2011 GMC Terrain GMC Terrain 2011

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2011 GMC Terrain repairs by problem area

Engine (45%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (7%)

Brakes and Traction Control (4%)

Suspension and Steering (3%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (22%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (10%)

Other (7%)

Chart based on 203 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2011 GMC Terrain.

2011 GMC Terrain engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (2%)

$1000 - $2499 (3%)

$500 - $999 (6%)

$100 - $499 (12%)

< $100 (77%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 65 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2011 GMC Terrain

Engine not specified

4000 mi Twice the car would not start. Had to have road service twice. 

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2011 GMC Terrain 4dr SUV

264-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

12084 mi L0618 SENSOR, FUEL TANK PRESSURE-RPL 13500745 SENSOR 12641740 PUMP,FUEL 
22400 mi CC was shot, had been since day 1. 
26683 mi INSPECT AND REPORT FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. DIAG 1.0 IF CP CUSTOMER BELIEVES THAT IT MAY POSSIBLY BE A CAT CONVERTER. WAS IN FOR SAME ISSUE ON RO# 1009189. CAT CONVERTER ORDERED 4050880 Catalytic Converter Replacement - Left Side 2 15032594 NUT 1 20893953 GASKET 1 25800997 CONVERTER 1 25801015 GASKET replaced bank 2, (left side) catalytic converter 4050880 
30380 mi Purge Valve system was rattling up against the firewall creating noisy rattling at idle. There is a GMC 'silent recall' on this issue. 
5019 mi Starter stays engaged still not fixed Transmission jerks when at a stop and take off. Was told its the memory in the transmission would stop at 5000 miles however when told we were already over 5000 miles! Still doing it to this day.  
2000 mi Vehicle prematurely bumping rev limiter in first gear, causing hesitation during WOT. Software reflash fixed the problem. 
5000 mi The power control module failed. The car had to be towed to the dealer. The module was repaced. 
10000 mi The car -- for whatever reason -- went into "theft" mode and locked out the ignition. They had to reprogram the computer. 

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2011 GMC Terrain 4dr SUV

182-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

228832 mi

US $824
Timing chain failure due to guides breaking apart. Ordered new Cloyes timing chain kit and replaced. Changed crank seal. Verified PCV system was not restricted. Changed oil, filter and antifreeze Spark plugs were fouled out. Ordered new AC Delco plugs and installed. 
229320 mi

US $48
The exhaust manifold was cracked into. I ordered a new exhaust manifold and replaced it. 
20000 mi Vehicle bought back due to diesel-like engine noise, gas in oil that kept coming back despite about eight repair attempts. Replaced oil pump and timing chain, performed TSB for actuator. 
12000 mi engine oil smelled of gasoline, fuel pump confirmed leaking and replaced. 
36000 mi Replace timing chain and tensioner or guides retrieve broken guides from oil sump replace oil 
44400 mi Engine noise at start up timing chain was stretched. The timing chain was also stretched with broken tensioners in November 2015. This makes 3 timing chains on this car, something is seriously wrong. 
45500 mi

US $2812
Engine noise at start up, poor fuel economy and performance. Replaced fuel pump this was the third fuel pump on the car  replaced an intake and exhaust valve two camshaft actuators. replace noisy serpentine belt 
54000 mi

US $490
Hoped for a diagnosis on engine noise. I've been hearing this noise since early 2016, it's very easy to duplicate. It happens about every other start yet they tell me they don't hear it. 
2000 mi Engine sputtered and vehicle cut off while coming to a stop in parking lot. Towed to dealer who reset engine light (reported engine control system error) but could not replicate issue. Returned after 12 days replacing intake cam solenoid. 
106000 mi Extreme oil consumption. Rings, bearings, gaskets, some sensors 
84000 mi Check engine light diagnosed at AutoZone as P0013 and P0014, exhaust camshaft position actuator valve control circuit "had a fault lodged or was disconnected for a predetermined period of time." The next day, the engine light was not on, so I did nothing. Now it seems to be on some trips and not others. 
41000 mi Makes funny noise on acceleration like it was gasping for air, dealer could find no issues, still makes the noise, there was a warranty recall for the same issue for other Terrains but not my model. The dealer was totally unhelpful. 
63000 mi Engine check light 
89000 mi Poor gas mileage, burns oil 
6000 mi Check Engine Lite Intermittant. Dealer upgraded software. Light went off and has stayed off so far. 
94000 mi

