2020 GMC Terrain: won't start

Filed Aug 24, 2026 · Fuel system · MN

COMPONENT OR SYSTEM FAILED - GMC Dealership replacing fuel pump. SAFETY OR SAFETY OF OTHERS AT RISK - stalled in remote area with no internet/cell service. In order to get to safety we travelled 13 miles of narrow 2 lane roads with no shoulder or escape areas. Road included 3 miles of a steep downhill grade. HAS THE PROBLEM BEEN REPRODUCED OR CONFIRMED BY A DEALER - Yes, Walser GMC [XXX] WERE THERE ANY WARNING LAMPS, MESSAGES OR OTHER SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE - No, drove 400 miles w/2 stops, rest stop and lunch/gas. Got to our destination, shut off the car. Needed to move the vehicle to designated parking spot and at first the vehicle would not start, got it started but lurched forward, engine chugged, no acceleration and then stalled. Waited 10 minutes vehicle started with same symptoms but became drivable so we headed to safety 13 mile to nearest town, [XXX]. The area has recently been battling forest fires and in our area, although "safe", there was still HIGH fire danger. We did not feel safe w/o a vehicle for (possible) rapid escape. The city has limited services, no rental car company, no Uber/Lift, closest car dealership 90 miles away. Vacation cancelled. Hired North [XXX] Towing to transport vehicle and people 300 miles to Walser [XXX], [XXX]. Family member drove us to our home in [XXX]. To date vehicle mileage - 30,000 miles! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 5, 2026 · Fuel system, Transmission · SC

Because of the intentional failure of GMC and there promise of “We are Professional Grade”, I almost got plowed down by a semi when the car began to quit on the highway going 60. After pulling into the next driveway, which happened to be a Parker’s Kitchen, and ending up on the curb spot, thanking God I wasn’t dead, I sat there for a moment wondering what just happened. As I went to restart the car, it wasn’t having any of it. 40,000 miles, not professional grade GMC, circus grade. Towed it to my home, figuring it has to be something minor and a diy fix. Bought the hyper-tough code reader delivered by Walmart and it delivered professional grade results: U18A2, P1787 and P187E. I am beyond pissed. I could have died due to your intentional negligence in manufacturing. I have a car that will not start, with payments. I have searched the internet and found your “save ourselves plan” and let’s do a voluntary recall starting with 2021 on the same failed parts I am dealing with at the moment. Thanks GMC, who is the ringleader of your circus?

Filed Jul 10, 2026 · Fuel system · GA

Vehicle was filled with a full tank of gas, went to crank the car up to go home from work it acted like it wanted to crank but seemed to be getting no gas. Diagnostic was performed and the fuel pump control module failed. I thank God It did not start because if it did and I just so happen to pull out into traffic and the car just die in the middle of the road I don't think it would of been pretty. Frankly I think it would of be a very dangerous situation. My vehicle was not part of the recall but somehow my vehicle was still affected hopefully GM would look into the 2020 Terrains with the 2.0 engine. Maybe I will be reimbursed.

Filed Apr 22, 2026 · TN

Filled up with gas and went to leave gas station and was still rolling to come to a stop and car shut off and would not crank back up o couldn't put in neutral to even move out of the way. After about 10 mins I was able to crank it back up. No lights came or was on and battery was showing 14.5 now that im sitting battery is showing 12.8. Oil was just changed 4 days ago. Just purchased used less then 3 weeks ago. Im at a lost has 122,272 miles on it

Filed Mar 14, 2026 · Engine · PA

Catastrophic engine failure; no warning lights,etc. took place on or about end of January 2026. Car completely died and would not start. Car towed to dealer (GMC Blaise Alexander, Hazleton, PA) Vehicle inspected by dealer master mechanic and others. Engine completely disassembled. Unable to repair. No warnings, lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to failure. Tremendous expense had to be incurred by us over this incident. We had to purchase a new car. Terrain had been meticulously maintained by dealer since purchase. We still had over one year of payments remaining. Expected car to last closer to 200,000 miles. A new engine could have been installed, but cost was too expensive. We lost all of our equity in the vehicle.

Filed Mar 7, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · WI

I was driving 55 miles an hour on an Expressway. And suddenly my truck just shut off.The brake became very hard unable to break very scary situation for me and my children. Engine power was reduced and would not start, many errors came up. The vacuum pump failed, which also caused the cam shafts to fail.The vacuum pump exploded into pieces and sent metal into my engine.

