2012 GMC Terrain: engine knocking or ticking

Filed May 27, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · TN

My vehicle has excessive oil consumption including the need for frequent oil refilling, combined with audible rattle and knocking sound.

Filed Mar 24, 2021 · Engine · 93,200 miles · WI

While driving to work on the freeway, engine began making a knocking/rattling sound; checked dipstick the next morning and there was no oil on it. Oil had just been changed 2,500 miles previously. Vehicle is consuming oil at an abnormally high, about one quart per 500 miles, and has no warning light to alert the driver when the oil level is too low. We are at risk of experiencing engine failure at any time while driving. We have discovered this to be a common issue after our other vehicle of the same year, make and model suffered catastrophic engine failure linked to low oil pressure. Vehicle has 93,400 miles and we have owned it since april 2020. This model year vehicle is known to be equipped with faulty piston ring assemblies which lead to excessive oil consumption. Additionally, there is no oil pressure sensor to alert the driver to the low oil; consequently, this misleads the owner into operating the vehicle with inadequate oil levels and causing engine damage. Complete engine failure can occur suddenly, creating an enormous safety hazard; we are lucky we were not driving at highway speeds or in heavy traffic at the time it occurred. Gm issued a special coverage adjustment, but it was not nearly adequate to cover the extent of damage that can and does occur as a result of this defect, leaving many drivers stuck with unreliable, unsafe vehicles or astronomically expensive repairs.

Filed Nov 15, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 80,000 miles · PA

Vehicle shuts off when slowing to a stop and have to restart in order to accelerate. That was looked at and 'fixed' and now the vehicle shakes when slowing down and headlights dim as if it is trying not to shut off. Engine is very rough and rattles while starting to accelerate and accelerating. When brakes are pushed the car starts to turn off while in motion. When stopped, car shakes and there is a very hard knocking coming from the engine.

Filed Oct 19, 2019 · Engine · 95,000 miles · OR

I received an oil change at the dealership, within less than a thousand miles I checked my oil and it was completly dry,no oil on the dipstick at all. I added 2 quarts of oil during that weekend and then went to dealership the next day. When I went to dealership they told me my oil was about .5 quart overfilled after having an oil change 1000 miles prior, adding 2 quarts of oil additionally and only returning to have them check it a day later. So leaving the dealership I was told to drive 1000 miles then return to have them check it. After 1000 miles unreturned again and they told me my oil was too low. They then told me to drive another 1000 miles and return once again for another check at which time they again filled my oil to the recommended amount. I'm only st about 500 miles into the 2nd check after driving 1000 miles and I checked my oil at home this weekend and it's already low. Very frustrated because if I wasnt checking it, and I was doing what inwas supposed to by getting oil changes then it seems like in less than 500 I'd be low and likely blow my engine if I continue driving not worrying about checking cause I should have plenty of oil given I had recently had an oil change and was well within the limits before needing to return for my next service. During the first waiting period to drive 1000 miles my car started knocking in the engine, was just dieing when I would take my foot off break to accelerate and overall was running very rough. Recently was told some of the codes that were coming up when I had it hooked up for the check engine light being on, that the codes could be related to the oil consumption and problems it was causing for rest of car.

Filed Jan 30, 2019 · Engine · 85,000 miles · GA

Vehicle was jerking at a red light with foot firmly on the brake. This happened at the base of a hill on a city street. I wasn't sure if the car would lurch into oncoming traffic. As it started driving again, it began to make a rattling and knocking noise. Car then dropped a huge amount of oil on concrete. It lost power in lower speed. Luckily I was able to limp home with the car. Had to have it towed to dealership as it wasn't drivable.

Filed Feb 20, 2018 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 87,000 miles · AR

While driving the vehicle, I experienced strong knocking vibrations and sounds seemingly coming through the floorboard. As I continued driving for about 5 miles trying to get home, the knocking became more pronounced and my steering was affected. I also began noticing an extremely strong odor necessitating lowering windows to breathe. I notified my dealership and took the vehicle in for diagnosis the very next morning without driving it after arriving to my garage. I was told the awd had completely deteriorated. My concern was that I never received any dashboard notification of the problem, not did my onstar diagnosis indicate a problem. I have been quite disturbed that the vehicle became disabled before I was aware of any problem. I have taken my vehicle in for regular maintenance at my gmc dealership and would like an explanation regarding the failure to identify this problem through the regular maintenance checks. I am single senior woman who has no backup vehicle and am quite concerned about my safety on the highway and this issue has caused me to have serious safety concerns. I drove the car to the dealership to check on the problem on friday, february 16, 2018. I called the gmc complaint center to check on possible recalls or any remaining warranties that might apply and I was told the center was assigning a sr. Advisor to contact the local gmc dealership that still has my car and the advisor was told the dealership needed more time to diagnose and assess the cause of the problem.I have had to rent a vehicle since it may be another 2-3 days before I even get a response regarding the nature and cost of the repairs. I was originally told the entire awd system had to be replaced at a cost of $1500--$2000. I questioned the reason for the extreme malfunction without any warning notices appearing...main reason for my complaint and concern.

