2019 GMC Terrain: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jul 8, 2025 · Brakes, Transmission · PA

Accelerating from a stopped position into a busy intersection heard a loud clunk come from engine bay resulting in immediate "Reduced engine power" warning and stall condition. Was able to push vehicle onto the side of the road. Engine would not restart and a tow truck was called. Vehicle towed to local dealership who discovered that Vacuum Pump had failed resulting in sheering off of the exhaust camshaft. Dealers recommended fix was to replace vacuum pump and camshaft at around $4,000 but could not guarantee no debris had gotten into valve body resulting in engine failure so stated they could replace with used engine for 8500. Second vacuum pump to blow on this vehicle, first at 35k miles and replaced under warranty, this incident at just under 80k miles. Could not afford repairs and vehicle has sat for nearly 2.5 years. Contacted GM many times over that time period to get no assistance, only the offer of a small discount on a new vehicle. This incident could have proven fatal if happening at highway speeds since it stalls engine out and makes braking nearly impossible. Both GM and the NHSTA have really flunked on this one, should have been recalled during first complaints in 2020. I will continue to file complaints here on NHSTA and with GM until the cows come home.

Filed Mar 26, 2025 · Transmission · MI

While driving the car went into power save mode and completely shut down. There were no prior lights or warnings that the car was having issues. While driving at 45mph on a busy road it just suddenly shut down. It would not move to get it out of the road. I was almost hit from behind. After the car was towed, it was diagnosed as a broken vacuum pump and exhaust camshaft. Our Terrain only has 67,773 miles at the time of the incident which was unfortunately just outside of warranty. Since this incident and the repair, the car has had to go back to the shop 4 times. It is still not driving correctly and stalled as I pulled out onto a main road almost causing an accident. Still working on getting it diagnosed and repaired correctly. The mechanics I have spoken to indicated this engine/car is known for these issues. Without any warning lights or signs of issues prior it really put us in a dangerous situation.

Filed Dec 19, 2023 · Brakes, Electrical · FL

It began with showing "Service Brake Assist" for about 2 weeks + then on Dec 18th 2023 around 10:30 as my fiancé was stopped at a stoplight and all of sudden when the light turned green she attempted to continue forward as traffic started to move only to stall stalled out before any movement could be achieve the battery was reading severely depleted and the vehicle would not function at all she was stuck in Drive and could not put the vehicle in neutral or even park to even try to restart the vehicle, she could not even turn the steering wheel, roll down the windows, open the door, or anything. the only thing she was able to accomplish was opening the hood so an officer that had arrived at this time could give her a jump, The officer also proceeded to leave the negative cable on the battery terminal and disconnected the Positive cable from the battery terminal which would have indicated a bad starter or depleted battery when the positive cable had been removed, which was not the case. she continued to where her appointment was and that is where i met her and took over vehicle to transport it home, driving with hazards on. I arrived at the house with no incident. then at 4:45pm on the evening of 12/18/2023 while at the stoplight I had a similar issue occurred as i was going from a stationary position to a forward slowly accelerated speed gaining momentum where the vehicle wanted to stall out while i was stopped at a stoplight attempting to proceed forward. and then at around 10:20 pm while stopped at a stop sign a similar issue occurred as i was going from a stationary position to a forward slowly accelerated speed gaining momentum attempting to proceed forward. On Dec 19th 2023 around 10:00 am I test started the car by remote and it started up and then i turned it off, now it is showing that the battery is completely depleted at 1:26 pm

Filed Apr 19, 2023 · Engine · 118,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while approaching an intersection, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a friend jump started the vehicle, and she was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to an Auto Zone and was informed the fuel pump control module, enable circuit performance, and the passenger’s side seat belt switch circuit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Filed Jan 17, 2022 · Brakes · NY

