Equipment Problems of GMC Terrain - part 1

The rear camera is displaying the top of the license plate! it wasn’t doing it when I first purchased the car. Dealer states it is normal. I do not agree.

See all problems of the 2024 GMC Terrain 🔎.

Two weeks ago I was driving on the highway. My car felt fine. No warning light the dashboard. Suddenly I receive a notification on my dash stating “engine speed reduced” and my check engine light went on. My car at this point still feels fine, not shaking, no smoke, etc. I’m on the highway and not in a safe position to pull over. 2 minutes later I receive another notification on my dash stating “service breaks”. I immediately tap my brakes to check and they are stiff. I let off the gas as I was approaching the exit and begin pumping my brakes. They continue to be stiff. Luckily there was no one I front of me as this exit led to a rotary. I was able to coast around the rotary and into a parking lot where I attempted to push the e- break which did not work. My steering tightened and then my car died. I have the car towed to GMC where I bought the vehicle. Am told I will be charged a diagnostic fee and they will let me know what they find before repairs are made. I receive a call back the following day stating “the vacuum pump exploded causing you to loose brakes”. I was told “the vacuum pump and repairs would be about $1,200. But they could not guarantee that once the vacuum pump was removed, there wouldn’t be more debris and destruction to the cam shaft and engine”. We asked they continue with the diagnostics and check the engine for debris. We receive a call back stating “the vacuum pump exploded and there are shards of medal debris in your engine”. Recommendations are that I need a new engine as "the vacuum pump explosion caused catastrophic damage to the engine". My safety and the safety of other innocent drivers on the highway were put in extreme danger! I lost all break control, power steering, and emergency break control. I had minutes from the time the first warning alerted to the time I lost complete control of the car. This is a known issue with gm motors specifically made between 2016-2019.

See all problems of the 2019 GMC Terrain 🔎.

Back up camera just started showing a blue screen with message that stated service back up camera. No accident, has not been to dealership. Just started 8/15/2025. No warning given.

The bolts fell out and the bracket that holds the drive shaft in place fractured while driving.

See all problems of the 2020 GMC Terrain 🔎.

A little over two weeks ago we were going to sidney to get groceries. It was hot that day so we turned the a/c on. Fog started coming out of the vents, it looked like we turned on a fog machine! a few days later we were going to town, my daughter got in and the whole driver's side floor was full of water. There was so much of it we had to get the shop vac out to suck it up. I called the dealer where we purchased it from because it still under warranty. Their shop guy was out for the week so they scheduled me an appt for the following week. By this time my speakers aren't working, my signal lights dont make any sounds when I use them and the floor is soaked again. On August 5th we took the car into high plains and left it. They said they worked on it for 4 hours and fixed the problem, some drain line was plugged with sludge and so the water knocked out a module or amp. I thot everything would be covered but then they said I'd have to pay because all of a sudden a mouse had causes that line to get plugged. I asked them for pictures because im turning it into my insurance company, and they said they would send them. They never have I requested the pictures 2x, once with patrick the shop manager and then with jeff presser, owner. Still today, nothing. Meanwhile yesterday here comes all the water on the floor again. We use this vehicle to haul my grandson to his therapies and medical appointments. He has cerebral palsy and has severe respiratory problems that requires him to be on oxygen. Now were worried that mold has started growing because even though were sucking up the water, the floor pad and carpet are still wet. I went online and have seen numerous people complaining about the same issue for years with these GMC Terrains, why hasnt there been a recall or national warning on this faulty problem?.

Component affected: service brakes, hydraulic – brake vacuum pump summary of the problem: I am reporting a serious safety issue involving the brake vacuum pump on my 2018 GMC Terrain. The brake pump failed catastrophically ("blew up"), resulting in a sudden loss of braking power. This occurred without warning and posed a significant risk to my safety and others on the road. We were traveling to vacation in florida and thankfully had just gotten off the interstate. Details: the failure caused the brake pedal to become extremely hard to press, and the vehicle required a much longer distance to stop. We experienced no brake at the brake booster and a blown vacuum pump is due to a faulty vacuum pump which is a known issue for this model. Fortunately, no accident occurred, but the situation could have easily led to a collision. A certified mechanic confirmed that the brake vacuum pump exploded and needs to be replaced. I have incurred significant out-of-pocket repair costs due to this issue. We had to uber to our vacation room, get walmart plus to have groceries delivered to our room. We had to have uber eats deliver other supplies. We have had to walk to various places for dinner and entertainment because avis and budget had no vehicles available to rent and enterprise was closed as we arrived on Saturday afternoon. I have checked for recalls and service bulletins using my VIN, but none are currently listed for this specific issue, despite similar problems being reported in other gm vehicles. Request: I urge the NHTSA to investigate this issue further. The failure of a critical braking component without warning is a serious safety concern. I believe this may be part of a broader pattern of brake system failures in gm vehicles and should be addressed through a recall or safety campaign. Also, the estimate for the repair is $2,500 so any reimbursement would be greatly appreciated. We just received this estimate but I can provide it at a later date.

