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GMC Terrain check engine light comes on

426 of the 3,141 owner complaints about the GMC Terrain describe check engine light, most of them for the 2012 model year.

owner complaints
426
worst model year
2012
typical repair cost reported
$2,000
typical mileage
78,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

By model year

Often reported together

Stalling 104Oil consumption 68Loss of power 54Engine failure 49Fuel pump 33Hesitation 24Jerking 22Won't start 19

Trouble codes mentioned

P0014 7P0011 7P129F 5P0017 5P0299 4P0420 3P0089 3P0010 3P228C 2P050F 2

What owners say

Filed Nov 4, 2026 · Transmission · NY

I was at a stop light with auto start stop enabled and when I went to drive again I felt a sudden jolt and car immediately shifted to park while on a main road I was unable to shift until I shut the car off opened the door and restarted it the. Drove like normal but a check engine light appeared and a fault was sent to the app where it then said transmission fault service now

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 Sep 30, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · NY

Without any type of warning, I was driving down the road when my car started making a knocking/ticking type noise then my engine light came on. I attempted to hit my brakes and stop, and I had no control. There was no brakes without pushing it all the way to the floor it was very hard to get my car to stop. I managed to get off the road and into a parking lot and now told that I have $5000 worth of repairs, including the vacuum pump, camshaft timing and guides. After reading information I see there is complaints filed regarding this failed vacuum pump and I would just like to report this.

Filed Sep 29, 2026 · Engine · MO

I have had my check engine light come on for P0299. I've lost power while on the road. Had my turbo replaced and now the same issue is starting again. I'm afraid of my car stalling out again with my child in the car. This is a definite safety issue especially since this is happening again months after getting the new turbo put in.

Filed Sep 11, 2026 · WI

The car just stopped accelerating and the check engine light came on. I took it to a shop and they had to replace the fuel pump control module. There is already recall for SOME 2022 GMC terrains but my vehicle is not included in the recall. I dont understand how a 2022 GMC terrain has a recall for the fuel pump module but my 2022 GMC terrain is not part of the recall already put out and I have the same exact issue as the other vehicles that had been recalled.

Filed Sep 2, 2026 · Fuel system · OH

Fuel pump control module and or the in tank fuel pump failed and or isn’t making proper connection for car to run correctly. Safety was put at risk as car came to abrupt halt while driving. Driver was outside of vehicle at busy intersection for vehicle diagnostics and battery jump. Battery was removed and new battery installed yet problem persists. Not confirmed by dealer but code is as follows (p129F). Maintenance performed by owner;Code reader used for diagnostics, new battery installed. Problem persists. Car started, drove and stumbled to then die. Check engine now displays.

Filed Aug 21, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · PA

On Saturday, August 15th we were driving on the freeway when with no warning the check engine light came on and the vehicle began to run poorly, and then the vehicle lost electrical power and it became difficult to steer and the brake pedal became stiff, making it difficult to stop and pull over. The vehicle would not start on command but kept running very poorly, it also became impossible to shut the vehicle off until it seized. It was later towed to a local repair shop, and today, Friday August 21st the shop confirmed that the vacuum pump on the brake assist failed and it would need a total engine replacement.

Filed Aug 19, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · CT

While driving, I suddenly smelled something burning. Immediately after, a warning popped up stating 'Engine power is reducing,' the check engine light came on, and I experienced a sudden, near-total loss of power braking assist, making the brake pedal extremely hard to press. I had to use intense force to bring the vehicle to a stop. A scan of the vehicle's OBD-II codes revealed codes P0556 (Brake Booster Pressure Sensor Circuit), P0014 (Exhaust Camshaft Position Timing Over-Advanced), and P0017 (Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation). This is a known failure where the engine-driven mechanical brake vacuum pump seizes up, destroys the braking vacuum assist, and bends or shifts the exhaust camshaft reluctor wheel, causing a severe and immediate safety hazard while in motion.

Filed Aug 14, 2026 · Engine · WI

The timing chain snapped and caused the engine to seize on our 2016 GMC Terrain 2.4L SLC-1 SUV/Truck. Since this has occurred multiple times on the 2.4L engines in this model from 2012 - 2016, we believe that there should be a recall as this issue could cause a major accident if the timing chain snaps or breaks while traveling. It had 101000 miles on it when we bought it used from Klein Automotive, on April 12, 2024. We have only had it for 2 years and 4 months and kept it in good repair. We took it in for its oil change, brought it home, went to dinner 4 days after and the very next day it wouldn't start. We thought it was most likely the starter/solenoid, but the mechanic said those were both fine and that's when we got the bad news that the motor was shot because the timing chain broke which caused some engine rods to break. The GMC dealer, in Marinette, WI, we brought our used 2016 GMC Terrain to, told us that the timing chain stretched and broke the rods in the engine and therefore both the timing chain and engine need to be replaced. The check engine light was turning on all of the time, and we were told that it was because it needed the 88 fuels (medium grade). As long as we put in the 88, the light check engine light stayed off. We believe there should be a recall for the 2012 - 2016 GMC Terrain SLC-1 2.4L timing chain and engine. We also need assistance with the cost of the repairs because I'm on a limited income and cannot afford the $10,000 cost of getting this repaired, while I still owe $7800 on it.

Filed Aug 5, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · 27,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated and failed to properly accelerate. The service transmission and service fuel management system messages were displayed, and the check engine warning light was flashing with several other unknown warnings illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and while test-driving the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and an engineer was sent to the dealer to inspect the vehicle. No further information was available. The contact stated that the transmission module was previously replaced, but the failure persisted. The failure mileage was 27,000.

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the GMC Terrain check engine light

Why does the check engine light come on in the GMC Terrain?

Owners who report it most often also describe engine stalls while driving, excessive oil consumption and sudden loss of power, and the codes they mention most are P0014, P0011 and P129F.

Which GMC Terrain years have check engine light problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2012 (48 complaints), 2013 (45 complaints) and 2010 (44 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix check engine light on the GMC Terrain?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,000 (median of 59 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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