2017 Gmc TERRAIN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Gmc TERRAIN has 181 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (44% of all complaints), specifically: my check engine light came on along with a a message that states 'reduced engine power' and a message reading 'service stabilitrek when i was driving on the highway at 70 mph. this created suddenly jerking and slow acceleration so that i had to pull off the road. i found a forum at [xxx] that reveal. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 17 crash reports 10 injuries

181

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

79 complaints

44%

• MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A A MESSAGE THAT STATES 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' AND A MESSAGE READING 'SERVICE STABILITREK WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THIS CREATED SUDDENLY JERKING AND SLOW ACCELERATION SO THAT I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I FOUND A FORUM AT [XXX] THAT REVEAL
• The contact owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle lost electrical and motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed but not repaired. The manuf
• Engine started consuming oil at around 90,000 miles. First noticed after a Oil change with the dealer we bought it from. Questioned them about it once we checked the oil, and noticed it being low after experiencing a engine noise. Dealer had us bring it back , refilled it, and test drove it for 20 m

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

“MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A A MESSAGE THAT STATES 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' AND A MESSAGE READING 'SERVICE STABILITREK WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THIS CREATED SUDDENLY JERKING AND SLOW ACCELERATION SO THAT I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I FOUND A FORUM AT [XXX] THAT REVEAL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

23 complaints

13%

• I HAD MY 2017 GMC TERRAIN DENALI FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED TWO SERIOUS ISSUES. ISSUE #1-I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, GRINDING NOISE, AND HESITATION WHEN DRIVING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH CAUSED SOMETHING INSID
• AT AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR, WHILE ACCELERATING, ALL TORQUE IS LOST AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE REVS HIGH. IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY SHIFTS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THIS CAUSES A BIG JOLT. IT IS DANGEROUS, ALL POWER IS LOST, THEN SUDDENLY TOO MUCH POWER IS APPLIED. THIS HAS HAPPENE
• MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A A MESSAGE THAT STATES 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' AND A MESSAGE READING 'SERVICE STABILITREK WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THIS CREATED SUDDENLY JERKING AND SLOW ACCELERATION SO THAT I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I FOUND A FORUM AT [XXX] THAT REVEAL

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

“I HAD MY 2017 GMC TERRAIN DENALI FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED TWO SERIOUS ISSUES. ISSUE #1-I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, GRINDING NOISE, AND HESITATION WHEN DRIVING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH CAUSED SOMETHING INSID”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

22 complaints

12%

• OUR NEW TERRAIN HAS "VEHICLE IN FRONT" VISUAL WARNING SYSTEMS. WE WERE FOLLOWING A TANKER TYPE SEMI ON THE INTERSTATE AND PULLED ALL THE WAY UP BEHIND THE TANKER SEMI (WITHIN 25 FT) AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. WE TESTED THIS ON ALL TYPES OF CARS AND TRUCKS AS WELL AS STANDARD BOX
• SIDE BLIND SPOT ALERT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN RAINING OR SNOWING WITH NOTHING THERE, THEY SHOULD TELL YOU THIS WILL HAPPEN BEFORE YOU PAY EXTRA FOR THIS PACKAGE, HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT WORKS OR NOT WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY
• BLIND SIDE ALERT ACTIVATES WHEN IT IS RAINING AND THERE ARE NO CARS NEARBY. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN RAINING. NO CODES ARE THROWN SO DEALER SERVICE WON'T TROUBLESHOOT. THIS CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED ON A HIGHWAY OR PARKWAY, WHEN IT IS RAINING AND NO OTHER CARS ARE NEARBY. CANNOT BE REPRODUCED ON REGULAR S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“OUR NEW TERRAIN HAS "VEHICLE IN FRONT" VISUAL WARNING SYSTEMS. WE WERE FOLLOWING A TANKER TYPE SEMI ON THE INTERSTATE AND PULLED ALL THE WAY UP BEHIND THE TANKER SEMI (WITHIN 25 FT) AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. WE TESTED THIS ON ALL TYPES OF CARS AND TRUCKS AS WELL AS STANDARD BOX”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

13 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND MOUTH, AND SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. IT WAS NOT DETE
• I WAS DRIVING 9PM ON A CITY ST RD, COMING UP ON A MILE LIGHT THAT WAS RED. THE ROADS WERE DRY ON A 5 LANE RD. THERE WAS 1 CAR AHEAD OF MY CAR WITH THEIR BRAKE LIGHTS ON . ALTHOUGH NOT NOTED ON POLICE REPORT THE CAR WAS STOPPED APPROX 5 TO 7 CAR LENGTHS PRIOR TO THE RED LIGHT. I HAD BEGAN TO SLOW D
• TRAVELING ON STATE HIGHWAY 136 BETWEEN 50 AND 55MPH. THE LISTED VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THERE WAS A VERY STRONG ODOR SIMILAR TO GUN POWDER. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ON STAR CAME ON LINE IN THE CAR DUE TO CRASH SENSOR NOTIFICATION. HOW

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 9 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND MOUTH, AND SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. IT WAS NOT DETE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

9 complaints

• BLIND SIDE ALERT ACTIVATES WHEN IT IS RAINING AND THERE ARE NO CARS NEARBY. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN RAINING. NO CODES ARE THROWN SO DEALER SERVICE WON'T TROUBLESHOOT. THIS CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED ON A HIGHWAY OR PARKWAY, WHEN IT IS RAINING AND NO OTHER CARS ARE NEARBY. CANNOT BE REPRODUCED ON REGULAR S
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH WHEN A DEER RAN OUT AND HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. IT BOUNCED AND ROLLED OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALL OF THE ELECTRIC COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE ON. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE ON, THE HAZARD LIGHTS
• WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE THE RADIO DID NOT POWER ON. THE REVERSE CAMERA IS NOT WORKING NOR THE BLUETOOTH OR ANY OTHER FUNCTION WITH THE RADIO.

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

“BLIND SIDE ALERT ACTIVATES WHEN IT IS RAINING AND THERE ARE NO CARS NEARBY. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN RAINING. NO CODES ARE THROWN SO DEALER SERVICE WON'T TROUBLESHOOT. THIS CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED ON A HIGHWAY OR PARKWAY, WHEN IT IS RAINING AND NO OTHER CARS ARE NEARBY. CANNOT BE REPRODUCED ON REGULAR S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 181 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A A MESSAGE THAT STATES 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' AND A MESSAGE READING 'SERVICE STABILITREK WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THIS CREATED SUDDENLY JERKING AND SLOW ACCELERATION SO THAT I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I FOUND A FORUM AT [XXX] THAT REVEAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I HAD MY 2017 GMC TERRAIN DENALI FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED TWO SERIOUS ISSUES. ISSUE #1-I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, GRINDING NOISE, AND HESITATION WHEN DRIVING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH CAUSED SOMETHING INSID
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: OUR NEW TERRAIN HAS "VEHICLE IN FRONT" VISUAL WARNING SYSTEMS. WE WERE FOLLOWING A TANKER TYPE SEMI ON THE INTERSTATE AND PULLED ALL THE WAY UP BEHIND THE TANKER SEMI (WITHIN 25 FT) AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. WE TESTED THIS ON ALL TYPES OF CARS AND TRUCKS AS WELL AS STANDARD BOX
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND MOUTH, AND SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. IT WAS NOT DETE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)