GMC Corporate Office General Motors Company300 Renaissance Center Detroit, MI 48265 To Whom it May Concern, Been a customer with GMC for a good while despite the issues and troubles we were still loyal to the company. October 31,2021 Sunday, I had sudden lost of my brakes/stalled on my 2019 Terrain SLE while driving to the store close to my area on top of that having less than 30,000 miles in it. Despite the horrible and devastating event I was able to have the truck without any scratch , hit , or had any accident on this event but instead still safely stopped the car down a hill from where I lost my brakes/stalled. Fast forward Nov 2nd had the truck towed to the Milea Pontiac Buick GMC Service And Parts at 3281 E. Tremont Bronx New York 10461. Towing company both from picking up the truck and dropping off Milea had a hard time since the truck was not starting or even able to be placed in neutral to be able to have the truck roll of the flatbed. Nov 2nd Tuesday 2019 GMC Terrain was dropped off at Milea Service and Parts. 1st issue identified by your crew (sort of technical experts) was a bad battery and needs to be replaced, 2nd problem was the computer need to be replaced, 3rd problem was that I had put BAD gas into the tank and the fuel pump need to be replaced after 9 days so fast forward now to Nov 9, 2021.Now finally spoke to a mechanic now stating pistons doesn’t seem to be firing but does not have proper tools to do the test is trying to get from another dealer to be able to diagnose the problem. Nov 20, 2021, still no news as to what is the real issue on the truck we again visited the Milea to find out what is the deal and still without a truck from Nov 2nd to Nov 20 still yours truly has no loaner and no written nor verbal confirmation of what really cause my lost of my brakes/stalled truck. Linda Cuomo the Milea representative has nothing to inform us regarding the cause and instead waiting for a specialist from out of town which claims to be the e

Filed Jul 12, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · MI

*Check engine light on, engine power is reduced is on, vehicle is surging up and down while in idle, vehicle stalled in service while in park. Charge air cooler tube to the throttle body spring retaining clamp tension weak. Verified charge air cooler tube came off throttle body. Inspected spring retaining clamp. Found spring retaining clamp tension weak. Installed new spring retaining clamp. Charge air cooler tube to throttle body now properly secured *Vehicle power / engine power was reduced while on the highway *Problem has been confirmed by LaFontaine of Ann Arbor, MI *Vehicle was inspected at LaFontaine of Ann Arbor, MI *Engine light came on and the Engine power is reduced message appeared on the dash.

Filed Jul 10, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · MI

*The service transmission message coming on and the vehicle goes into neutral and stalls, service transmission light comes on while on highway and the vehicle goes into park and loses power and stalls, All wheel drive message coming on, traction light coming on, going about 74 mph on highway and speed gauge dropping, low fuel light coming on even thought it has 3/4 tank of gas. *I almost got ran into from behind twice when the vehicle went into neutral and into park by an 18 wheeler truck as I was trying to pull over onto the shoulder of the highway. *Confirmed by LaFontaine in Ann Arbor, MI *Vehicle has been inspected by LaFontaine in Ann Arbor, MI. Found bulletin 19-NA-181 which was very close to all symptoms and stated to check for chaffed wires near the ECM. Found no spots in the tape where it was rubbed through but lost comms when wires were shook. Unwrapped main engine harness loom and inspected wires, found nothing. Started TAC Case # 9-6385087421 and was told it probably is a chaffed comms wire somewhere and gave me multiple locations to check. Found no damaged wires in those locations and shaking main harness no longer would make it fault. Put it all together and drove it down the road and faulted immediately. Unwrapped main harness again snd sprayed with saltwater to help conductivity but still couldn't get it to fault while shaking the harness. Only way it will fault is when shifting into drive the drive train bumps just right to bend the right wire. Checked every wire I could find and can't find the problem wire. Not drivable. When this vehicle faults it will not shift past 1st gear and sometimes locks out reverse. Must be towed. Needs the main wiring harness to start, recommend customer to authorize FSE to dealership CUST declined. *Yes, all the lights and messages were coming on over the dash.

