GMC Terrain power steering loss problems

Filed Oct 1, 2026 · Steering · FL

The Electric Power Steering (EPS) gear assembly / rack and pinion failed completely. Yes, the component is available for inspection upon request; it is currently located at the servicing dealership. A total failure of the steering gear assembly caused immediate loss of power steering assist, making the vehicle extremely heavy, rigid, and difficult to steer or control. This sudden mechanical/electronic failure puts the driver, passengers, and other motorists at extreme risk of a collision, especially if it occurs at highway speeds or while negotiating a turn. This did fail on me driving down the Highway! Yes. The problem was officially diagnosed and confirmed by the franchise dealership. They quoted $3,500 to replace the failed assembly. The vehicle displayed a "service power steering" warning message on the dashboard alongside an immediate loss of steering power assist. The failure happened suddenly while driving with no prior mechanical warning signs, symptoms, or gradual degradation.

Filed Sep 9, 2024 · Steering · FL

My steering wheel locked while driving. This has prevented me from turning the wheel AT ALL (100% completely locks while the car is in motion). The locked steering wheel lasts approximately 15 seconds. This has happened multiple times over a few month period. I took it to GMC who couldn't replicate the issue and said that GMC no longer makes the steering column assembly component, which they aren't sure would fix the issue, so there was nothing they could advise be done other than sell the car or spend a lot of money on diagnostic fees, which they said they wouldn't do if it were them. My safety and those around me were put at risk because I lost steering function while the car was in motion. The only option was to break and stop the vehicle. There were no warning lights or other indicators to alert of an issue.

Filed Jan 26, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · IL

On Friday, January 19, 2024, I was driving home from school at night in my 2017 GMC Terrain when suddenly my car was chugging and quit. my steering and brakes froze. Other cars were passing me and it was snowing. I was scared someone was going to hit me. I was able to start it up again and to get it to a Walmart parking lot just down the road, but before, it would chug and quit again. My steering was hard. There was no warning light or service light on dashboard telling me something was wrong. I called my sister to come get me. The car would start, but would keep quitting. I called a tow truck and had it towed to the condo. The next day, I went out to start it and it would start and oil light came on. It smelled. I turned it off. I called another tow truck and had it towed to a Mechanic at a shop. He informed me on Monday that the engine was no good due to lack of oil. Even though he said there was 15% left on the gauge. He said these cars have had problems of using excessive oil and he has had to replace and fix them. He also said others had same issue and no warning light as well. I have to replace my engine. He said the cost would be between $5000-$6000. I can't afford that going to school. I'm afraid that if someone else has this problem they could get hurt. I am going to contact General Motors about this, but I'm sure they won't help. Any Suggestions?

Filed Dec 31, 2022 · Brakes · LA

My service brake assist light came on and then within seconds my vehicle then said engine power has been lowered and my vehicle pretty much shut down no steering no brakes couldn't do anything. Took it into the repair shop and my vacuum pump has shattered and now damaged my camshaft. I am aware there's been many other vehicles recalled with GM's vacuum pumps and I'm not sure why my year and model has not been included when it's doing the same thing and not to mention I have seen countless other cases of people saying same things happen to them with their GMC terrains.

Filed Dec 16, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · MO

Ok so my 2011 GMC terrain just went over 150,000 miles I bought this vehicle used from a dealership not knowing that there was a big lawsuit or that GMC continuted making this make and model knowing that it had a oil usage problem. So mmm mmm with that being said let's start with my vehicle uses oil, my vehicle idles high low and always rough at times, my service stabilitrak flashes, my motor sounds like a HEMI kock knock knock instead of a 2.4, doesn't matter where I'm at or where I'm going I let off of the gas and my car dies.... Let me clarify on that last one me and my 9 year old daughter we're headed home today let off the gas to go around a curve and a hill and you guesswd it my 2011 GMC TERRAIN died I lost all control and all power had no power steering and no brakes... I just thank Jesus I wasn't speeding and that there was no oncoming traffic cuz I don't think me nor my 9 year old would have made it out ok. So thanks to whatever faulty motor engine or power train GMC has with this make and model putting people's safety and lives in danger due to these issues and only choosing certain VINS eligible instead of all VINS from 2011 GMC TERRAINS in my opinion is just choosing which owners survive because this make and model is dangerous to whoever drives it and to whoever meets it on the highway.

