2010 GMC Terrain: engine and transmission complaints
HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
57%
151 of 264 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
57% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2010 GMC Terrain are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 75% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 31 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 51%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE04/08/2020CRASH1 INJURED
THE PROBLEM(S) THAT I HAVE HAD OR CURRENTLY HAVE WITH MY VEHICLE ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. VEHICLE HESITATES 2. JOLTS FORWARD 3. STUTTERS 4. EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION 5. THE CAR HAS BEEN UNDRIVABLE SINCE 01/27/20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS,ENGINE04/09/20191 INJURED
TAKATA RECALL I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD NOT IN MOTION AND SEVERAL THINGS HAPPEN TO MY GMC TERRAIN WITHIN LESS THEN A WEEK FIRST MY WINDOW ON DRIVERS SIDE STOPPED ROLLING ALL THE WAY UP. THEN THE BACK SEAT LOWER AIR POCKET IN SEAT BURST WHILE DOING NOTHING BUT DRIVING. THEN MY HEATER IN CAR WENT OUT. AFTER THIS M…
AIR BAGS,ENGINE01/04/2016CRASH1 INJURED
TAKATA RECALL - BOUGHT VEHICLE USED,IN PAST 2 YEARS HAVE GONE TO START TRUCK AN IT STUTTERS WHEN TRYING TO TURN IGNITION OVER.ALL LIGHTS ON DASH FLASH AND UPON STARTING A 2ND TIME ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I WORK IN AUTO COLLISION INDUSTRY AND READ WITH MY SCAN TOOL. EVERY TIME ITS LISTED AS FAULTY START.DIDN'T THINK ANY …
Three of 151 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (3)
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox…
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and ou…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2010 GMC Terrain
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
3 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle.