See all problems of the 2018 GMC Terrain 🔎.

The rear hatch would open but then start to slowly drop. The local dealership diagnosed the problem and told me the pump needed to be replaced but quoted $1000. I chose not to have the repair done at that time but recently the hatch opened and then dropped suddenly hitting me on the head. There were earlier model recalls for this problem but not on the 2015. This is a potentially dangerous condition.

See all problems of the 2015 GMC Terrain 🔎.

Sunshade is not rolling back and has come off the tracks obstructing rear view and I am unable to drive the vehicle.

Liftgate strut malfunctioned. Yes vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I activated the trunk with the key fob, while retrieving items out of my trunk, the trunk began closing on me without any warning. The liftgate sensor failed to recognize an object (me), was in the trunk and nearly caused a severe crush injury which could have been fatal. Yes the problem was reproduce by an independent service center as well as a dealership. No the part was not inspected. There were no known warning lights or messages. Apparently as per consumers this is known problem with the 2010-2017 GMC Terrain and chevy equinox.

While driving under normal conditions the panoramic sunroof shattered. This is a serious safety issue and obviously a problem with the manufacturing of the tempered glass.

Vehicle shimmies upon acceleration from a stopped position.

Constantly have water leaking into spare tire compartment, back seat floors and passenger floor. Mold/mildew smell coming through vents. Have had drains lines cleaned out, and still recurring having this issue. Unknown where leak is coming from. This is a serious health risk.

See all problems of the 2021 GMC Terrain 🔎.

I was 30 seconds away to pull in my driveway. Warning came up on screen (service) transmission unable to shift. When I turned into my driveway the vehicle stopped suddenly & threw itself into park. Vehicle still running but would not go into any gear, drive or reverse. I then pushed the park button & I think it said emergency brake released. I then proceeded to drive up my driveway with no problem. Haven’t gotten back in vehicle yet as I am afraid to but l made appointment to take it to the dealership to check it out. On 3/24. (linus Cadillac Buick GMC)thank god it happened in my driveway as it would’ve caused an accident. ( the vehicle was driven up the rd. Walking distance. Sat there for an hr. Visiting my family. Then was driving home when incident happened. So it wasn’t running hot or anything.

Drive shaft on my GMC Terrain needs to be repaired according to my repair shop. I brought it in as it was vibrating on acceleration and other times frequently. I was told it was the “drive shaft” and the mechanic states they have had equinox and GMC Terrains coming in for same issue. (specifically my year Terrain) I looked up and found this recall # for this issue: n212343560. I was never notified and now have a very expensive repair bill which may or may not fix the issue.

The backup camera on my vehicle stopped working completely, displaying a blank screen. All other cameras and sensors continue to function normally. The dealership identified the issue as the camera having “shorted out” and is replacing it with a completely new unit. The faulty camera is currently with the dealership, and I assume it would be available for inspection upon request. It is being replaced and I will receive a bill in a few days (Wednesday March 10, 2025). The backup camera is a critical safety feature designed to prevent collisions with pedestrians, objects, and other vehicles when reversing. Without a functioning camera, visibility is significantly reduced, increasing the risk of an accident, especially in crowded parking lots or areas with low visibility. The sudden and unexplained failure of this system is a serious safety concern. Yes, the dealership confirmed the issue when I brought my vehicle in for inspection. They determined that the camera had “shorted out” and ordered a full replacement. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership, which is handling the replacement. To my knowledge, no manufacturer representatives, police, or insurance agents have examined the issue. There were no warning lights, error messages, or other indications before the failure. The backup camera was functioning normally, then suddenly stopped working, displaying a blank screen. I have heard that Cadillac and GMC acadia models have experienced similar backup camera issues, leading to recalls due to sudden failures. Given that my vehicle’s camera “shorted out” without warning, I believe this may be part of a broader issue affecting gm vehicles. If this is a recurring problem, it poses a serious safety risk and should be investigated further.

See all problems of the 2022 GMC Terrain 🔎.