Filed May 28, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NY

5.25.2025 - Car shut down while at a busy intersection. Called Amherst Police due to location and how dangerous the intersection was. Family member needed to jump start the vehicle. Vehicle started before police arrived. Drove home. Called police to let them know we were no longer at the busy intersection. 5.26.2025 Took out battery to check charge at Auto store - tested Good - 82%. Re-installed battery went to get gas thinking that may be the issue, low on gas, not the case the car wouldn't start at the gas station. Family member needed to jump start the vehicle again. Drove home, called dealer, taking to dealer next week 6.4.2025 due to availability of service. There were no warning lights prior to stalling out both times. This is very dangerous. We are afraid to drive this GMC 2020 Terrain.

Filed Mar 12, 2025 · Fuel system · FL

Vehicle stalled while stopped in middle lane during rush hour traffic. Vehicle would not start, and could not be put in neutral to be pushed to side of road. Vehicle was towed to repair shop where they needed to replace the fuel pump control module. The automotive repairmen stated they have seen this with multiple GMC vehicles and they do not understand how it has not been recalled yet because, as they stated, it is going to get someone killed one day.

Filed Jan 9, 2025 · Brakes, Engine · MI

In September 2024 i was driving down the freeway and my car shuttered like the transmission was slipping. I then proceeded to get over into the right hand lane incase i needed to pull over thankfully, because then i lost use of my breaks, and then my ability to accelerate and steer. Then my car just shut off and would not stop. My vacuum pump just broke with no warning, it has been replaced and my car still won't start, it's going on 5 months now and they still can't figure out why.

Filed Jun 24, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · TX

Purchased Vehicle brand new- Beck & Masten Buick GM - Houston, TX [XXX] Performed rout maint regularly. Last oil change 1-5-2024 before catastrophic failure and complete engine seizure. Towed to Wiesner GMC [XXX] 1-12-2024: Mileage on car roughly 99K- had no issues no check engine light, no mechanical failure or indication that anything was running other than normal. No Start on [XXX] PM after work, tried to return next day with battery , changed out battery, engine still would not start, after new battery installed and we attempted to start, that is when engine started making loud shaking motion while attempting to start, windshield wipers came on randomly. First initial diagnostic: Found all oils & fluids in check, could not identify cause of failure, would have to break down and take apart. Had to authorize the tear down at a 1800.00 cost, 2/2/2024: Broke down engine, found that the crankshaft would move one way , but not other, removed the engine from transmission and now crankshaft moves freely. Now the AC comp is locked up (excessive play on magnet & clutch) , tech still unable to identify what caused the failure, they advised that they found traces of metal in oil pan, scored cylinder walls, starter shorted as well. They still could not indicate where these metal pieces came from, how or that it was due to owner negligence or manuf defects. Again this is a vehicle with 99K Miles and now we were looking at a 15K price tag for a new engine, turbo, AC, starter on a car that is worth 12K. This is absolutely insane. We reached out for Goodwill Discounts for some assistance since the dealership could not solidify a cause of failure, but GM decided to not warranty and stand behind their product. We were left with a rebuild option for 7500.00. which we had to do in order to get the car back. I am completely disappointed in GM as a company. This engine should have never failed at 99K. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 30, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · CA

We drove to a farm with a family of 5m kids and an elderly, and parked my car for 2-3 hours in the farm's open area parking lot. Vehicle showed no warning lights, no problems, no issues during our drive to the farm and prior to this trip. Everything was fine when we go there and parked. We were ready to leave the farm to drive back home, but the car simply wouldn't start.the neutral gear didn't work, I attempted many times in 30 minutes to start the car, but it didn't start, continued making the sound of engine attempting to start but not suceeding. 30 minutes later, I decided to give it another try, I was afraid to burn down the starter after attempting so many times. It sounded terrible, screeching metal sound. All of a sudden, the car started. I let it run, afraid to turn it off again. After 15 minutes of running, while we were waiting for roadside assistance to arrive, the vehicle turned off again, all by itself. No one was inside the car, we were waiting outside with the driver door wide open. I called roadside assistance, waited 40 minutes to get a live agent to talk to. The yellow engine light is on. I tried to look in the manual to be able to find anything remotely close to what was happening. Came up with nothing. This was so far the trickiest thing to happen to me. I scheduled an appointment to take the car to the dealership for diagnosis.