFIED OF ENGINE ISSUE. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID

11405974

Incident

Mar 19, 2021

Mileage

96,000 mi

MY VEHICLE EATS UP OIL. I JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION INVESTIGATION. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. SOMETIMES WHEN I FILL IT WITH GAS IT GOES OFF. A WEEK AGO IT CAME ON AND THEN AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, THEN A MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY SAYING SERVICE STABILITRACK AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I COULDN'T GO OVER 35MPH. I TOOK IT TO OREILY THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND THE CODE P0175 SHOWED 'FUEL SYSTEM TOO RICH'. I FOUND A RECALL OF AN O2 SENSOR. I COULDN'T GET INTO A GM SHOP FOR ANOTHER WEEK. TODAY THEY FIXED THE RECALL BUT TOLD ME THE SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS EXPIRED IN 7/2020 FOR MY VEHICLE. I CHATTED WITH GM ONLINE AND THEY DIDN'T ANSWER ALL MY QUESTIONS. EVEN THOUGH I FOUND THE INFO ON THIS HERE WEBSITE ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION AND THE TIME LIMIT AND MILEAGE ON WHEN I COULD GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED, GM WOULD NOT EXPLAIN IN DETAIL TO CLARIFY THIS INFO. IT SAID 7 YEARS AND 6MOS OR 120K MILES FROM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN SERVICE. THEY SAID THIRD PARTY SITES LIKE THESE AREN'T RELIABLE. THE SHOP MENTIONED I SHOULD JUST KEEP OIL IN IT AND THAT GETTING THE PISTONS FIXED WOULD BE $5K. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION OTHERWISE I WOULD'VE NEVER GOTTEN THE VEHICLE OR AT LEAST GOT IT FIXED IN SAID TIME LIMIT.

NHTSA ID

11405475

Incident

Mar 29, 2021

Mileage

87,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE IS CONSUMING OIL AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE. THIS HAS CAUSED OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS SOLENOIDS NEEDING REPLACEMENT AS WELL AS A TIMING CHAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONG THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE TO ADD OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES AND IF THE TIMING CHAIN GOES DUE TO THIS, IT CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11404783

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

115,000 mi

PCV VALVE FROZE CAUSING REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL TO FAIL. ENGINE NEEDED TO NE REPLACED. GM WON'T HONOR SB 14882. CAR STARTED TO RUN SLUGGISH IN COLD WEATHER. STALLED AND RESTARTED. PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT IN 6 DEGREE WEATHER. WOULD NOT START. OIL QALL OVER DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11404254

Incident

Feb 8, 2021

Mileage

118,886 mi

MY 2013 GMC TERRAIN DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THE CAR CAME ON NOT EVEN THE OIL LIGHT TO INDICATE LOW OIL. THE CAR HAD BAD PISTON RINGS WHICH WAS PART OF THE CAUSE. GM KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT DIDN'T PROPERLY NOTIFY EVERYONE INVOLVED. I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME & LATER RECEIVED A LETTER STATING MY CAR WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT OF THE INITIAL SCA. THE FACT THAT THESE CARS DIE WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHILDREN THAT WERE IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED WE ARE LUCKY WE DIDN'T HIT ANYONE AND NO ONE HIT US. GM HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO HELP WITH ANY OF THIS

NHTSA ID

11384137

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

103,000 mi

MY VEHICLE BEGAN BY STALLING OUT WHEN I WAS IN REVERSE, WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD STALL OUT WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN.

NHTSA ID

11374298

Incident

Nov 4, 2020

Mileage

102,110 mi

MY VEHICLE IS CONSUMING TOO MUCH OIL.

NHTSA ID

11365679

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

Mileage

114,000 mi

2013 GMC TERRAIN WITH 72K MILES (ABOUT 5.5 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME). IN FRIGID TEMPERATURES (-15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT), THE VEHICLE RPMS STARTED FLUCTUATING WILDLY WHILE IN IDLE, AND WOULD SHUT OFF ENTIRELY. THE PCV PORT FROZE AND LEAD TO BLOWING OUT THE REAR MAIN SEAL. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY (DESPITE THE EXISTING POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AND SERVICE BULLETIN 14882). ALSO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED (WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY). TOTAL REPAIR WAS $2,800. *TR

NHTSA ID

11325195

Incident

Jan 29, 2019

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND STALLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MORAN CHEVROLET CLINTON TWP LOCATED AT (35500 S GRATIOT AVE, CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI 48035) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL OR TO TSB-14882. THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS REPLACED AND THE PCV VALVE CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11317857

Incident

Feb 14, 2020

Mileage

92,000 mi

THE CAR HAS OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES WHICH IS CAUSING IT TO STALL. MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHICH COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT GM IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT WON'T FIX IT. I AM ALREADY ON MY SECOND ENGINE DO TO THIS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION.

NHTSA ID

11301724

Incident

Jan 24, 2020

Mileage

60,000 mi

ON A COLD 12 DEGREE DAY ON 1/19/2020 I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 GMC TERRAIN ON A BUSY STATE HIGHWAY DOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH. OUT OF NO WHERE I BEGAN TO SMELL THE ODOR OF BURNING OIL AND SEEN WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. AS SOON AS I NOTICED IT MY CAR'S GAUGES STARTED COMING ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, A WARNING TO FOR "SERVICE STABILITRAK", THEN THE WARNING FOR "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". AT THE MOMENT MY CAR ALL THE SUDDEN SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY! THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME STEER MY CAR INTO THE PARKING LOT OF WALMART AND SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. ONCE IN THE PARKING LOT I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED MY OIL. SMOKE IS ROLLING OUT OF THE DIPSTICK SHAFT. I CHECK MY OIL WEEKLY DUE TO GM'S OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES WITH THE 2013 GMC TERRAINS AND ON 1/15/2020 THE OIL WAS AT FULL, WAS OF NORMAL COLOR AND CONSISTENCY WHEN I FUELED AND CHECKED IT THAT DAY. SO I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THERE WAS NO OIL ON MY DIPSTICK AND INSTEAD A MILKY BROWNISH SLUDGE ON IT. I SENT MY FIANCE TO BUY ME 2 QUARTS OF OIL JUST TO GET IT TO THE WALMART SERVICE DEPARTMENT SO THEY COULD LOOK AT IT SINCE I WAS IN THE WALMART PARKING LOT. I ADDED THE OIL DROVE IT 100 YARDS TO THE SERVICE DEPT OF WALMART. THE SERVICE MAN PULLED IT INTO THE GARAGE AND THEN INFORMED ME A FEW MINUTES LATER THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL BLEW AND OIL WAS FLOWING OUT OF IT. IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GM DEALER. THE GM DEALER CALLED ME THIS MORNING 1/21/2020 TO INFORM ME THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL BLEW DUE TO MOISTURE IN THE INTAKE AND A FROZE THE PCV MODULE AND CAUSED TO MUCH PRESSURE TO BUILD UP AND BLEW THE SEAL. THE DEALER QUOTED THE REPAIRS TO BE $2065.69 AND INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIRS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE GM SERVICE BULLETIN #14882 BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN.

NHTSA ID

11300673

Incident

Jan 19, 2020

Mileage

93,600 mi