2017 GMC Terrain engine problems
80 of the 134 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 GMC Terrain name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 245 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 80 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2021: 3 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 11
Half of the 12 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 79,000 and 100,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
134 complaints in all about the 2017 GMC Terrain, 11 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: GMC Terrain engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Driving home from work and was about 4 miles away from home when the "service stabilitrak' and "reduced engine power" lights came on. Safely drove home, parked vehicle on road to shovel driveway (snow storm). When I went to start it to move it into driveway "oil pressure" light came on.
The rear main seal broke. Causing oil to leave the reservoir and empty the engine. This was due to a frozen pvc from cold temperatures. My vehicles engine light came on and I pulled over immediately noticing there was no oil. but there was never an indication of low oil. My vehicle is serviced with every 5k miles for oil.
Available for inspection upon request. The rear main seal is out, which is causing an oil leak. The intake manifold failed because the pcv system has a clog which has caused too much pressure to build up and caused the rear main seal to blow out. There were no dash lights.
The Rear Main Seal broke, thus causing major oil leak. I have been doing my investigations and there are many out there like myself. This is NOT an easy fix and is very expensive! I suggest if anyone else has the same issue please report it
The rear main seal broke. Causing oil to leave the reservoir and empty the engine. This was due to a frozen pvc from cold temperatures. My vehicles engine light came on and I pulled over immediately noticing there was no oil. but there was never an indication of low oil. My vehicle is ervex with gmc every 5k miles for oil.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications245 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0300 B3055 B3060 B3935 P0308 P050D P0442 P0455
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 GMC Terrain names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2017 GMC Terrain?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 80 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (60% of everything owners filed about it), and 245 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2017 GMC Terrain?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 1 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2017 GMC Terrain?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 85,000 miles; half of them between 79,000 and 100,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.