Driving 75-80mph in the freeway when suddenly the power stopped in the middle of the road and couldn’t get it to run. Thankfully freeway exit was near was able to get the vehicle to safety. Tried to turn in on again and would turn on but die down after. Had to tow the vehicle and take it to the dealership the next day. Said it was fuel pump module defect and there’s nothing I could have done to cause it. Vehicle is less than 3 years old with good maintenance.

1st time - rear main seal blew out & engine lost all of its oil causing rocker arm to break & chains to slip-vehicle sputtered & died while driving down busy street & would not restart - my safety & safety of others driving behind me were at risk for causing a rear end accident and/or pile up crash - no warning lights or sounds alerted me - dealership told us general motors is aware this is/has been a problem with 2017 Terrain vehicles especially those driven in midwest states due to colder temperatures - the intake manifold vent hole is not large enough to let air out, so it plugs up & causes pressure to blow out rear seal, which causes oil to leak out and engine dies. When replaced with a remanufactured engine intake manifold vent hole was not drilled out causing it to happen again 2nd time - when leaving parking spot at work noticed oil puddles underneath my vehicle, I checked my oil, it showed full, I was concerned, drove to nearby last place I got my oil change. They informed me that all the oil had leaked out and showed me the bottom of my vehicle oil covered the front to the back of my vehicle. They also said that I was extremely lucky to get to shop before engine blew and stopped dead. Again my safety and safety of others behind me could have been a rear end accident and/or car pileup crash - again no warning lights or sounds alerted me - shop personal told me general motors is aware this is/has been a problem with 2017 Terrain vehicles especially those driven in midwest states due to colder temperatures - even though the repairs where done by a certified dealership the first time they replaced with a remanufactured engine but failed to drill out the intake manifold vent hole bigger so this would not happen again but it did. General motors cannot just sell vehicles it has to stand behind what they sell which in my case they have not. Due to gm lack of concern, recalls, reimbursements, lives have been and continue to be at risk.

See all problems of the 2017 GMC Terrain 🔎.

My car is allowing me to drive without the key fob. I've drove two hours away from my house where my key fob was. It allows me to shut off the vehicle. Vehicle says ' no remote detected. Press brake to restart. This is the 3rd incident. This is definitely a safty issue. Someone can take my car 2 hours or so from my residence.

Hole for timing chain guide bolt damaged by failed guide bolt.

My car sunroof drainage system is not draining properly and GMC won’t see me for a month. There’s an excessive amount of water that’s pooling in the rear passenger floorboards buckets of water.

Blue screen with the message "service rear vision system".

I think the manifold on GMC Terrain need to be on a recall because mine already cracked.

See all problems of the 2012 GMC Terrain 🔎.

Vehicle emissions issue, catalytic converter and engine light. Vehicle is burning oil.

See all problems of the 2013 GMC Terrain 🔎.

Back up camera does not work. It shows a blue screen and says service repair needed.

Back right tail light filling with water when it rains. Affecting electrical wires and water dripping into back cargo. No cracks or damage found on tail light.

See all problems of the 2016 GMC Terrain 🔎.

Every time it rains, the floorboard of my car is soaking wet. I took it to the dealership, and they stated the leak is coming from inside the firewall. I have only had this vehicle for 2 years and just recently moved to a house without a garage. Now that I am just now noticing it, I am wondering if it was like this when I bought it, but I am only noticing it now that I do not have a garage. They want to charge me over $1,000 just to take apart the dashboard to find the leak and that is just insane. There is no telling how much mold, rust, etc. Could be in my car from this leak.

The ac is very poor and no back ac units is bad for small children. Also, engine light for exhaust.

See all problems of the 2014 GMC Terrain 🔎.

Infotainment system safety issues. I have video. Multiple times per week when starting the car and backing the rear camera engages. When placing car in drive the rear camera never shuts off, the sound volume doesn't work, the entire infotainment system completely malfunctions. The safety is when attempting to function the controls the volume will turn up and not able to turn it down, the screen flashes and the infotainment systems controls on the steering wheel do not function. I've had it to the dealer and they indicate pic6591a from March 3rd 2025 is logged. When contacting GMC corporate they refuse to give any information. The pic spans across many GMC vehicles including 2019 models. Why hasn't this been addressed? my son drives a 2024 chevy trax and this car has no issues like the my car does. His car also doesn't have the transmission/gear shift buttons like the 2024 Terrain does. Anyone else having issues with the GMC infotainment systems, black screen, malfunction? I have video.

