2015 GMC Terrain Complaint Log

Oil consumption, causing high pressure furl pump to clog. It also causes catalytic converter to clog. No warning of oil loss. Causing stalling out while driving. Caused the engine to seize. New engine replaced and still same problem s

2015 gmc terrain sle awd. Suv was taking in for oil change found excessive rust on frame under all four doors. On both sides rust and holes near the front of both rear wheels. I believe its called the "rocker" I'm unsure. I bought the car at a little over 71,000 miles in 2022-2023 now just getting to 94,000 in February 2026. If there was rust which there probably was the car should have not been sold if the rust was enough to cause problem later on. I may need to go purchase a new car while still owe some money in the car loan. Rust and hole in the rear control arm. The amount to replace and repair all the parts with labor exceeds current value.

The radio dead out randomly. Which means the back up camera is non working. I wasn’t able to see a stump and hit it. Doesn’t seem safe. Like what would has happened if it was a person instead and they like the stump was in my blind spot while backing up. I feel like this is a safety issue. I have looked it up online and found out this is a common issue with these vehicles.

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started the following day, the rattling sound from the engine compartment returned. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on several occasions, and it was diagnosed and determined that the engine was low on oil and was consuming 2 quarts of engine oil every 2-3 weeks. The contact stated that the oil level was topped off. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

First occurrence in September 2015. Rear lift gate acted abnormally, when I was parked,y son opened the lift gate using the normal door handle button, it raised, but as he was loading it lowered onto him. He is small, I had to get out and pull it off of him, it went up and down a couple times and then closed. You cannot stop it from closing down on you if you are trying to load or unload into that compartment. We have had to stop using altogether.

I own a 2015 GMC Terrain, 4D. Vehicle started displaying error P0016 during the evening of 07/27/2025, the following day the vehicle stopped working. I towed the vehicle to three different mechanics. All three mechanics indicated that the engine needs to be replaced. Two of the mechanics indicated that this was a common issue with this GMC SUV and I wanted to reported. P0016 states, "crankshaft position camshaft position correlation Bank 1". I am disappointed that this issue has not been reported or recall. There are multiple youtube videos and online chats regarding this issue.

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.

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.

Catastrophic mechanical failure; engine failure. Below freezing day driving normally until the car just died right in the middle of a busy 4 lane road. No warning lights were displayed. Luckily I was able to drift the car over to the curb lane then manually push into a parking lot with cars driving around me. Vehicle taken to independent Auto Care Service which did an inspection stating the PCV valve was frozen which then caused the pressure to blow rear seal and metal fragments could be seen in the oil drippings. No issues or dashboard notifications prior to this event.

Found steering wheel airbag deployed

My vehicle began jerking, shaking and kept shutting off in a highway intersection. I looked on the ground after coasting into a gas station to find oil leaking from under my vehicle. I've never had an oil leak and it caused my starter to go and I've had to replace the camshaft sensors all within the same week. It appears the rear seal went after the cold streak we had. I need my vehicle to take my mother to treatments, etc. Is there any recalls on this?

Clogged manifold and engine head. Blockage buildup in manifold and Pcv valve causing exhaust problems. Oil sludge block air in head and manifold causing CEL to come on. And these vehicles drink engine oil like water. Gives code P0411

Oil consumption on this vehicle is terrible. All GMC for that matter. It burns in the engine and have to refill or top off multiple times a month.

There is a well known piston ring gasket issue with various GMC Terrain model years. GMC had recalled some for the engine defect but not all years with the affected engine. The 24L Eco tec engine is faulty. The motor uses excessive amounts of oil between oil changes and all kinds of systems are affected by carbon buildup. The engines run rough and stall out WHILE DRIVING. GMC refuses to recall all of the vehicles with this problem and that includes my 2015 model year GMC Terrain with the 24L engine. This would cost me thousands to fix myself. This is a serious issue and also a safety issue that they can get away with selling such faulty vehicles to families and no one makes them fess up and fix the engines at their expense not ours. My wife has had the vehicle stall out constantly while driving and with our partially disabled child in the car. It has happened countless times to me as well. This will also eventually cause the motor to have a much shorter life. There is also a chance of the timing chain breaking and causing the engine to break. These defects should be fixed via a recall. This is a WELL KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT please look it up. It affects thousands of GMC Terrains and other GM vehicles with the 24L Ecotec motor.

