2017 GMC Terrain
Common Problems
Ranked from 60 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
9 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Engine oil consumption and rear main seal failure
32complaintsHigh severityEngineThe 2.4L Ecotec engine experiences excessive oil consumption leading to rear main seal failure, causing oil leaks and engine damage.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Engine stalling and power loss
26complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine frequently stalls and loses power at low speeds, often without warning lights, leading to potential safety risks.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Engine failure due to oil consumption
16complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine fails due to excessive oil consumption, leading to catastrophic engine damage and the need for a complete engine replacement.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Engine Seizure Due to Frozen PCV Valve
8complaintsHigh severityEngineThe PCV valve freezes in cold temperatures, causing excessive crankcase pressure and leading to engine seizure.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Timing Chain Failure
7complaintsHigh severityEngineThe timing chain breaks, leading to engine failure and requiring replacement of the entire engine.
$900–$2,500est. timing chain/phaser service · 5–12 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
power train issues
6complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe vehicle experienced sudden loss of power and jerking during acceleration, potentially causing accidents.
- 7
airbag deployment failure
4complaintsSafety riskElectricalAirbags failed to deploy during a collision, increasing the risk of injury.
- 8
Excessive Oil Consumption
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine consumes oil at an excessive rate, often leading to engine failure without any warning lights.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
PCV System Clogging
3complaintsMedium severityEngineThe PCV system clogs, leading to excessive pressure buildup and subsequent engine damage.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.