2012 GMC Terrain: sudden loss of power

Filed Nov 16, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · MO

1. The engine suddenly lost power while driving during evening rush hour and the vehicle would no longer accelerate. 2. Because the vehicle could not maintain speed, I was unable to keep up with traffic, creating a serious safety hazard that could have resulted in a major accident. 3. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent service center for diagnosis. 4. During the incident, the “Engine Power Reduced” warning indicator illuminated just before the loss of power occurred. 5. As the vehicle slowed and came to a complete stop at an intersection, it remained unresponsive. When the traffic light turned green, the vehicle would not accelerate at all.

Filed Apr 27, 2024 · Fuel system · IL

Took vehicle into dealer for a recall on October 17, 2023 with the recall being [Primary]: RECALL : C/S: N192268181 -TAILPIPE EMISSIONS - EXHAUST COMPONENTS: C/S: N192268181 -TAILPIPE EMISSIONS - EXHAUST COMPONENTS. The dealership did an excellent job on the work providing a video to show work being done. Now this month of April, I received another check engine light stating the P0013 code stands for “Exhaust “B” Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit/Open (Bank 1).” There is not a recall from the manufacturer but according to dealership they've received a bulletin in regards to this issue. According to the dealership it will cost in excess of $500 to repair. Absolutely not true. There are a thousand videos on what causes this and even how to repair it from the same mechanics that work within these dealerships. This issue is a safety issue because if not repaired it causes damage to your engine. This code lets you know that you will start experiencing loss of power, trouble starting your vehicle, the stalling/picking up speed all at the same time. Some of these issues have been caused from the issue of the oil consumption problem associated with the Terrain's.

Filed Jan 24, 2024 · Lights, Transmission · PA · fire

My 4 cyl. AWD GMC Terrain has had excessive oil use which caused premature failure of the timing chain, loss of power/compression, blown engine, damage to exhaust manifold, cellinoids, and melted the catalytic converter. Its was a road safety, poor emissions due to failed catalytic converter. Headlights are too bright for oncoming traffic at night. Another road & safety hazard. Auto warranty is refusing to cover parts listed above caused by the timing chain and excessive oil consumption problems.

Filed Nov 3, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · WA · fire

First off before I got the car it had gone through a tune up. About a couple months after I got the car little things started to happen it would rock back and forth while idling I thought it was kind of an indicator that it needed oil but the percentage was still at a decent range and telling me it didn't need oil plus I hadent driven it 3000-5000 miles. Then engine light came on had it inspected codes ran came back telling me something about Throttle body So I purchased a whole new throttle body in Prosser at dealership costing me some booko buks and swapped it out when I got back home I then took it for test drive along with my 4 kids in the vehicle with me and then a little ways about 20 mins driving engine power reduced light came on along with stabilitrak and eventually lost power I was stranded in the middle of summer in the middle of nowhere with my kids windows rolled down ppl drove by and asked if I needed help and eventually came back with jumper cables tried to jump me but the car wouldn't budge I then left the car there overnight and took battery out to have it inspected the next day IT WAS FRIED (over 4 yrs old) so I had to purchase a new one costing me roughly 150 buks then took it back to where my car was stranded put it in and alarm went off and I clicked the button on key ring stuck it in ignition shit the door behind me locking keys in car while vehicle was still running and had to bust a window out to get to em. Got into car drove off made it back to my apt left it running outside while I went inside to get some stuff before I THOUGHT the problem was solved it shut off again.....I then had to replace the alternator costing me another pretty penny....about a couple weeks later I was starting a new job at a assisted living facility and arrived 10 mins early shit car off a noticed smoke coming from under hood I was confused because where the smoke was coming from couldn't have been it overheating I popped the hood and my car was on fire!!!!

