2019 GMC Terrain: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed May 13, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · 76,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while stopped and attempting to turn to exit a highway ramp, he observed a loud banging noise emanating from the engine compartment. An "engine reduced power" message appeared. The vehicle then went into limp mode, and when the brake pedal was depressed, it was stiff as a rock. The vehicle coasted while he continued attempting to depress the brake pedal, and it eventually slowed down. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. When the vehicle was turned back on and he attempted to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle did not accelerate. The vehicle was taken to his mother's residence approximately 100 miles away in limp mode and parked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that his brother, during an inspection of the vehicle, removed the vacuum pump and noticed that it was broken with numerous pieces that had gone into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

Filed Oct 20, 2025 · Engine · IA

I was driving home from vacation the vehicle went into limp mode and started to run very poorly with a brake pedal that was almost impossible to push. I limped the vehicle a couple of miles to the next exit. I had the car trailered home and taken to a service center the following Monday. They inspected the vehicle and found the vacuum pump had failed and caused what was described as “catastrophic engine failure.” They are now saying it needs a full motor replacement due to the widespread and severe damage. This is not the first time this pump has been an issue or supposed issue. About a year before this incident a month after we bought the vehicle in used condition from a GM dealership it started making a noise. We took it back to see if they could help us out being that it was recently purchased and they diagnosed it as the vacuum pump making the noise. They wanted almost $800.00 to replace it. I googled a video on how to fix it and found the cost of the part. The part itself is between $75-$90 from local and name brand parts stores. I paid the $250 diagnostic fee and took it somewhere else for a second opinion. The GM dealership pushed hard for the vacuum pump replacement and told me it was a well known issue for that part on that motor in many different makes and models. They said they recommend you change that mechanical part out every 80k miles or so and that you do not go by what the owners manual says for oil changes which is 5k miles and instead do that every 3k miles. That should not be “preventative maintenance.” That is a manufacturer issue. This should be a recall on the pump. I again did research and this vacuum pump is a known issue. You can find endless examples and discussions about it. It turned out not to be the pump originally that was making the noise saving me $800. The service center that has it now has all the pictures and pieces to show it’s failure and damage. It’s unsafe for something $85 dollars to cause that while driving at any time.

Filed Aug 31, 2025 · Brakes, Engine · NJ

While driving the vehicle the car went into limp mode and the back brakes stopped working. The car had to be drifted into a parking lot. The vacuum pump malfunctioned and has damaged the engine. If it was me in the driver seat instead of my partner, the incident would’ve 100% been an accident. The car was really unable to be controlled and we just happened to have that space that was empty to turn into. The car gave code when this happened. When getting a tow the car also wouldn’t take itself out of park or start to go into neutral to move the car to get it towed. Nothing is working with each other anymore and we were on a busy road of people when our brakes just went out.

Filed Jul 15, 2022 · Driver assistance, Electrical · SC

The car failed to shift into gear. Message displayed, "transmission unable to shift" ,"2 gears selected " or "service transmission". Issued started in June 2022 while in drive thru line, when shifting from park to move the car would not shift. Had to turn car off for about 10 minutes and car was able to shift and drive normal. Check engine light came on about a week later and had checked for code p07b5. A couple of days later, light went back off. About 3 days later getting ready to leave home and car would not shift into gear again but turn car off and back on a couple of times and car shifted and drove normal. On July 13 2022 was driving in traffic and message displayed, unable to shift and service transmission. When I changed lanes and released the gas petal, the car went into park, stopped, and set the parking brakes, but did not turn off, jerking me forward and throwing things around in the car. Cars behind me had to slam on brakes to keep from hitting me because there was no initial brake light. I put on the flashers and turned the car off. Parking brake was stuck so I pressed it about 5 times before it finally released. I restarted the car 3 times and it finally shifted and drove as normal. I called gm to inquiry about a recall and was told there were none. I called for a diagnostic test and schedule is in about 2 weeks. The car has not been inspected by anyone listed above?⁸

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 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 Jul 9, 2019 · Transmission · 10,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2019 gmc terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle would not shift into gear from the parked position. The vehicle was towed to brickell buick & gmc (665 sw 8th st, miami, fl 33130, 786‑504‑1353), but the failure could not be duplicated. The failure recurred again two weeks ago and the service transmission and transmission unable to shift indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The following day, the indicators illuminated again and the vehicle was taken to lehman buick gmc (21200 nw 2nd ave, miami, fl 33169, (305) 356-7579). The dealer contacted the manufacturer and was authorized to replace the transmission. When the dealer test drove the vehicle, the transmission indicator illuminated again. The dealer was currently diagnosing the vehicle. The failure mileage was 10,000.