While driving, my vehicle makes a loud funny sound, jerks/skips, and shuts off. It also loses motor oil quickly, yet it has no leaks and I have to constantly add more motor oil or get oil changes frequently. My safety has been put at risk because the engine can fail at any moment due to no motor oil, causing the vehicle to catch fire and also when the vehicle suddenly stops and shuts off in the middle of the road, it can cause an accident. There has been no inspection from the manufacturer.

The car very suddenly went into a reduced engine power mode, with check engine light and was immediately parked. Figuring I could turn the car off and turn it back on, however it sputtered turning off and shook violently before I was able to turn it off. It would then not turn back over, so I left it off and had a tow truck drive it to a GMC mechanic. The GMC mechanic was unable to diagnose an issue after days. I then had it towed to another local mechanic who stated the parts were "junk" and the engine needed to be replaced. Engine codes were related to the camshaft sensor and brake booster. It is my understanding the vacuum pump broke off into pieces, went into and destroyed my engine.

Safety was put at risk when brakes went out without warning, and unable to use emergency brake at that time. Car was serviced for over $1700, with the mechanics stating that the piece “blew up. ”.

When shopping for a new vehicle I noticed this but purchased the vehicle anyway. I attempted to look under the hood of my new GMC Terrain. I have a (hopefully temporary) handicap from a medical procedure I have been dealing with for over a year. I found that the hood assist springs or air shocks have been eliminated from the 2024 model. I can lift the hood on my 2010 GMC sierra, but I had to have my wife help me lift the hood on my 2024 Terrain. My guesstimate is the hood weighs 50 plus pounds! once the hood is lifted you have to install a rod (stick, like the old model a and t cars) so the hood stays up. Yes, I am aware that Ford and Jeep have done this too, but that still doesn't make it right in my view. In this day and age of vehicle safety, and adding safety features to vehicles that I would never even have thought of, I can't believe this is ok! I can only imagine a mechanic bumping the hood rod, or a small child reaching up to boost themselves up to see what dad or mom is looking at or doing under the hood of the vehicle. This would cause a 50 plus pound hood to come crashing down on a person and that is ok? how about a short or elderly person? how much did the car manufacturers save by eliminating this feature at the consumers safety and cost? maybe the manufacturers don't want us under the hood anymore, but then they will have to find a better way to add windshield washer fluid or check the oil or brake fluid.

I bought a 2023 GMC terrian sle brand new 14 months ago. It has 30,000 miles on it. I was driving down i75 and the car turned off. No warning signs! not to mention the car had no power! I couldn’t even put on my emergency flashers! me and my 3 year old son luckily were able to make it through a lane of traffic and up the embankment to call for help! I had the car towed to the dealership and they can’t find anything wrong with it! the car is acting normal now but I don’t feel safe in it!.

See all problems of the 2023 GMC Terrain 🔎.

My vehicle is 2012 GMC Terrain. Oil changes on my vehicle we kept up and I had no major issues with this vehicle. I had an oil change done about a month before I went to start my car and all the lights came on and my car would rumble and wouldn't stay started and was longer drivable. After towing it a service shop they stated the following: the timing chains are damaged, skipped teeth, metal debris found in oil and screen of intake and exhaust camshaft solenoids due to many oil leaks coming form engine and serious internal issues w/engine we recommend replacing the engine. Est cost, 11,061. I had no reason to think my car was in any trouble, as it was driving fine with no problems. I received no such recall letter or phone call and no mention from the dealership I bought the car from back in 2018 that this was an issue or that it was "taken care of" if I had I wouldn't have paid over $20,000. Into my car. Reading several complaints online about this exact issue is all new to me. Knowing I could have been driving a vehicle and it could have started a fire in my engine is crazy to think. Because I may have been driving a car with a serious recall on it. I am at a loss right now, financially I am screwed.

While driving on 95, I lost all engine and power breaks with no warning. A message came up on my dash stating that I had lost engine power. Fortunately an exit was up ahead so I was able to get there and coast down the ramp. I attempted to make a right turn to get out of the way but ran out of momentum. Dealership stated my vacuum break pump failed and went into the cam shaft. They had to replace those and the solenoid actuator and value. They also conducted an oil change. I received it back yesterday, started the car today and the check engine light was on. They found more debris and replaced another point and said if the light comes on again it's the timing chains in the engine. I went out leave and the check engine light was on. They are now keeping it to repair the timing chains. I am fighting with gm to cover the expenses since I see this is an issue in previous models/years of GMC and chevy vehicles.