Filed Jul 29, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · TX

MASSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION!! Ever si Fr the purchase of the vehicle there has been massive oil consumption leak. Taken back to the dealer for service to take care of the problem, they claim they don’t see a problem! This car has been oil leaking and also draining oil somewhere to the engine causing also power rain engine issues and also contact oil light on. Reported to GMC as well and corporate, no response! This vehicle has cut off and lost power because of oil consumption on highway with my children in the car! I have been emailing with no avail! This matter needs to be rectified immediately! It is a death trap!

Filed Jun 20, 2022 · Brakes, Electrical · KY

The check emissions light for the engine light came up on the dashboard. Without prior warning or other signs the vehicle lost engine power in the middle of the road. The entire electrical power and engine stopped working and the brakes jammed. This causes the vehicle to become unstoppable in the middle of the road causing a safety hazard to the vehicle, driver, passengers and fellow vehicles on the road. The only way to stop the vehicle is somehow use the gears to shift to parking position, turn the engine again on and try to remove the vehicle from the middle of the road.

Filed Jan 17, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · IN

Stationary sensor lights come on steering monitoring warning also reduced engine power then doesn't come on after turning off and it doesn't turn off like it should it is like the engine begins choking.

Filed Jan 2, 2021 · Fuel system · 182,000 miles · IA

My daughter was driving to a friends house. She lost all power, and the vehicle would not start back up. There was 3/4 tank of gas in it. We had it towed to a nearby shop to have it looked at. Upon the vehicle leaving it had a lot of gas on the gravel road. When it made it to the shop there was obvious fuel line issues. This vehicle has not been fixed yet, still waiting on a replacement line from a dealership. This is something that gm should have had recalled and fixed immediately. This might have been an issue that would have been fixed due to it still under a manufacturers warranty, but I do not have access to that. The shop where the work is going to get fixed at said this was covered up to 150,000 miles. If this was an issue to that mileage, it should be extended to the life of the vehicle.

Filed Oct 18, 2020 · Engine · 147,693 miles · CO

Me and my wife own a 2012 gmc terrain 2.4l engine. Oil consumption is 1 quart every 500 miles the dealership located at 16400 w colfax ave golden co had are vehicle for two weeks running diagnostics tests and using a on board computer hooked up to the vehicle with no answer for why the vehicle was losing power and gas pedal going to the floor with no codes pulling up as they mimicked the problem with a on board computer hooked up to the vehicle while a gm tech test drove the terrain this is a major problem for driving on the highway its like going 45 MPH on the highway and slamming on you'r brakes then the vehicle kicks back into gear.my wife is a nurse and needs her vehicle to get to and from work especially with covid-19 if she cant make it to work people could die covid is nothing to play around with and nurses are not allowed to call in while covid is going on this problem with this terrain needs to be investigated if a gm certified tech does not know what is going on with this vehicle who would.

Filed Apr 27, 2020 · Engine · 99,035 miles · KY

My daughter was driving a 2012 gmc terrain when the timing chain broke and caused the car to lose power and lock up immediately. She was driving straight on a two-lane state highway. It was determined the damage ruined the motor and required a complete motor replacement. The mileage on the vehicle was 99,035 at the time of the incident. I wasn't aware until today that I could file a complaint with the federal safety agency. When I called the closest dealer (30 miles away), they were not very helpful.

Filed Sep 16, 2019 · Engine · 56,000 miles · IL

My car jerks and stalls when idling and my foot is on the brake. I have to put the car in neutral or shut it off and restart altogether when at a stop light or when I will be doing any stopping. If not, the car jerks and stalls. This happened in downtown nashville, tn! Very dangerous! Reduced power notification light came on as well. I have had it in the shop multiple times and they all say it is from excess oil consumption. Have already had the timing chain replaced due to said oil issue. Driving this car with my kids is extremely dangerous. Why is there not a recall on this? This has been an ongoing issue with my car since late 2015.

Filed Jul 15, 2019 · Engine · 87,350 miles · RI

Car jerks and stalls when idling and foot on the brake. Have to put the car in neutral when at a stop light or sign. If not, the car jerks and stalls. This started happening last month. Reduced power notification light came on today along with the engine light.