US $860
Heard a whirring noise when accelerating. Also the temp gauge was going up and down. Replaced thermostat and water pump and had cooling system flush. 
76700 mi Car turned off while in drive 
80000 mi

US $300
Car cut off while in drive 
40200 mi solenoids on camshaft were faulty. replacement under engine warranty 
59000 mi oil leak showed up 2 wks after oil change. took it back to dealer, they removed the oil filter, cleaned gasket(dirt under gasket),and changed oil. 
60000 mi car continued to leak oil after repair in August. Complained and had a new gasket installed on the oil filter cap. This seems to have fixed the problem, will monitor for oil leaks. 
99000 mi

US $320
vehicle was stalling then starting, fjel sensor showed to be unreliable running diagnostics, Sensor was replaced. 
6820 mi 6 weeks ago started noticing carbon where vehicle is parked & started several times a day & gas mileage has gone up. Was told this is normal & given printouts from GM. Don' think they did anything. 
7740 mi Gas mileage poor & carbon where parked & started. Dealer kept car 3 days & drove it. Adjusted muffler/exhaust. Advised to keep eco button on & monitor. If still problem to bring back. 
1100 mi Check engine light came one. Vaccum seal around dipstick faulty so repaired. Service Soon Light On (check engine). Found lean codes in memory, inspected engine for vacuum leak S. found dip stick tube not sealed properly. Repaired and road tested vehicle 
2000 mi SES Light IS On J5672 .8 OHL .9 DIAG SMOKE TEST EVAP, FUEL SYSTEM. INTAKE GASKETS. NO LEAKS DETEC. RELPALCED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. REPLACED THE SENSOR AND ROAD TESTED VEHICLE. 
3000 mi thought I smelled gas in oil. dealer tested, said no contamination present. changed oil, request return visit in 30 days. 
9000 mi excessive ticking noise. insulation shield installed. 
24800 mi timing chain and seals and water pump replaced 
28000 mi Engine would shut off as I was driving in parking lot. There was a problem with emissions. Had it repaired under warranty. 
70900 mi

US $1100
Engine would idle roughly and shut off when stopped at traffic lights. 
15000 mi Engine head pulled and clogged oil port cleaned due to oil starvation. Fiber from skinless oil filter was causing an oil starvation/pinging. 
47000 mi Earlier repair: an engine port clogged and required the dealership to pull the heads due to oil starvation. 
28800 mi It was a sensor. Car started fine, but kept stalling. 

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2011 GMC Terrain 4dr SUV

182-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

67060 mi

C $1989
Exhaust manifold was leaking and loud. 
85560 mi Check engine light came on. GM tech says the error is caused by the catalytic converter. Will need to be replaced in the future. 
86180 mi Excessive oil consumption. Pistons and rings replaced. Balance and timing chain replaced. Seals, gaskets, bolts replaced. Catalytic converter causing check engine light. Converter needed replacing. GM recently announced a recall on catalytic converters for our model of car, just so happened that our first warning light came in a month after the recall was released so it was repaired along with our oil consumption warranty. (could be related to the oil use issues too?) 
102896 mi

US $344
the intake cam solenoid went out dealer relpaced 
81220 mi

C $13
Muffler leaking, cut the leaking portion off and replaced with new one, didn't change the whole exhaust pipe. 
77000 mi Vehicle was consuming oil along with timing chain noise. New pistons and piston rings were installed to include the replacement of the timing chain. 
89000 mi