Filed Jan 9, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 71,760 miles · PA

On jan 1st it was 3f out my wife wormed up her terrain we drove it approximately 12 miles when we started to smell something burning. Next came the engine knocking really bad. We stopped the terrain and had it towed to the dealership found out the rear main seal blew with such force that the oil covered the muffler. This happened from the pcv being plugged and/or frozen from the cold weather. I recently found a service bulletin for that year make and model that indicates that will happen and there is a special coverage for that.(14882: special coverage adjustment) I also received a letter from gmc about high oil consumption warranty. The terrain may exhibit engine oil consumption. That is also a part of that 14882:adjustment now to the point I was told that this issue my wife's terrain would be covered under the 100k/5year power train warranty our terrain only has 71k miles on it. But the 5year are up. So gm is not taking responsibility for this issue according to both special coverage the 14882: they adjusted to 10 years or 120k miles but they are claiming even though its for that year make and model and engine and that everything that's listed is what happened to our gmc its not for our terrain. I told them I also had a letter that they sent to us stating the oil consumption that has a adjustment of 7years 6months/120k warranty witch was part of that 14882: special coverage they still will not take responsibility for fixing. I believe we are getting taken advantage of in this situation. They are making us pay for all repairs it may need a new engine in result of the rear seal blowing because it lost all the oil. But we would not know till the repairs start or after all repairs are made and the engine seizes. I also was told from the dealer that if we fix it and drive it down the road there is no guaranty that it will not happen again.

Filed Dec 4, 2017 · Engine · 93,000 miles · CT

I received a recall letter from gmc about a knocking in the engine which just started happening in my vehicle. The recall does not show up when the dealer checked the VIN number in the computer. But before I could take my car in to be checked my engine died when I arrive at work which is 25 miles from my home. I had it towed to a gmc dearlership and was informed that my timing chain jumped and threw valve timing off causing internal engine failure.. I then had to replace the engine in a 5 year old vehicle, my warranty expired 3/2017 so this was not covered. When I called gmc I was told they may be able to cover some of the cost but since I did not replace the engine with another gmc engine which would have cost more I had to pay out of my pockets for this.

Filed Mar 6, 2016 · Driver assistance · 58,940 miles · NY

My check engine light came on about a month ago and was serviced for a problem with the camshaft. After getting my gmc terrain back I noticed that on occasion the RPM would shoot up while driving and then crash back down causing almost a jerking motion (it has happened in all types of scenarios I.e. While driving on the highway, back roads (all while at a steady speed) and then finally yesterday 3/5/2016 while breaking as I approached a stop sign.) now this morning (3/6/2016) I went out to start my car and immediately after it turned over the engine was making a very loud noise that I can only describe as the sound of an airplane engine with a light knocking sound. I stood there unsure of what to do and the car just turned off. I went inside, got my husband, started it again this time without the noise, but the dashboard was filled with lights on- check engine, traction control, and a warning service stabilitrack. I let it run for about 5 minutes, turned it off, and restarted it. The check engine light is now off, but the traction control and stabilitrak warning remained on. I decided to try to drive the car around the block to check it out as of course it's sunday and I can't get in touch with the service department and also because I am the primary driver of two children under 10. I backed out of the driveway, and went into drive and the car stalled again. I got it started and got halfway back up my driveway before it stalled again. Truthfully, I am scared to even try to drive it now, and if I am being honest I don't think that the car will make it to the dealership (1hr. Away by highway) without stalling. I've noticed others with similar complaints on gm/chevy all makes and models, and don't understand why this issue is not being resolved. What are they waiting for- a family of 4 driving on a highway causing an accident because their car stalled? Death?

Filed Mar 1, 2016 · Driver assistance, Electrical · TX

I have had issues with this vehicle ever since its purchase 01/2015. I took the vehicle in for service and was told the service contract would not cover my issue and that the issue was caused by lack of maintenance, which is not the case as I maintain the oil in this vehicle and even had to purchase a new battery for the vehicle recently.this car's engine repeatedly stops, especially when approaching a red light or stop sign or at the moment of acceleration. I have had to avoid many accidents due to people driving up on me because I should have been accelerating at the time but my car turned off. The battery would die on this car on a weekly basis which caused me to purchase a battery and there is still no progress in the vehicle. The motor knocks badly upon startup, especially in the mornings. The engine is very weak after an independent diagnostic check. And just last week, as I was driving on the highway at normal speeds, the muffler shield broke, fell, and began scraping against the highway. There are electrical issues as well as the lighting in the car gets dim when we are in the dark but bright when the sun is out. Also, the seatbelt for the passenger's side constantly rings sending a notification that the seatbelt needs to be latched, even when no one else or nothing else is in that seat. I fear that one day I may need that air bag and it might not work because the seatbelt appears to be faulty. Also, another issue, which is not necessarily a safety issue, but an extreme nuisance and also maybe an electrical issue is the car radio and volume will freeze at any given moment and the car has to be stopped and idle for a period of time before the radio is active and able to turn channels again. The safety issues for this car are real and I am in fear that I will get hit from behind due to the faulty engine.

Filed Feb 19, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 135,000 miles · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 gmc terrain. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was brought to the dealer for diagnostic testing, but the details could not be provided. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle began to jerk and hesitate and a loud abnormal knocking noise was heard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was in working condition. The contact stated that the engine failed shortly after, making the vehicle inoperable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 135,000.