My ESC randomly comes on. Service parking brake message comes on intermittently. Messages pop a up saying steering wheel assist limited, drive with care. Again, all of these are intermittent but when they happen my steering wheel locks up. Even mid turn. Being intermittent it doesn’t always happen and weather seems to affect when it happens, or that’s a coincidence.
GMC Terrain steering lock-up problems
14 of the 3,141 owner complaints about the GMC Terrain describe steering wheel locks up, most of them for the 2011 model year.
- owner complaints
- 14
- worst model year
- 2011
- typical mileage
- 14,248
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
- 20241
- 20202
- 20191
- 20161
- 20141
- 20132
- 20122
- 20113
- 20101
Often reported together
Engine failure 6Stalling 1Power steering loss 1Oil consumption 1Jerking 1Check engine light 1ABS 1
What owners say
While driving, the dash warning "service power steering" light up and my steering wheel locked making me unable to steer or manuever the car to safety. I was stuck in the middle of the road. I turned it off and on and was able to make it to a parking lot where the same safety messages illuminated four more times. I tried reversing and the same steering lock occurred again making me unable to drive the vehicle.
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.
Driving down the road at 40mph when the car shifts to park, the brake and steering wheel lock up and the car won’t accelerate. I had to pull over because I almost crashed due to the abrupt shift. Once pulled over I tried to restart the car but once off and back on it wouldn’t allow me to shift or drive it. The steering wheel and brake remained locked. It has happened several times over the past week.
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized. Additionally, the ABS, traction control, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the ABS module and traction control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Service brake assists light flashes on dashboard . Steering wheel locks up and jerk’s loose suddenly when making a right turn, in these moments when the steering wheel jerks loose ;hands are off taken off the steering wheel otherwise injury can occur. Battery life 2 -yrs old is not performing optimally. Can not hold a sufficient charge and ESC light flashes. Vdnt valve leaks discovered.
Steering wheel locks and hard to steer while driving. System light comes on stating check power Steering. Also stabilizer light comes as well.
Current key is 10+ years old. Steering locks up sometimes and cannot start car. It is hell to unlock steering. I ordered a new key bob about 5 weeks ago. Gmc parts says gm has not snet new key bob yet!!! So, steering may lock up and with no new key bob cannot drive car. So, I'm suppose to push car???
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 gmc terrain. While driving 3 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the service power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to penske buick gmc of cerritos (18400 studebaker rd, cerritos, ca 90703, (877) 886-6265) where the contact was informed that the steering gear needed to be replaced and the computer needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred twice. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 74,328.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 gmc terrain. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to penske buick gmc of cerritos (18400 studebaker rd, cerritos, ca 90703, (866) 365-2940) twice, but the cause of the failure was undetermined. On the third occurrence, the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where an unknown failure diagnosis was determined and unknown parts were replaced in the steering column. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the GMC Terrain steering lock-up
Which GMC Terrain years have steering wheel locks up problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2011 (3 complaints), 2012 (2 complaints) and 2013 (2 complaints).
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