US $550
Car kept stalling along with a check engine light. The cam shaft position sensors were replaced. 
16000 mi

US $26
MÁS air flow sensor changed 
16600 mi return for rattling noise on startup. showed dealer a TSB. they ordered a part. also got a check engine light before taking to dealer. code was P0011.cam error. dealer installed part. next day was rattling again.. returning to dealer again for rattling startup noise. rattling noise at startup..GM is aware of this issue with the 2.4 I-4 engine..they have no fix at this time. rattling noise on startup..couldnt dupicate. ordering parts to do a tech bulletin. parts installed (actuators-cam) still have the same issue check engine light,rough idle. stalled once. 
18000 mi GM called me that they had a repair for the Rattling startup noise that I have had for 6 months and 4 past unsuccessful visits. Said it was the Oil pump and needed to replace. Dealer replaced the oil pump per GM..the rattling came back. 
20000 mi The vehicle is on the Final Repair Attempt for lemon law. Same issue for past 7 months..intermittent rattling startup noise..Dealer had it for 5 days, couldnt duplicate the issue..nothing was done..2nd day having it back..I had the noise.. rattling startup noise issue still..in the repair shop at dealer for Final repair attempt per the lemon law, with GM 
24000 mi Received financial settlement from GM. Kept the Terrain, living with the noise. Update: traded it for a 2012 with the V6. reoccurring check engine light several times in the last week of ownership (codes related to cam/rattling startup) 
27000 mi Camshaft actuator solenoid replaced 
17800 mi Open circuit in throttle position sensor - replaced throttle body 
34700 mi

US $311
Throttle position sensor failed, pedal position sensor, replaced pedal position sensor. 
62000 mi Timing chain replacement, special warranty. 
57800 mi

US $180
Exhaust leak, replaced resonator 
110000 mi

US $478
Cracked Exhaust Manifold 
115000 mi Excessive piston ring wear causing oil consumption. Covered by GM special extended warranty. Faulty catalytic converter. Replaced under GM special extended warranty. 
117000 mi

US $508
Pedal position sensor and battery replaced 
17360 mi

C $80
Loud rattle on cold start. Sounds like a diesel starting again. Occasional loss of power. 
12060 mi At -20C after being garaged in my garage, the car has on several occasions stopped and blown cold air into the vehicle. They supposedly fixed it but we haven't had similar weather. Dealer attempts to twist the truth baffles brains. 
17980 mi Still having problem with vehicle computer, got rid of it. 
71300 mi Engine rebuild due to excessive oil consumption. New pistons, rings, timing chain, tensioner and fuel pump. 
31000 mi Recall for rough idle 
75000 mi Replaced catalytic convertor. 
110000 mi

US $115
Said it was the timing chain streched and it damaged the engine. My extended warranty paid for a new engine. 
7000 mi Service engine soon light came on. Same rattling noise. GM tech support still does not know how to fix cleared code and reprogramed computer for start up fuel to air mixture. 
8000 mi Engine stalling. GM didnt know how to fix, replaced cam actuator. Makes rattling noise when it starts. 
8408 mi GM cant figure out how to solve problem. Loud rattle from motor when it starts. Sounds like a diesel engine starting. car stalls out on trip. GM cant fix and cant get to replicate. Gm cant figure out how to solve problem. Loud rattle from motor when it starts. Sounds like a diesel engine starting. car stalls out on trip. GM cant fix and cant get to replicate 
12400 mi Engine light on; rough idle; severe jerk at times. The mechanic told me I needed to change oil more often and drive train needs replacing 
14260 mi Same as before. Rough idle, almost stalling at times, kicks on acceleration. 
19560 mi step on gas, hesitation then forward thrust. Not as much power on acceleration. 
12400 mi The rough idle/jerking/surging was never resolved. The dealership said they could not find anything wrong. It was definitely a problem and thats why we got rid of it. We were not happy at all with the vehicle and considered it a lemon. 

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2011 GMC Terrain Engine Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2011 GMC Terrain problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.