GMC Terrain engine problems, 2016–2027
366 of the 1,149 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the GMC Terrain 2016–2027 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2017 (80), 2019 (69), 2020 (61). Filed under the same heading across these years: no document yet. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
GMC Terrain engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | 2 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 2 | 15% | — | 37 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 11 | 22% | — | 75 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 15 | 38% | — | 98 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 15 | 17% | — | 246 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 12 | 33% | — | 183 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 61 | 31% | — | 216 TSBs | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 69 | 37% | — | 283 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 55 | 25% | 18k | 375 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 80 | 60% | 85k | 245 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 | 46 | 30% | 70k | 284 TSBs | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2017: 1 · 2018: 9 · 2019: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 26 · 2022: 28 · 2023: 52 · 2024: 62 · 2025: 87 · 2026: 80
Across the model years, half of the 77 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 18,000 and 86,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. 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.
My 2019 GMC Terrain has 21K miles and noticed a oil or transmission leak this morning. I see recalls for other vehicles but none for mine. Linking from a bolt just as the other recall is for
My wife was driving the car, about 70 mph on route 84 passing danbury ct. She was traveling in the middle lane, some kind of oil light went on the dashboard, car shut down while traveling 70 mph on the highway, and caught on fire under the hood. She managed to pull over, and got out of the car with my daughter.
2020 GMC Terrain Engine stopped working. Put in new engine. After one week new engine blown. We were 2000 miles away on vacation. I need a free rental I was with no car for a month and after only one week again for 3 weeks. Compensation request: Lost wages Hospital visit Extra hotel nights Gas Food car and insurance payment
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNothing filed under this heading on these model years.
Other systems with a record on the GMC Terrain
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: GMC Terrain problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich GMC Terrain years have the most engine complaints?
2017, 80; 2019, 69; 2020, 61. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2017 (60%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the GMC Terrain?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the GMC Terrain?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 52,800 miles across the model years; half of them between 18,000 and 86,000. 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.