2015 GMC Terrain: jerking or lurching

Filed Oct 23, 2026 · Airbags, Engine · WV

The transmission was jerking and when the heat is running it smells like it’s bout to catch fire

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Engine · IL

I am submitting this complaint regarding the engine timing chain failure in my 2015 GMC Terrain because I believe it presents a serious safety hazard. Before the failure, the vehicle began experiencing intermittent symptoms, including engine jerking, shaking, rough operation, abnormal engine noises, and an intermittent check engine light. While driving on the highway, the engine timing chain failed, causing the vehicle to suddenly lose power. I was traveling at highway speed and had to safely maneuver the vehicle out of traffic. The unexpected loss of power placed me and other motorists at risk of a collision because I could no longer safely maintain the flow of traffic. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair facility, where the engine was diagnosed with a timing chain failure. I was informed that the engine had sustained significant damage and required replacement. After purchasing and installing a replacement engine, that engine also began exhibiting timing chain-related symptoms immediately after installation, including abnormal rattling noises and unstable engine operation, resulting in additional repairs and the vehicle remaining unsafe to drive. I am concerned that timing chain failures in this model can occur without sufficient warning and can cause a sudden loss of engine power while the vehicle is being driven. A sudden engine failure at highway speeds creates a significant risk of a crash, injury, or death. I am requesting that this issue be investigated to determine whether it represents a safety-related defect affecting other 2015 GMC Terrain vehicles.

Filed Jan 30, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NJ

My vehicle began jerking, shaking and kept shutting off in a highway intersection. I looked on the ground after coasting into a gas station to find oil leaking from under my vehicle. I've never had an oil leak and it caused my starter to go and I've had to replace the camshaft sensors all within the same week. It appears the rear seal went after the cold streak we had. I need my vehicle to take my mother to treatments, etc. Is there any recalls on this?

Filed Sep 13, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · 127,000 miles · MS

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle jerked and shut off. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. The contact stated that on several occasions, while the vehicle was jerking at a complete stop, the contact shifted to park(P) to prevent the vehicle from stalling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump was leaking fuel into the oil gasket. The mechanic replaced the mass air flow sensor, the oil gasket, the fuel pump, the catalytic converter, and the starter; however, the failure recurred while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in an unknown related recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Filed Jul 3, 2024 · Engine · SC

While driving, my vehicle makes a loud funny sound, jerks/skips, and shuts off. It also loses motor oil quickly, yet it has no leaks and I have to constantly add more motor oil or get oil changes frequently. My safety has been put at risk because the engine can fail at any moment due to no motor oil, causing the vehicle to catch fire and also when the vehicle suddenly stops and shuts off in the middle of the road, it can cause an accident. There has been no inspection from the manufacturer.

Filed Sep 1, 2023 · Engine · WI

Engine started sputtering, then vehicle was shifting hard and occasionally jerking forward while braking/at a complete stop. Check engine light came on. Found there was no oil left. Was less than 3000 miles since prior oil change. Dealer service sticker stated oil change was not due until 5000 miles (synthetic). Oil light never came on. After refilling oil, check engine light turned off and vehicle started operating normally. Discovered many others with problems with this vehicle consuming oil. Luckily, we caught it before engine failure, but obviously worried that this could happen at any time.

Filed May 24, 2023 · Electrical · UT

Not really sure if it is electrical but the Stabilitrak light came on and the car jerked and I could not go over 50 mph and that would be fine however when you are on a freeway and the speed limit is much greater you could cause and accident. I took the vehicle to a garage and they put it on there computer and reset it and it seemed to work OK until I again went on the freeway and the same thing happened. Again I took it back to the same garage and they recommended I take it to a GMC Dealer which I did and they could not find the problem either after spending around $600.00. I did take it to the GMC Dealer which the vehicle make is a GMC.The problem, to the best of my knowledge, started about April 2023.

Filed Jan 12, 2023 · Engine · 120,000 miles · IN

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started jerking, lost motive power, and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact continued to drive; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the “Engine Power Reduced” message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the timing chain had fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure but provided no additional assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Mar 4, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 46,000 miles · AL

Started march of 2017 progressively getting worse. Suv jerks, gauges go crazy, check engine light comes on, if slow to below 20 MPH it sputters and won't accelerate, if I stop completely it won't accelerate. Multiple times this has happened on the interstate during rush hour traffic & at busy intersections. If I turn car off and back on the system resets. Then it starts all over again. It has been in and out of the shop. Probably 10-15 times in 2years. They get codes, but then these go away before they can be 'run'. I broke down 1-1/2 weeks ago in bay minette & the car wouldnt start back up. I was stranded out of town and had to rent a car to get back home. The dealer there got 7 error codes that all cleared out. I have filed a compjaint with gmc, but they are slow to handle the problem & I can't get supervisors on the phone or at least one who doesn't seem like he's been drinking.

Filed Feb 21, 2019 · Engine · 85,000 miles · MO

Smelt something burning while driving. Car started bucking and jerking. I pulled into a parking lot and noticed a puddle of oil leaking out underneath my car. No check engine light or any notification that anything was wrong. Had it towed to dealership and they told me pvc froze up and blew out rear main seal. This is the 2nd time this has happened to us this year. We own another gmc (2013 equinox) and the exact same thing happened 2 weeks earlier with it. Frustrating that gmc is aware of this defect with their engines and not willing to issue a recall to correct it. We had to pay $2500 to fix the equinox. Luckily the terrain is still under factory warranty but with both cars we were out of a vehicle for several days. Will it happen again???

Filed Sep 28, 2018 · Driver assistance, Engine · 50,000 miles · SC

I purchased my vehicle from a dealer in june 2018, and about a month of purchasing it my vehicle has been hesitating in acceleration, at first I didn't think anything of it, but it started getting worse. Two days ago when I was driving my vehicle in the downtown area (city streets), it was bucking a lot. When I got to my destination and restarted the vehicle, I put it in reverse and proceeded to drive back but the car shuddered and then shut off completely and the malfunction indicator lamp light came on (but it didn't stay on long). Today as I was driving it continued to jerk, especially when I was driving around 20 MPH or below (which I had to do because of the school zones). My vehicle shut off again as I began to pull off from dropping my child off at school, which almost caused another parent to crash in the back of me. The only way I could keep the car from shutting off again is by accelerating on the gas above 20 MPH.

Filed Mar 31, 2016 · Brakes, Transmission · 6,000 miles · GA

I've attached my final repair notice to gm and it has all of the details. I have since taken my car back to the dealership to have the final repair done. They still say nothing is wrong with it. I am terrified to drive my car. I asked gm to take the car back and they say they are not willing to do anything at all to help me. The transmission is jerky and the brakes barely work. Please investigate. Its like gm would like to wait until there is a huge accident and loss of life before doing anything.