2011 GMC Terrain: misfire or rough idle

Filed Jul 25, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · NH

Transmission failure with no warning, torque converter replacement $3,500 around 120k miles. Check engine light unable to be diagnosed or repaired succesfully since 100k miles. Code p0420 with no catalytic converter issues. Every o2 sensor replaced, code will not clear. Stalls without any warning, low RPM, rough idles, engine just shuts down. No dash indicator lights illuminate when failure occurs. Restarts. Oil must be changed early as it seems to consume too much. Undiagnosable. Have been told by every mechanic it could be computer related, timing chain related, regardless this 4cyl gmc has too many complaints for yheae issues not to have a recall. It is incredibly dangerous when random engine failure occurs and I have had more close calls fearing for my life in this vehicle than I can recall at this point. I have spent almost the value of this vehicle in major repairs in the year I have owned it.

Filed Jun 18, 2019 · Fuel system · 153,000 miles · TX

Fuel pump problems. Misfiring and shutting off.

Filed Dec 23, 2018 · Engine, Fuel system · GA

Fuel pump failure allowing gasoline into crankcase in large volumes. Rough idle, constant stalling, misfiring, fuel smell recirculating into cabin. Exact issue addressed by gm recall for my exact terrain and equivalent chevy equinox with 2.4 ecotec. Was told mine was not covered as it wasn't in correct VIN range though same make, model, year, motor, highly dangerous combustible issue matched. Dealer charged me $700+ for replacement/repair of fuel pump, both o2 sensors, fuel line, oil change to rid gas diluted oil. 2 days, 50 miles later, o2 code engine light comes on, erratic idling begins, power loss then stalls. Removed oil cap to smell and find gasoline mixed back into oil. Between 1/8 - 1/4 quart gasoline in the crankcase after 50 miles of driving! This after "repair" at "certified" chevy dealership; a dangerous manufacturing flaw gm acknowledged was a problem but I was told, " not on yours though, wrong VIN". Thank you for placing my loved ones in danger gm, refusing to fix your own recall, charging me over$700 to worsen the issue and place my family in greater danger.

Filed Dec 23, 2016 · Fuel system · 124,400 miles · MI

Going to visit son, daughter in law and grandaughter in virginia from michigan. Got reduced power message with stability control light. First time was without warning on the curvy hilly pennsylvania turnpike in traffic at appx 70 MPH.. Lost power on hill had no acceleration, vehicle decelerated in front of traffic. Put on hazards and worked our way over to shoulder across 2 lanes of traffic. Thank god this didn't cause a pileup of holiday travelers. Stopped vehicle, engine was misfiring, there was no throttle response. Shut off engine and restarted, power was back but check engine light is on. Continued trip, 2nd incident was about 1 hour later also without warning. Had about 5 incidents this trip.

Filed Dec 14, 2016 · Engine, Seats · 39,000 miles · OH

Car rattles on start up and seems to be noisier than it should be. Drivers seat heater utilizes high heat no matter what settings it is on. If heater is left on I get a burning smell. Poor fuel economy, at best I get 22 MPH. Engine runs rough in eco mode especially at an idle. I have had an occasional issue with hard downshifts when I decelerate then accelerate. I do mostly city driving.

Filed Mar 3, 2015 · Driver assistance, Engine · 63,000 miles · CT

During a normal commute on route on 2/15 received about 3 miles into the drive received a warning error - loss of engine power and the car would not accelerate. The car started shaking violently and received a stabilititrak error. The car was pulled to the side of the road and placed in neutral. The shaking became worse and the car was shut off. After two minutes the car was started again, with no issues and was driven 6 more miles without issue. After 6 miles of driving the same engine power warning and stabilitrack error came back. The car was violently shaking and the driver shut it off. It was towed to the dealership. The dealership received one code for the throttle sensor positioner. The code was reset and a loose connection was diagnosed as the fault and returned to owner. Five days later the car was started in the garage. Upon startup it started again to shake violently. The car was put in reverse and began to shake violently and the driver received a stabilitrak warning light. The car was shut off and was again towed to the dealership. The dealership found two codes crank position sensor and misfire. The car was driven five miles with no issues. The dealership cannot locate the root cause of the problem. This undiagnosed issue posses a severe safety risk to the owner of the car and family if it were to occur again while driving in congested traffic or on a highway.

