2014 GMC Terrain: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 5, 2026 · Engine · 65,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the exhaust manifold was previously replaced due to an exhaust leak and the vehicle was towed. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, and a quart of oil was added every 500 to 1,000 miles, causing an abnormal engine ticking sound and timing chain sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact retrieved DTC: P0420. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the timing chain and catalytic converter were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the engine ran rough and experienced reduced power, and the vehicle was idling rough and the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The contact became aware of an abnormal oil odor during the failure. Additional trouble codes P0017 and P0420 were retrieved. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Filed Jul 1, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · IN

Tensioner issues keeps breaking the timing chain. . Replaced twice at own cost. Fuel pump/ loss of power while driving. Back up camera doesn't work sometimes. Screen goes black. If key is left in the ignition it starts itself. If you try to use a car charger for a phone the AC shuts off and a "systems error" message pops up. This happens alot. It's an ongoing issue since I bought the car in Feburary this year.

Filed Aug 4, 2023 · Engine · MI

The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and inadvertently lost power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnosed with Timer Change failure that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 9, 2023 · Engine · MA

My check engine light would come on, the oil dipstick would be dry and multiple misfire codes happened. This went on multiple times because of oil consumption. I would pull over and call AAA to tow my car. Driving while the oil is low is damaging parts in my car, causing loss of power and can cause a fire. I have to check my oil dipstick every week to make sure it has enough oil before I drive. I'm adding oil multiple times before an oil change is needed. The oil consumption was confirmed by a GMC dealer and documented. GMC dealer inspected my car. The oil consumption started 08/10/21 and was documented again on 11/19/21 with GMC Tech stating what's wrong. Oil consumption is going on with multiple GMC vehicles and GMC has not done a recall and they absolutely should have a recall.

Filed Jan 6, 2023 · Engine · IN

On December 26, 2022, my son and I were on our way to Indianapolis, Indiana from Anderson, Indiana. When we were about to the end of going through Ingalls, I noticed that my check engine light went off. I pulled over within 3 to 5 miles within notification of my engine light going off at a gas station. I turned off my Terrain, so my son could look under the hood to see if anything was amiss and I turned my Terrain back on hoping that the check engine light would go off. It didn't and the engine sounded normal. We proceeded to go on to Indianapolis driving on. Everything was fine until right before we reached 30th and German Church Rd. I started hearing what I thought was a clicking/ticking sound, so I turned off my radio to confirm it. As I turned down the radio to confirm the sound, my dashboard let me know that my engine was losing power and a stabilitrack warning. I immediately pulled over to check to see if my serpentine belt broke. It hadn't. My oil read at 29% and no other lights were on besides the check engine light. NOTHING letting me know that I was losing oil. A friend of mine came to listen to it and thought maybe my alternator was going out. I attempted to drive it to a garage that was maybe at most 2 miles away. It started right back up but lost power again less than a block away from where I stopped. I pulled it into a parking lot to get it off the street. I had it towed from the parking lot to a garage to have it looked at and I was shocked to find out that I was out of oil even though the dash read 29% before needing another oil change. NO OTHER WARNING that I was losing oil. The mechanic notified me to let me know that I had a blown engine. I'm furious with GMC right now because I had overheard approximately a couple months ago while getting my oil changed that GMC engines were going out left and right and now it's happened. to me. I don't even want to think about what could have happened to my son and I if on the interstate being very short notice

Filed May 21, 2022 · Engine · TX

This vehicle has major engine problems. It stalls, bucks shakes violently when stopping at a traffic light or stop sign. It does this when put in reverse. It was so bad that the engine and transmission was replaced. 2 days after that it was doing the exact same thing. It's a defect in the engine design that I found out between 2010 and 2015 GMC terrains. This thing stalls on the highway, loses power. Goes into reduced power mode check engine light comes on. Burns oil like it's drinking it. This thing is going to get somebody killed. I did research and found at least 50 other people complain about the exact same thing. People were changing sensors and everything else on the engine with no help whatsoever. It's a defect in GMC's engine design on these models.

Filed May 27, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · MA

Car is burning oil excessively and the timing chain is loose putting the vehicle is reduced power mode. The timing chain was replaced at 40,000 miles and now it needs to be replaced again and the car only has 87,000 miles. I bought it with 70,000 miles on it. Someone needs to do a recall on these engines

Filed Mar 18, 2021 · Fuel system · 110,000 miles · MO

Earlier this month while driving, our gmc terrain began shuddering while in line at a drive-through. A few days later while driving, it died at a stoplight, and when restarted, immediately displayed a warning that there was reduced power due to an oil issue. We were not due for an oil change. We had the vehicle towed to a body shop who informed us that it was leaking oil drastically and had a leak in the rear main seal. We were told it was due to the cold weather and that we were the third gmc terrain he had seen in 24 hours with the same issue. We had to take it to a larger shop for the repair work, which totalled $2,407.33 to repair. The shop said the pcv system froze and caused the rear main seal to blow out. They also told us there were multiple other gmc terrains with the same issue. I later learned that gmc had to issue a special coverage adjustment for the exact same issue for terrains from 2010-2013. This was the exact same issue. The special coverage notes that "gmc terrain vehicle may experience a frozen pcv system during cold weather operation. This may increase crankcase pressure leading to a rear seal oil leak." the part number they required to be replaced was the same part number we had replaced.

Filed Mar 3, 2020 · Engine · 118,500 miles · MI

Engine will not hold oil. Causing engine to stall at any given moment while in motion. Vehicle has been diagnosed by dealer and third party auto mechanic. Both have determined piston + piston rings need replaced but a full engine replacement is the preferred repair. Vehicle has less than 119,000 miles. Vehicles notification lights include: check engine light, service stability track and reduced engine power.

Filed Feb 28, 2019 · Engine · 102,000 miles · IN

Was driving on a state highway. Upon taking off from a stoplight, a harsh noise came from the engine, followed by a loss of power and oil. Car was towed to a shop, was told metal shavings are in the pan anf the engine would need replacing

Filed Nov 12, 2014 · Electrical · 2,484 miles · AR

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 gmc terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the engine stalled as the reduced engine power and traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact merged to an emergency lane and restarted the vehicle. However, the vehicle failed to accelerate over 30 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that ABS system had malfunctioned and a solenoid had not been provided oxygen. The vehicle was then taken to a who stated that there was a cable that had separated from the motor, which needed to be tightened. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,484.

Filed Sep 5, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 9,000 miles · FL

First incident-august 28,2014 accelerating onto highway from store lot, sharp right accelerated and engine died. No power, battery ok. Message "reduced engine power" and "stability track" . Towed to garage which replace engine module. Forty miles from garage, accelerating on right turn same problem. Engine died (we nearly got hit) and message same , "reduced..." and "stability.." . Towed to garage and waiting for results.