2011 Gmc TERRAIN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Gmc TERRAIN has 557 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 gmc terrain. the contact turned the ignition to start the vehicle and heard a loud bang coming from the engine compartment. the contact stated there was also a vibration felt from inside the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer yet the technician stated that they . ⚠️ 10 fire reports filed.

10 fire reports 11 crash reports 32 injuries

557

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

200 complaints

36%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS ALSO A VIBRATION FELT FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY
• I OWN A GMC 2011 TERRAIN. IT HAS 3600 MILES ON IT. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT THERE IS A HESITATION AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHEN TO SHIFT GEARS!.IT ALSO JERKS ALL OVER THE PLACE I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE ONE DAY IT ALMOST COMPLETELY STALLED ON ME. THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WERE NO CODES TH
• 3 PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 GMC TERRAIN AWD, 2.4 LITER 1. POOR GAS MILEAGE - AVERAGING 18.8 MILES FOR A VEHICLE RATED 20 CITY, 29 HWY. I DRIVE 42 MILES DAILY, 4 CITY, 38 HWY. DEALER CHECKED, NO CODES AND STATES "OPERATING AS PER DEIGNED INTENT" 2. JERKY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AND SEVERE HESITATION ON STA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS ALSO A VIBRATION FELT FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

76 complaints

14%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED UPDATES TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE AFTER THE UPDATES. THE APPROXI
• TRANSMISSION SLIPPING/JERKING ON MY GMC TERRAIN SUV-SLE MODEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 2TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG, BUT IT'S STILL JERKING, IT'S HAPPEN WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTING (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) THE CHANGE OVER IS NOT SMOOTH. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT'S DOESN'T HAPPE
• 3 PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 GMC TERRAIN AWD, 2.4 LITER 1. POOR GAS MILEAGE - AVERAGING 18.8 MILES FOR A VEHICLE RATED 20 CITY, 29 HWY. I DRIVE 42 MILES DAILY, 4 CITY, 38 HWY. DEALER CHECKED, NO CODES AND STATES "OPERATING AS PER DEIGNED INTENT" 2. JERKY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AND SEVERE HESITATION ON STA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED UPDATES TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE AFTER THE UPDATES. THE APPROXI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

48 complaints

• MY 2011 GMC TERRAIN HAS A 2.4L 4 CYLINDER FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. IT IS RATED AT 32 MPG HIGHWAY. SINCE DAY 1 I HAVE NOT EVEN GOTTEN CLOSE TO THIS. I DRIVE 100 MILES A DAY AND MAYBE 5 MILES OF IT IS CONSIDERED CITY DRIVING. I AM GETTING 20 TO 22 MPG. I CONTACTED GMC AND THEY HAD ME TAKE IT IN TO BE CHECK
• 3 PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 GMC TERRAIN AWD, 2.4 LITER 1. POOR GAS MILEAGE - AVERAGING 18.8 MILES FOR A VEHICLE RATED 20 CITY, 29 HWY. I DRIVE 42 MILES DAILY, 4 CITY, 38 HWY. DEALER CHECKED, NO CODES AND STATES "OPERATING AS PER DEIGNED INTENT" 2. JERKY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AND SEVERE HESITATION ON STA
• VEHICLE IS NOT DELIVERING THE EPA FUEL ECONOMY PERFORMANCE RATED. THE GMC TERRIAN FWD 4CYL IS RATED 22 CITY, 32 HWY, AND 26 OVERALL. I DRIVE 30% OF MY MILES IN THE CITY AND 70% HWY. MY VEHICLE HAS 5000 MILES AND I AM EXPERIENCING 17 CITY, 22 HWY, AND 20 OVERALL. ALL WELL BELOW THE EXPECTED RANGE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY 2011 GMC TERRAIN HAS A 2.4L 4 CYLINDER FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. IT IS RATED AT 32 MPG HIGHWAY. SINCE DAY 1 I HAVE NOT EVEN GOTTEN CLOSE TO THIS. I DRIVE 100 MILES A DAY AND MAYBE 5 MILES OF IT IS CONSIDERED CITY DRIVING. I AM GETTING 20 TO 22 MPG. I CONTACTED GMC AND THEY HAD ME TAKE IT IN TO BE CHECK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

37 complaints

• I BOUGHT A 2011 BLACK SLT TERRAIN 4/11/11 AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE NOISE IT MAKES ALONG WITH THE AMOUNT OF GAS IT TAKES AND USES WHICH DOES NOT ADD UP TO WHAT THEY ARE STATING WHEN PROMOTING THIS VEHICLE. IT ALSO IS VERY FRAGILE. YOU CAN NOT LEAN, FALL, OR CLOSE THE DOORS TO HARD OR IT WILL C
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE WHEN THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE CRUSHED THE JACK THAT WAS HOLDING THE VEHICLE UP. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE JACK THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE VEHICLE
• THE 4 PHONE SYSTEM DEVELOPED STATIC EITHER BLUETOOTH CONNECTION OR USING THE ONSTAR PHONE SYSTEM. OVER SEVERAL MONTHS I CHANGED PHONES AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE STATIC GETS PROGESSIVELY WORSE AS SPEED OF THE VEHICLE INCREASE. AT 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN A CALL IS MADE FROM THE VEHICLE THE PERSON ON THE OT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I BOUGHT A 2011 BLACK SLT TERRAIN 4/11/11 AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE NOISE IT MAKES ALONG WITH THE AMOUNT OF GAS IT TAKES AND USES WHICH DOES NOT ADD UP TO WHAT THEY ARE STATING WHEN PROMOTING THIS VEHICLE. IT ALSO IS VERY FRAGILE. YOU CAN NOT LEAN, FALL, OR CLOSE THE DOORS TO HARD OR IT WILL C”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

35 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS DARK TINT AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT WOULD OBSTRUCT HIS VIEW AND HE WOULD HAVE TO UTILIZE THE HIGH BEAMS TO PROPERLY SEE THE ROADWAY.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NIGHT VISION ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 793.
• DRIVING AT NIGHT IS VERY HARD BECAUSE THERE IS A VISIBILITY PROBLEM. MORE THAN HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD IS BLACKED OUT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS DARK TINT AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT WOULD OBSTRUCT HIS VIEW AND HE WOULD HAVE TO UTILIZE THE HIGH BEAMS TO PROPERLY SEE THE ROADWAY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 557 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS ALSO A VIBRATION FELT FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED UPDATES TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE AFTER THE UPDATES. THE APPROXI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: MY 2011 GMC TERRAIN HAS A 2.4L 4 CYLINDER FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. IT IS RATED AT 32 MPG HIGHWAY. SINCE DAY 1 I HAVE NOT EVEN GOTTEN CLOSE TO THIS. I DRIVE 100 MILES A DAY AND MAYBE 5 MILES OF IT IS CONSIDERED CITY DRIVING. I AM GETTING 20 TO 22 MPG. I CONTACTED GMC AND THEY HAD ME TAKE IT IN TO BE CHECK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I BOUGHT A 2011 BLACK SLT TERRAIN 4/11/11 AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE NOISE IT MAKES ALONG WITH THE AMOUNT OF GAS IT TAKES AND USES WHICH DOES NOT ADD UP TO WHAT THEY ARE STATING WHEN PROMOTING THIS VEHICLE. IT ALSO IS VERY FRAGILE. YOU CAN NOT LEAN, FALL, OR CLOSE THE DOORS TO HARD OR IT WILL C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)