I GOT IN MY CAR AND PROCEED TO DRIVE AND THE POWER LOW ENGINE SIGN CAME ON. TOOK TRUCK TO MECHANIC AND PAID $1000 BECAUSE GAS WAS GOING INTO MY ENGINE.

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 contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the message "Power Reduction Mode" was displayed, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, there was a ticking sound coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled another time. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine timing was faulty, and the engine had experienced a loss of engine compression. The contact was advised to contact a local dealer for service. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 160,000.

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle jerked and shut off. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. The contact stated that on several occasions, while the vehicle was jerking at a complete stop, the contact shifted to park(P) to prevent the vehicle from stalling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump was leaking fuel into the oil gasket. The mechanic replaced the mass air flow sensor, the oil gasket, the fuel pump, the catalytic converter, and the starter; however, the failure recurred while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in an unknown related recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

I am writing to urgently request a safety recall for the GMC Terrain 2015 due to a critical issue with the lift gate mechanism, which may be both electrical and mechanical. Recently, while utilizing the lift gate for routine activities such as grocery shopping, a terrifying incident occurred that endangered the safety of my family members. Upon opening, the lift gate exhibited a concerning behavior, forcefully closing without warning or control, posing a severe risk of injury. Despite attempts to intervene, the gate continued its downward motion unabated, presenting a serious hazard of crushing limbs or causing incapacitating harm. In a frightening moment, one of my family members narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic injury as the gate threatened to strike her right hand. While I sustained a minor injury to my arm, a superficial wound, the gravity of the situation cannot be understated. This dangerous malfunction persists, rendering the trunk unusable out of fear for the safety of myself and my loved ones. Given the potential for life-altering injuries, I implore you to take immediate action and initiate a recall for all GMC Terrain 2015 models affected by this defect. The safety of consumers should be the utmost priority, and failure to address this issue promptly could result in devastating consequences. I urge you to prioritize this matter and take decisive steps to remedy the situation before further harm occurs. Your swift action in initiating a recall will not only safeguard the well-being of countless individuals but also uphold the reputation of your brand for prioritizing customer safety.

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was released, and the vehicle sputtered. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The message "Reduced Engine Power" was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would shut off while idling unless the accelerator pedal was intermittently depressed. The contact also stated that the vehicle had failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to Firestone on several occasions, and the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) was replaced 3 times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact turned off the vehicle and removed the key and the vehicle was shaking and shuddering until the vehicle independently turned off. The contact stated that there was an oil leak and oil was being added every four days. The contact stated that coolant was also frequently added. The contact stated that the vehicle was taking to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the engine power reduced message was displayed, and the vehicle decelerated to 20 MPH. The vehicle was towed to the residence and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

status display screen shows multiple false signals

The blind spot detection sensors have failed and the rest of the detection systems using the bad sensors are also non functional. An alert is shown in the info center every time the car starts. I have read that the issue is due to poor positioning of the sensors allowing for tire spray to directly hit the non water resistant sensors and their connectors. The replacement parts and labor are ridiculously expensive and the ability for an owner to complete this task is nearly impossible. A simple splash guard behind the tire or even waterproofing the sensor and it’s entirety to avoid water penetrating and causing the very expensive sensor and all detection systems connected to it to fail.

The rear main seal for the engine fails because of a clogged PCV valve. This was a problem on previous years for the Terrain and other vehicles that carried a similar type of engine. There was a recall for those previous years (2011-2014). My vehicle is a 2015 GMC Terrain, and I am currently experiencing the same issue. I took my vehicle to a licensed dealership and they quoted me a price of close to $3,000 to make the necessary repairs. In my opinion, since the same issue/problem is occurring, there should be a recall issued to include at least the 2015 year models for that engine.