Filed Jul 10, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · MI

*Service Transmission message and vehicle goes into neutral. *Vehicle loses power, almost got rear ended by an 18 wheeler when trying to pull over to the shoulder of the highway. *Yes, LaFontaine of Ann Arbor, MI confirmed *Inspected by LaFontaine of Ann Arbor, MI - Cust states the service transmission message light is coming on and the vehicle goes into neutral and stalls, service ll wheel drive message coming on, traction light coming on, customer going about 74 mph and the speedo gauge dropping out, low fuel light coming on even though it has fuel. Per DMA and GM Executive the repairs will be covered 100 %, send DMA pre approval and PET. There is a broken or loose communication wire intermittently disconnecting and causing multiple modules to fault. Could not find broken wire. Request # 9-6483892482 replaced engine harness OP 4069760 ST Time. 8.3 hours Per PET, DMA Pre Auth. *Yes, warning lamps, messages were on the dash

Filed Jul 10, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · MI

*Service trans, check engine, stabilitrak, gas light, would not come out of 1st gear, stalled, started back up and jerked on the way to dealership, locks were flickering, lights would not light up for the PRNDL, shift to park message on, and vehicle would not start back up when pulled into service drive. *would not shift out of 1st gear while in traffic, vehicle stalled in traffic, vehicle jerked whi9le driving. *Confirmed by LaFontaine of Ann Arbor, MI *Vehicle inspected by LaFontaine of Ann Arbor, MI Service trans, check engine, stabilitrak, gas light, would not come out of 1st gear, stalled, started back up and jerked on the way to dealership, locks were flickering, lights would not light up for the PRNDL, shift to park message on, and vehicle would not start back up when pulled into service drive. TAC Case # 9-6556499036. Tech 24694 worked with Field Engineer and checked wiring, terminals, and connectors at high speed comm modules and found all passed, replaced BCM and still had concern. Tech 1235 bypassed modules and test drover to eliminate diff control module, EBCM and when EBCM was bypassed concern never returned OSYN9761769 Tech 56653 completed BCM replacement and programming, wire, terminals and connector checks with engineer. Tech 1235 replaced EBCM assembly, OP code 2410330 completed diag by bypassing modules and completed bleeding brakes.Tech 1235 total repair 3.9. Tech 56553 performed BCM replacement. 2.9 base time, 4.8 OLH. Repairs approved per DMA approval / PET Sheet. Test drove vehicle 139 miles without a concern.

Filed Feb 15, 2021 · Transmission · 27,000 miles · TN

When I shift it from reverse to drive on a very slight incline, the engine will rev and not accelerate after I initially start moving forward. It actually almost comes to a stop before finally accelerating. It has now started doing it while driving and stalled in the highway on 2/13. I carried it last year for the same issue, but they told me they couldn't duplicate it. Today, they told me the same thing. They can't explain why it stalled in the middle of the road. Even though the check engine light came on and on-star told me to carry it to a dealer. The service tech guy also told me that my vehicle had 67,000 miles on it. It has less than 30,000 (not sure on the exact number since it is still at the dealership.) it is no longer safe to drive, but since they cannot duplicate it, they aren't even going to investigate it further.

Filed Jun 26, 2019 · Transmission · 5,565 miles · TX

Just over 5200 miles started experiencing transmission slippage when stopping or starting. Around 5500 miles started hearing loud clicking roaring sound. Was returning home from vacation on a saturday afternoon and knew all service areas of all gm dealerships would be closed but headed to a nearby chevrolet dealership in bossier city, la to leave car to be looked at on monday. Never made it. Car stalled and would not go into any gear. Had it towed to dealership. I left car and returned home to mckinney tx. Following tuesday received text message from dealership that the planetary gear and some other parts went out. Parts on order but not available until following friday. Searching internet found several reports of 2017, 2018, 2019 gmc terrains having transmission issues. Seems gm has transmission issues with the terrain transmission overheating, slipping, and failing.