Filed Feb 18, 2014 · Driver assistance, Engine · 47,000 miles · OK

The same issue happened 3 times. November 2013, 28 january 2014, 16 february 2014. Each time the vehicle was in and idling situation red light, in a fast food drive thru, heavy traffic, or if I forgot something, left the car running, and went into the house to get what I was looking for, especially if it took me 4-5 minutes to find what I was looking for and return to the car. Additionally, I've experienced this moving at speeds of 8mph or less in thick traffic. (1) car would for no reason start rough idling. (2) the yellow check engine light would come on. (3) the engine reduced power message would appear. (4) the stabilitrak warning message light would then appear. (5) then I pressed the accelerator to cross an intersection and move out of the way of traffic, and the vehicle moves at a snail's pace (5-10 MPH). (6) I let it sit for 10-30 minutes (or overnight if I was fortunate enough to be at home), restart it, and it runs like it normally does as if nothing ever happened. (7) the "yellow check engine light" simply disappears after a few hours. (8) sometimes there's a faint burning smell like a plastic garbage bag on fire, burning rubber, or overheated electronics. I'm taking it to my local gmc dealership today before I end up stranded somewhere or worse be the cause of a major serious accident! It's like it has a malicious code in the engine's computer system, and it selects the time and place when idling to inject itself! It may go several weeks or even months before it happens, but you can be confident it's going to happen! Other than this annoying safety issue, the terrain in my opinion is a pretty good vehicle for its class. Makes me wish I had chosen the 6 cylinder instead of the 4 cylinder. I don't think the 6 cylinder is having this issue. Gm/gmc should address this, and make this right asap!

Filed Dec 16, 2013 · Acceleration, Electrical · 50,000 miles · MO

Our vehicle has experienced the rough idle and hard/stalled shifting since we bought it in 2011. It has been reviewed by the dealership and we were told a recent recall would fix the issue. It did not and these issues have continued. Recently, this issue happened again, followed by the check engine light turning on, followed by (a few hours later) the engine going into "reduced engine mode" and the entire vehicle shaking uncontrollably with thumping noises coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped and restarted and within a few miles, this same issue happened again, which was very difficult to handle and very unsafe for travel in the city. We had to get a tow to the dealership and the service department at the dealership we bought this from says the throttle positions sensor is defective and needs replaced as well as there is a misfire in the injectors due to carbon buildup in the fuel line. None of these repairs are covered under the power train warranty, and this vehicle only has 50,000 miles on it currently. Upon research of these part, symptoms of this part going out are stalled shifting or hard shifting, as well as rough idling. Please research this case as I feel this is a more universal problem that has yet to be addressed properly.

Filed Sep 12, 2011 · Engine, Fuel system · 7,823 miles · IN

We purchased the gmc terrain with the 4 cylinder engine for the gas mileage of 32 mpg, after getting only 26 mpg we called gmc and took the terrain in for service. Also filed complaint with gmc. Was told their was nothing they could do. The engine makes noises and runs rough and stalls at times mostly in the mornings. After service now we get only 25 mpg.

Filed Aug 23, 2011 · Engine, Fuel system · 4,800 miles · MI

I have a 2.5 month old 2011 gmc terrain. At 4984 miles it is in the shop for stalling, for a horrible rattle upon start up, and for it jerking between first and second gear. When I took it in this morning it had stalled six times within the past 2 days. It stalls after start-up in forward and reverse and it stalled three times while in idle in a fast food drive-thru. There is also the rattling which happens on cold and warm starts, whether the A/C or eco mode are on. It sounds like metal rattling and like it is harming the engine. The least of my worries, is the fact that between 25-35 miles an hour the transmission shifts very hard and kicks myself and passengers forward. Apparently there is a tech bulletin that has been out for the rattle for several months. Why not fix them before they sell them? Also, there is a recall #11195 for "rough idle, poor driveability" that doesn't show up on the federal safety agency site or anywhere else but the gmc dealer's computer. Additionally, despite the claims, I have never gotten better than 21 mpg while driving this car including an all highway trip from michigan to indiana. I think it is false advertising and the fuel economy in eco or not is not what they claim when the y sold the vehicle to me.