2011 GMC Terrain: engine and transmission complaints
VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
69%
248 of 360 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
69% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 GMC Terrain are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 91% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 37 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 62%).
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,UNKNOWN OR OTHER02/28/20175 INJURED
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED BETWEEN CYLINDERS 2 AND 3 UPSTREAM OXYGEN SENSOR FROM HOT EXHAUST GASES FROM THE LEAK PASSING ON THE WIRES AND HEATER ELEMENT WITHIN THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD TOP HEAT SHIELD. CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING THROUGH FLOOR BOARD
AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,ENGINE05/14/2019FIRECRASH3 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE …
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE12/05/20201 INJURED
PROVEN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM ON MY CAR AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS LEADING TO A CLASS ACT WHICH HAS FAILED JUST ABOUT EVERYONE. CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND THESE CARS REQUIRE A NEW ENGINE AMONG OTHER FIXES IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ENGINE BLOWING. MY ENGINE BLEW ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING DESPITE REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND …
Three of 248 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 (4)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to b…
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…
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC SRX, CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES. THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ANCHO…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2011 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.
4 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.