The vehicle tends to not turn on unless I give it a boost. Battery is new and alternator is good It occurs twice to three times a day

Oil drained and no oil after oil change ra about 2300 miles and there is no indicator for low oil level or anything. Engine started rattling and engine sounded so that I pour oil then no more sound and working About month ago engine stopped while going slow in school line and after resting it worked and same rattling sound because of no oil

The blower fan for heat In my vehicle was replaced in October 2022, recently the Defroster will not engage and it is vital to winter driving. The mechanism that switches between which vent to blow out air was replaced and the Defroster will still not engage, rather it comes out of the heat and face vents. Shortly after the Defroster stopped engaging, the rpms will start fluctuating from 2 suddenly up to 6-8 without warning or acceleration then go back down and back up as if it's chugging along. Even when applying the brakes, this will continue to happen and there's concern for Rear-ending or crashing when this happens. When driving home 2 nights ago the county police pulled my vehicle over due to burnt out headlight, which was replaced less than 6 months ago. Took the car in to get bulb replaced today and multiple bulbs later, the light is not fixed and it was said to be electrical and need to go to another shop. Beginning to wonder if this is all a bigger problem about to happen with engine/ powertrain.. with commute to work in the dark and electrical problem in the headlight randomly and the acceleration issues there is definitely a concern for safety.

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH with cruise control activated, the RPM suddenly increased to redline, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve, which then caused a failure with the front crank seal, resulting in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE25001 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 148,000.

Vehicle has been consuming oil quicker than normal with no known reason as to why. Vehicle has also had 2 incidents of the vehicle not starting and no engine light or codes appear after vehicle gets started.

There have been problems with the 2015 GMC Terrains Timing chain. The timing chain will break when the vehicle is being operated which causes the driver to lose complete control of the SUV, additionally, the engine will be destroyed. The bigger issue is the loss of control when you are driving - especially at highway speeds. GMC had hundreds of complaints but refused to issue a recall. A recall was issued but for only certain batches of VINs. I contacted GMC corporate service to inquire about what they are doing for the other owners who are experiencing the symptoms before the chain breaks. The representative told me they were only recalling certain VINS, I explained that it was not a fluke that my car was experiencing the same issues as the recalled ones. The response was they weren't recalling my VIN. I inquired why there were only some, not all, and she said it depends on what time of day the car was assembled the weather, and the place. Just bizarre this answer, my vehicle is the exact vehicle model that is being recalled and is experiencing the same problem - it makes no sense. So if I am driving on the highway or any road USA and my chain breaks I may kill myself as well as others. Then there is the cost to repair this defective part, by recalling certain VINs they are acknowledging there is a defect that they are responsible for. I want my vehicle repaired at the expense of GMC as they are the cause of the issue. I don't want to die or kill anyone. Can you please help me and many other owners who are dismayed and just confused and angry? My car is now stalling out while I am driving, or moving at all.

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up as needed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced due to oil not reaching the engine block and the engine burning. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

Engine timing chain broke car stop working in the middle of the road

I have a failure occurring with the air bag system in my 2015 GMC Terrain SLE. There seems to be other air bag issues with this vehicle. This is yet another problem. I am aware that there is a technical bulletin that the manufacture has published concerning the failure I am experiencing, but there appears to be no recall. Specifically, I have a service air bag light on in the vehicle. The problem has been diagnosed to be the failure of the air bag passenger presence module. Since this is a safety feature, it seems it would warrant more than a technical bulletin.

Vehicle stalled, steering column was shaking. Fortunately, this took place when leaving work parking lot. Had it happened on the road, driver and passenger safety would've been at greater risk. In addition, this particular issue could've resulted in a fire in the engine compartment. Took to mechanics and was informed that cylinder #3 was no longer contributing to engine function. Technician discovered cylinder was leaking from exhaust valves. Vehicle has not been inspected by the other individuals. Prior to this incident, vehicle was consuming oil at an enhanced pace although the oil light indicator would never turn on. Engine light didn't appear until cylinder #3 failed. It's important to note there is a previous (successful) class action lawsuit for the 2010-2013 models for the same exact reasons noted above. Missouri is in the process of filing a lawsuit for the 2014-2017 models.