Filed Sep 25, 2022 · Steering · CO

Power steering failure and don't walk anymore, had to push my GMC Terrain. The light came on that says POWER STEERING FAILED. Contact service. It can't go any further.

Filed Aug 18, 2022 · Brakes, Engine · MI

Our son and two daughters were driving on the highway at approximately 70mph when a message came up to say the engine was in "Reduced Engine Power". Although nothing seemed to change. The instruction for such and error message is to "get vehicle to a dealership within the next day." So they slowed to 60mph and continued on their way. About 8-10 minutes later another message popped up that said "Service Brake Assist", at which point they immediately tested the brakes and they worked. But 2-5 minutes later they tested the brakes again and the brakes had completely failed! Zero brakes on the highway! No matter how hard the driver pushed the brake pedal there was 0.0% response. So luckily they were able to coast down to about 10 mph with hazard lights on. But at that point they lost everything. No power steering, no engine, and zero brakes. Thank the lord that they were able to have enough room to slow down and get over to a shoulder prior to the loss of power steering and that they had enough room to coast to a stop. Please help, as we were extraordinarily lucky that day that 3 of our children were able to walk away from such a catastrophic vehicle failure. I just do not want that to happen to anyone else.

Filed Aug 27, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 70,000 miles · IN

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that her vehicle was consuming oil excessively which led to three separate engine failures. The contact also stated that the check oil light would illuminate on the instrument panel prior to the failure. An independent mechanic had replaced the engine all three times due to the oil consumption. Prior to the latest failure, the contact mentioned that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assists failed as the power steering failure warning message was displayed on the instrument panel. The independent mechanic informed her that the power steering had received too much electricity which would cause both the power steering and the wheels to lock up. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Mar 13, 2020 · Steering, Transmission · 92,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 gmc terrain. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the moran chevrolet clinton twp located at (35500 s gratiot ave, clinton township, mi 48035) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall or to tsb-14882. The rear main seal was replaced and the pcv valve cleaned. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

Filed Jan 21, 2020 · Driver assistance, Engine · 93,600 miles · OH

On a cold 12 degree day on 1/19/2020 I was driving my 2013 gmc terrain on a busy state highway doing the speed limit of 55 MPH. Out of no where I began to smell the odor of burning oil and seen white smoke coming from the rear of my vehicle. As soon as I noticed it my car's gauges started coming on. The check engine light, a warning to for "service stabilitrak", then the warning for "engine power reduced". At the moment my car all the sudden shut off while driving down a major highway! There was no power steering and it was very hard for me steer my car into the parking lot of walmart and safely off the road. Once in the parking lot I got out of the car and checked my oil. Smoke is rolling out of the dipstick shaft. I check my oil weekly due to gm's oil consumption issues with the 2013 gmc terrains and on 1/15/2020 the oil was at full, was of normal color and consistency when I fueled and checked it that day. So I was shocked to see that there was no oil on my dipstick and instead a milky brownish sludge on it. I sent my fiance to buy me 2 quarts of oil just to get it to the walmart service department so they could look at it since I was in the walmart parking lot. I added the oil drove it 100 yards to the service dept of walmart. The service man pulled it into the garage and then informed me a few minutes later that the rear main seal blew and oil was flowing out of it. It was not driveable so I had to have it towed to a gm dealer. The gm dealer called me this morning 1/21/2020 to inform me that the rear main seal blew due to moisture in the intake and a froze the pcv module and caused to much pressure to build up and blew the seal. The dealer quoted the repairs to be $2065.69 and informed me that the repairs are not covered under the gm service bulletin #14882 because my VIN number is not included in the service bulletin.