2010 Gmc TERRAIN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Gmc TERRAIN has 427 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: engine cutting out and dying while driving, horn honking at times, vehicle starts itself sometimes, blowing fuses. vehicle tried to die on my wife while driving almost causing a serious accident. dealer has not found a solution yet. they have replaced the bcm with no good results. *tr.

15 crash reports 17 injuries

427

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

119 complaints

28%

• ENGINE CUTTING OUT AND DYING WHILE DRIVING, HORN HONKING AT TIMES, VEHICLE STARTS ITSELF SOMETIMES, BLOWING FUSES. VEHICLE TRIED TO DIE ON MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS NOT FOUND A SOLUTION YET. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BCM WITH NO GOOD RESULTS. *TR
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A CLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A CLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“ENGINE CUTTING OUT AND DYING WHILE DRIVING, HORN HONKING AT TIMES, VEHICLE STARTS ITSELF SOMETIMES, BLOWING FUSES. VEHICLE TRIED TO DIE ON MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS NOT FOUND A SOLUTION YET. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BCM WITH NO GOOD RESULTS. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

54 complaints

13%

• WHEN THE SUN IS HIGH AND SHINING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, IT REFLECTS OFF THE CHROME ON THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT LATCH, THE HEATER/AC PANEL, THE RADIO CONTROLS AND THE CHROME AROUND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER AND CUP HOLDERS DIRECTLY INTO THE EYES OF THE DRIVER. IT BLINDS YOU, I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT THE F
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL 09V489000 (VISIBILITY: DEFROSTER/ DEFOGGER SYSTEM, GM SAFETY RECALL #090298). THE SOFTWARE IN THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUSED THE HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST, AND RADIO CONTROLS, AS W
• VERY INTENSE REFLECTION OF DASHBOARD IMAGE ONTO THE LOWER THIRD OF WINDSHIELD, CAUSING A REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY. THE REFLECTION IS VERY PRONOUNCED IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, AND IS SOMEWHAT REDUCED ON CLOUDY DAYS, BUT IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM IN ALL DAYLIGHT DRIVING SITUATIONS. ALSO I AM HAVING SOME INTERMIT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHEN THE SUN IS HIGH AND SHINING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, IT REFLECTS OFF THE CHROME ON THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT LATCH, THE HEATER/AC PANEL, THE RADIO CONTROLS AND THE CHROME AROUND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER AND CUP HOLDERS DIRECTLY INTO THE EYES OF THE DRIVER. IT BLINDS YOU, I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT THE F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

51 complaints

12%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FAILED TO MAK
• 2010 GMC TERRAIN. POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BUILD QUALITY. MY VEHICLE HIT A SEVERE POTHOLE, VERY COMMON IN NJ. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND REAR TIRES BURST AND THE TRANSAXLE BROKE APART ALONG WITH OTHER COMPONENTS THAT HELP THE WHEEL TO STAY TOGETHER. *TR
• ON THURSDAY JULY 22 WHEN I WENT TO GO START MY CAR MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD, IT WOULD ONLY ROLL FORWARD. THE CAR DASH STATED IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE "STABILITRACK" AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT WAS ALSO ON. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. ON THURSDAY JULY 30, I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJ

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FAILED TO MAK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

48 complaints

11%

• ENGINE CUTTING OUT AND DYING WHILE DRIVING, HORN HONKING AT TIMES, VEHICLE STARTS ITSELF SOMETIMES, BLOWING FUSES. VEHICLE TRIED TO DIE ON MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS NOT FOUND A SOLUTION YET. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BCM WITH NO GOOD RESULTS. *TR
• WITH ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND ONE MAP LIGHT ON, WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL, ALL LIGHTS WILL DIM WHEN SIGNAL LIGHT COMES ON. THERE SHOULD NOT BE THAT MUCH STRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR
• MY 2010 GMC TERRAIN AWD WE HAD SINCE JULY OF 2010 WORK WONDERFUL AT FIRST. NOW, MAY 25, 2011 OUR TERRAIN HAS SEVERAL LIGHTS COMING ON. ABS, STABILITY SERVICES, AWD IS TURN OFF,AND TRACTION CONTROL IS NOT WORKING LIGHTS. ONSTAR CAN NOT SEE THESE PROBLEMS IN ITS SYSTEM. HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR IT IN J

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

24 complaints

• I PURCHASED A 2010 GMC TERRAIN FROM ROSSI DEALERSHIP .I HAD THE TRUCK FOR A DAY AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG CAME ON IN THE DASH. I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSORS FOR THE AIRBAG .THE NEXT DAY THEY TELL ME IT'S AN AIRBAG MODULE. I STILL DON'T HAVE THE TRU
• MY NEW 2010 GMA TERRAIN WILL RANDOMLY DISPLAY PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS OFF WHILE THERE IS AN ADULT PASSENGER (+150 POUNDS) SITTING THERE. IN ADDITION SOMETIMES IT HAS ALSO CAUSED AN ERROR CODE TO APPEAR AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT PRODUCE AN ERROR CODE. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE ALSO RECEIVED WARNINGS ON MY DASH
• TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY ABOUT 50MPH A CAR TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF US. WE T-BONED THE CAR. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AIR BAG SHOT OFF TO THE LEFT. THIS WAS A 2010 TERRAIN. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“I PURCHASED A 2010 GMC TERRAIN FROM ROSSI DEALERSHIP .I HAD THE TRUCK FOR A DAY AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG CAME ON IN THE DASH. I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSORS FOR THE AIRBAG .THE NEXT DAY THEY TELL ME IT'S AN AIRBAG MODULE. I STILL DON'T HAVE THE TRU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 427 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ENGINE CUTTING OUT AND DYING WHILE DRIVING, HORN HONKING AT TIMES, VEHICLE STARTS ITSELF SOMETIMES, BLOWING FUSES. VEHICLE TRIED TO DIE ON MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS NOT FOUND A SOLUTION YET. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BCM WITH NO GOOD RESULTS. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: WHEN THE SUN IS HIGH AND SHINING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, IT REFLECTS OFF THE CHROME ON THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT LATCH, THE HEATER/AC PANEL, THE RADIO CONTROLS AND THE CHROME AROUND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER AND CUP HOLDERS DIRECTLY INTO THE EYES OF THE DRIVER. IT BLINDS YOU, I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT THE F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FAILED TO MAK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: ENGINE CUTTING OUT AND DYING WHILE DRIVING, HORN HONKING AT TIMES, VEHICLE STARTS ITSELF SOMETIMES, BLOWING FUSES. VEHICLE TRIED TO DIE ON MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS NOT FOUND A SOLUTION YET. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BCM WITH NO GOOD RESULTS. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)