2016 GMC Terrain Powertrain (other) Problems

My 2016 GMC Terrain 2.4L Ecotec first stalled while idling at a red light in Raleigh, NC. I restarted it and it sounded different, so I drove it home. The next morning it would not start. The failure occurred at approximately 69,939 miles with no meaningful warning. The dealer’s diagnostic report states there were no current relevant codes and no relevant codes in history. The dealer documented major timing-system failure: timing chain tensioner failure, timing chain guide failure, a timing chain guide bolt pulled out of the cylinder head, aluminum contamination in the cylinder head/oiling system, and engine replacement recommended. The vehicle was found unsafe to operate. This vehicle regularly transported my family, including my children. If the stall/no-start failure had occurred at highway speed, while merging, or in heavier traffic, it could have created a serious crash risk. The oil was maintained outside the dealership network and had been serviced before failure. I also topped off the oil shortly before this occurred. The 2.4L Ecotec engine family is known for oil-consumption issues, yet this vehicle gave me no direct warning that oil consumption had reached a dangerous level. A reasonable owner would not know to check oil every day when there were no relevant stored warning codes. Other NHTSA complaints involving 2016 GMC Terrain vehicles describe similar patterns: oil consumption, no warning lights, sudden stalling or no-start conditions, timing-chain failure, and engine replacement recommendations. I am filing because this appears to be an ongoing safety risk involving oil consumption without adequate warning, timing-chain/timing-guide failure, internal contamination, and sudden engine failure. I request NHTSA review this issue for investigation or recall expansion before this failure mode causes a preventable serious crash, injury, or fatality. The vehicle was inspected by a GMC dealer and remains unrepaired.

NHTSA ID

11742386

Incident

Apr 22, 2026

On or around August 15th I was in traffic and my 2016 GMC TERRAIN just shut off in the middle off traffic almost causing the car behind me to hit me is the rear. I got it started and then slowed down for a car that was turning in frount of me and it shut off again almost causing another car to rear end me. There where no warning light no warning at all just shut off I called a flat bed and it was taken to Clintscales Chevrolet in Belton Sc. They have informed me that it is a problem with the timing chain causing me to need a new motor. I have done research and it shows Gm has had problems with this problem in numerous engines in this year. This is so dangerous it puts life's in danger by shutting of in traffic with no warning at all.

NHTSA ID

11683566

Incident

Aug 15, 2025

Code p0700 was indicated at a professional transmission shop. My vehicle started driving different. It is a scary feeling. I have a ten year old daughter who I commute to school and safety is the utmost of importance. I don't want to have a accident in a vehicle I recently purchased for safety and end up having to look for another vehicle because of a total loss accident or a transmission problem that would cost a lot of money I don't have. My fear is the gears slipping as I drive my daughter to school. I got a quote of close to 3,000 $ to have the transmission rebuild or fixed. Money that I don't have to give a shop for a vehicle I purchased to not have problems like this. I called GMC to make an appointment to perform a transmission flush. The p0700 code indicates TCM failure. This is a very nerve wrecking situation. Please help me .

NHTSA ID

11617008

Incident

Aug 22, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in a driveway on a hill, the contact heard an abnormal snap and the vehicle started to roll down the hill through the neighbor’s yard, and then into the woods. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed from the scene. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,780.

NHTSA ID

11489336

Incident

Oct 14, 2022

Mileage

66,780 mi

I was leaving the area of Hiram and my car started running different and you could hear a taping noise. I drove it to the GMC dealer down the street and they said it was the timing chain. I recently had an oil change and I was wondering if that could be the problem. The dealer gave me no recommendations or indications that I needed to change belts or components and my service engine light has never came on.

NHTSA ID

11439346

Incident

Sep 22, 2021

2016 GMC Terrain SLT, service engine light came on, vehicle stalled many times, restarted but drove and misfired, stalled again, was able to get it to repair garage who I trust. He checked code and said I had to put a complete timing chain kit. Total cost came to $992.36 and didn't have a vehicle for a week due to weekend and a holiday. The vehicle only had 30,763 miles on it at the time but was out of factory warrantee. Reading other customer complaints, this looks like an ongoing problem and I feel should warrant a recall. Additional info such as repair invoice is attached. Please reply when received and thank you for your time.

NHTSA ID

11436115

Incident

Sep 2, 2021

NEEDS A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER OR POSSABLY THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

11415158

Incident

May 3, 2021

Mileage

55,128 mi

LESS THAN 62,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT. AFTER SEARCHING TO ORDER THE PARTS, I NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS COME UP ACROSS NUMEROUS WEBSITES WHERE OWNERS STATE THAT THEIR VEHICLES TRANSMISSION HAS DIED AROUND 60,000 MILES. THIS TELLS ME GMC IS AT LEAST AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD ENACT A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PARTS SHOULD BE COVERED BY GMC.

NHTSA ID

11365208

Incident

Oct 18, 2020

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND CORRECTLY TO THE ACCELERATOR, DELAYED RESPONSE. THE CAR WILL ALSO NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY (AS THOUGHT YOU ARE SHIFTING MANUALLY). WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S GAUGES WILL JUMP UP AND DOWN FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON. CAR WILL THEN GO INTO REDUCED POWER MODE. WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE WILL REV AND THEN THE CAR SLAMS DOWN INTO 2ND GEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN A GMC CERTIFIED GARAGE 7 TIMES AND OUT OF SERVICE WHILE IN THE GARAGE 40 DAYS AND COUNTING. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. GM IS REFUSING TO BY THE CAR BACK BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT AT PREMIER CHEVROLET GMC IN MORGANTOWN, WV USED WITH 27,768 MILES ON 2/5/17.

NHTSA ID

11121628

Incident

Apr 25, 2018

2016 GMC TERRAIN WILL SHOW THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS AFTER GAUGES JUMP UP AND DOWN. VEHICLE WILL THEN GO INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN SUDDENLY SLAM INTO 2ND GEAR. THIS OCCURS AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE, AS WELL AS, NORMAL ROADS. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN STAY IN 2ND GEAR AND WILL NOT GO INTO ANOTHER GEAR WHEN IT IS PLACED IN MANUAL EITHER. SOMETIMES, AFTER RESTARTING SEVERAL TIMES, IT WILL DRIVE NORMALLY. OTHER TIMES, IT WILL NOT START ONCE IT IS TURNED OFF. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE GARAGE FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. THE STARTER WIRE AND STARTER RELAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED, LOOSE GROUND WIRE TIGHTENED, AND THE ECM REPLACED YET THE CAR CONTINUES TO REPEAT THE SAME CYCLE. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 53,300 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11100255

Incident

Apr 24, 2018

Mileage

52,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY AND FAILED TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND SHE HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. UPDATED 10/26/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10876065

Incident

Jun 5, 2016

Mileage

50 mi