Problems · by component
2010 GMC Terrain power train problems
51 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 GMC Terrain cite power train, 17% of all 295 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
51
17% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.”
“As i went to drive my terrain we bought back in June or July. But for the absolute first time we needed to use the defrost/defogger button last week on OCTOBER 20, 2022 and it wouldn't work. No lights came on to say it was defaulty. It also started to make our radio screen flicker when i tried to turn defrost on and it's continuously flickering and defrost doesn't engage on front windshield at all won't even melt snow or help defog when it's been raining or it's cold out. I almost wrecked my terrain due to this problem. Now on my instrument panel says camshaft/crankshaft sensor says service stabilitrack and something about my AWD System. All these happened within a week from trying to use my defrost. Also my instrument panel where it shows how fast i go flickers and it flickers on the RPM side as well. Noone has touched or looked it over since i have owned my 2010 terrain. Everything was just fine up till i pushed my defrost button and then all the other stuff happened”
“The contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and depressing the acceleration pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated the vehicle was restarted several times and the gear shifter was shifted several times before the vehicle started operating as needed. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, 5 months later the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.”
“My 2010 Terrain had been been intermittent dash warnings for “Service StabiliTrac” and “Engine Power Reduced” which would force the engine to reduce the speed itself down to about 30 MPH. After turning off car and restarting, warnings would go away. Yesterday, while driving on a secondary road, with no check engine light on, the engine stalled while traveling at approx 35 MPH. I was able to drop the vehicle into neutral and coast onto a side street, while also attempting to restart the engine. I was able to pull over without causing an accident. After letting the car sit for a few minutes I attempted to restart the engine, but only got a strange noise from the area of the upper cylinders. At his point the check engine light was now on. While waiting for a tow truck, and independent mechanic pulled up to ask if I needed help. After listening to the noice from the upper engine he asked if he could get tools and look in the engine. I said yes. He quickly pulled parts off the upper engine and opened and removed the upper cylinder cover. This revealed that the timing chain had no tension, as well as shards of shattered plastic all over the place, in and around the…”
“THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 4 IN ORLANDO FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND REVVED AS I APPLIED THE GAS. IT SLOWED AND I HAD TO SLIP IT INTO NEUTRAL THEN BACK INTO TO DRIVE TO GET IT TO CATCH. HAD THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE INTERSTATE IT COULD CAUSED ACCIDENTS AND/OR PERSONAL INJURY TO ME OR OTHER DRIVERS. THIS WITH JUST UNDER 70,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS CONFIRMED BY ORANGE BUICK GMC SERVICE CENTER ON WEST COLONIAL DRIVE IN ORLANDO FLORIDA, AS WELL AS AT UNIVERSAL AUTOMOTIVE ON TURKEY LAKE ROAD IN ORLANDO FLORIDA. AS TO THE INSPECTION BY THE MANUFACTURER, THE CLOSEST IS ORANGE BUICK GMC. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE WARNING TO ME THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN. TWO WEEKS EARLIER I HAD IT AT ORANGE BUICK GMC FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE.”
“I bought my 2010 GMC Terrain SLE at 160,000. It had a rough start up but the dealer said it was because it was an older car and been sitting for a while. The rough start up never stopped even after replacing the catalytic converter because of code P0420. The mechanic informed of this specific vehicle oil composition so I was consistently checking the oil. A month after the NEW catalytic converter was installed. I stalled out on the interstate with traffic going 65 mph minimum, the wheel locked and I was almost rear ended. I take the vehicle to an automotive shop and I need a new timing chain with numerous new codes. P0325 P0326 P0327 P0016 P0017 P0014.”
Showing 6 of 51 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.