Engine started sputtering, then vehicle was shifting hard and occasionally jerking forward while braking/at a complete stop. Check engine light came on. Found there was no oil left. Was less than 3000 miles since prior oil change. Dealer service sticker stated oil change was not due until 5000 miles (synthetic). Oil light never came on. After refilling oil, check engine light turned off and vehicle started operating normally. Discovered many others with problems with this vehicle consuming oil. Luckily, we caught it before engine failure, but obviously worried that this could happen at any time.

Timing chain issues that causes new engine because the way it’s set up

My Terrain just started stalling. And it happens a few times a day. This is not safe. I had my daughters with me in their car seats, as I pulled out from a stop sign it just died. I couldnt steer or anything. People coming down the road and I am stuck In the middle of a street until I could put it in park and restart. And then it happens again when in reverse. I thought I accidentally had it in neutral. I restarted it and thought it was fine. It gave a little chugging when I hit the gas pedal but all was fine until I stopped to pull into a parking spot and tried to reverse again to straighten my car. I turned it back on, then it was good enough to get out. when I went back to my car it stalled like 4 times when trying to simply leave the parking lot.

The engine burned a usually large amount of oil without warning the driver, resulting in engine failure. With minimal local driving and no warning, the engine was completely out of oil, resulting in an engine banging/rattling that began, resulting in total car failure. Like others with the same issue, a certified dealer diagnosed that a new engine was needed at a cost of $9500. An independent repair shop also confirmed a new engine would be needed.

The timing belt on the GMC Terrains from 2013 to 2015, mostly 2015 are breaking at a unusual amount. If you google it , there is story after story about this problem and GMC has not done anything. This appears to be a problem with the Terrain and I want them to issue a recall before mine breaks. It is expensive to fix and it can also be a huge problem if it breaks when you are driving. Something has to be done as this is not a coincidence that this is occurring to a large amount of Terrains.

Timing chain stretching or breaking that can cause drivers to have a wreck or lose control of vehicle and also causes damage to the engine

My vehicle had 2 recalls and I took it to the local Chevy dealer where I had purchased the car in 2018. The windshield wiper problem was repaired but I was told they did not have the correct parts to repair the headlights. After 3 days I was told the car was ready and I was assured by the service manager that the car was done. However, the headlights were not repaired..

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 186,000.

My vehicle keeps running extremely low in oil and not alerting me with any warning lights. My vehicle starts to shake like it is going to stall and the engine makes a rattling noise. This is a safety concern.

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and was informed that diagnostic tests on air bag failures were not performed at their location. The contact stated that she received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V165000 (Visibility) and 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the dealer declined to service the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

The vehicle excessively burned oil and the engine now needs replaced. 4 oil changes in the last 11 months on top of adding oil in between oil changes. At a stop light the car died and was towed to a dealership.

My GMC terrian has 98567 miles and had check engine light problem. Dealer said that I needed new timing chain. Cost $2282.05. Have not found a recall on the timing chain problem, but have seen many complains about the same issue. With some being replaced multiple times. Why has GMC not done anything to cure this problem. Van does not burn oil. Have it serviced at the GMC dealer since I purchased it with only 16000 miles.

Hit a deer causing extensive damage to the front end. The driver airbag released a smoky substance and the display read that the airbag had deployed yet it did not come out .

My Car is using oil excessively. I need to add about 1 1/2 to 2 quarts weekly. I only drive about 40 each week.

Not really sure if it is electrical but the Stabilitrak light came on and the car jerked and I could not go over 50 mph and that would be fine however when you are on a freeway and the speed limit is much greater you could cause and accident. I took the vehicle to a garage and they put it on there computer and reset it and it seemed to work OK until I again went on the freeway and the same thing happened. Again I took it back to the same garage and they recommended I take it to a GMC Dealer which I did and they could not find the problem either after spending around $600.00. I did take it to the GMC Dealer which the vehicle make is a GMC.The problem, to the best of my knowledge, started about April 2023.

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. Parts distribution disconnect.