Check a VIN

GMC Terrain warning lights comes on

16 of the 3,141 owner complaints about the GMC Terrain describe multiple warning lights, most of them for the 2010 model year.

owner complaints
16
worst model year
2010
typical mileage
48,177
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2021
    1
  • 2020
    1
  • 2019
    3
  • 2018
    2
  • 2017
    1
  • 2016
    1
  • 2014
    2
  • 2012
    1
  • 2010
    4

What owners say

Filed Jan 14, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NY

I purchased the car August 2024, I have had it for 4 months and while driving down the road a large fuel tank pops up stating low fuel and the car comes to an abrupt stop.The 3x the gas tank was never low. Parking brake comes on and car doesn't not move. All lights on dash come one. It has done it 4 times and thankful each time I was in a 30 mph zone. If I was going 55 I am sure the result would have been bad. The car last did it on December 29, 2024 and has been in the dealership for 3 weeks now and they cannot fix it. I told them 3 days into my purchase I wanted a full refund and they denied me. ?? I had that right I am still fighting with them to take it back because one of these times I am going to get in a bad accident. I don't feel safe in the car and I told them each time.

Filed Sep 16, 2024 · Engine · IA

Car was very well maintained 2020 GMC Terrain, no warnings prior to the issues. Car started shaking while driving, would not allow me to accelerate without chugging, multiple lights came on including flashing check engine light. Somehow the whole motor and engine needs replaced.

Filed Apr 8, 2024 · Engine · AK

My vehicle is 2012 GMC Terrain. Oil changes on my vehicle we kept up and i had no major issues with this vehicle. I had an oil change done about a month before i went to start my car and all the lights came on and my car would rumble and wouldn't stay started and was longer drivable. After towing it a service shop they stated the following: The timing chains are damaged, skipped teeth, metal debris found in oil and screen of intake and exhaust camshaft solenoids due to many oil leaks coming form engine and serious internal issues w/engine we recommend replacing the engine. Est cost, 11,061. I had no reason to think my car was in any trouble, as it was driving fine with no problems. I received no such recall letter or phone call and no mention from the dealership i bought the car from back in 2018 that this was an issue or that it was "taken care of" if I had i wouldn't have paid over $20,000. into my car. Reading several complaints online about this exact issue is all new to me. Knowing i could have been driving a vehicle and it could have started a fire in my engine is crazy to think. Because I may have been driving a car with a serious recall on it. I am at a loss right now, financially i am screwed.

Filed Jan 29, 2024 · Engine · IN

I was driving our 2017 GMC Terrain in subzero temperatures when my vehicle started making sounds and loosing power. With in seconds I heard a pop, and then my dash went crazy with alarms. I had it towed to my local mechanic who determined that the vehicle's engine was seized do to a frozen PCV valve that caused the engines real seal to give away. If need be, the the vehicle is currently available to be examined. My family's safety was in danger because of the location and frigid temperatures that were present at the time of the breakage. The vehicle has not been examine by a GMC dealer, just an independent mechanic. There was no warning what so ever of a possible problem. The vehicle started making sounds and loosing power. With in seconds, I heard a pop and all the lights on the dash light up. We had no other issues with this vehicle leading up to the breakage.

Filed Aug 24, 2023 · Engine · IL

Vehicle shut down and turned off while being operated. No warning lights were on at any point before the incident. I was driving down the road and without warning, it just turned off. My safety as well as the safety of the drivers on the road around me were compromised by this sudden failure as the vehicle was in motion when the incident occurred and I was unable to properly operate the vehicle. When I tried to re-start the vehicle the engine would not turn over and several warning lights were suddenly on. Vehicle was towed to dealership and the service department said the timing chain jumped and the engine needs to be replaced. Multiple complaints have been made against GM for the faulty 2.4L Ecoboost Engine that causes excessive oil consumption with no appropriate monitoring or warning system in place leading to timing chain issues/failure that destroys the engine without warning, often while the vehicle is being operated. No recall has been made and no warning is given to customers who purchase vehicles with these engines. I have owned this vehicle less than a year and the repair invoice I was given quotes over $10,000.

Filed Nov 16, 2021 · Electrical, Steering · MD

Multiple warning lights are appearing at once (Automatic brake assist, forward collision assist, parking brake released) When the car is put in reverse, the radio turns off for a brief moment and the steering assist warning shows on the dash. The steering wheel snatches back in the opposite direction causing a safety concern. The car also completely cuts off after the auto-stop takes effect at red lights causing me to have to pump the brakes at least twice to re-ignite and be able to accelerate.

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 Feb 24, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · 111,000 miles · NJ

Vehicle since purchase shows no signs of leak but goes through oil at about 1 quart every 1000 miles max. Check engine light always on, sensors indicate possible faulty piston rings. All were problems in later model gmc terrains. When low on oil while driving and stationary all lights will light up and engine will go into reduced power mode saying to service stabilitrack. Car will not go above 10 MPH when in this mode, sometimes unable to move at all. Goes away after more oil added. Gmc terrain had recalls on years 2010-2013 for all engine failure problems/repairs due to faulty piston rings/oil consumption issues. Numerous 2014-2016 gmc terrains have claims of the reduced power/stabilitrack problem with no solution, I believe both problems are directly related.

Filed Feb 23, 2021 · Engine · 103,000 miles · MO

Left my house on a very cold morning (below 10 degrees) and while I was driving and my engine started making a very loud clattering noise. Low power message displayed on the dash and several lights displayed. Nothing prior to the noise. Immediately pulled in and parked my vehicle. I had the codes ran, checked the oil and it had none! The vehicle was checked out and the pcv valve failed/froze causing combustion in the engine and blew out the rear main seal. According to service bulletin 14882 this was an issue on the 2010-2013 gmc terrains and 2010-2014 chevrolet equinox (which is basically the same thing) a recall was issued. My vehicle is a 2014 (who's to say when the engine was not built in 2013?) and it doesn't appear the issue was fixed on the 2014s which is going to cost me approximately $3000 to fix. When the rear main seal blew (or started leaking) it coated the whole underside of my vehicle which could have cause me to wreck or catch fire. I had to have my vehicle towed since I was several miles from home.

Filed Jan 6, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · 55,200 miles · GA

The service stabilitrak light continues to come on. When it does, almost all of the lights on the dash light up and the car puts itself in neutral and shuts off. This has happened 5 times in the past two weeks. Twice with my [xxx] in the car. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). The car was purchased 12/23/2020 and it first shut off with the service stabilitrak warning 12/31/2020. I've taken it to the dealership for repair. They replaced the front right wheel sensor today and immediately after leaving their lot, it shut off twice. I did a search on the VIN and found that this vehicle had issues at 11k miles and 27k miles. Now again at 55k miles. The car just shuts itself off while driving. First time it happened, I was rounding a corner in high traffic and in mid turn, the car shut off. I was almost hit by several cars. This vehicle is dangerous. It happened once while on the highway with my 15 month old in the car and today it happened twice with her in the car.

Related recalls

Electrical system: ignitionReported July 5, 2016 · 8,367 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Buick 1‑800‑521‑7300, and GMC 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Recall number 16V502000 · Recall details

Questions about the GMC Terrain warning lights

Why does the warning lights come on in the GMC Terrain?

Owners who report it most often also describe engine failure, check engine light and won't start, and the codes they mention most are P0300.

Which GMC Terrain years have multiple warning lights problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2010 (4 complaints), 2019 (3 complaints) and 2014 (2 complaints).

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used GMC Terrain?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history