2011 Gmc TERRAIN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
386 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
79,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 296 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 178 of 386 complaints (46.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 70 | 18.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 52 | 13.5% |
| Steering behavior | 23 | 6.0% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 5.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 3.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 178 |
| Power Train | 71 |
| Unknown Or Other | 33 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 31 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 28 |
| Electrical System | 27 |
| Air Bags | 25 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 21 |
Engine: 178; Power Train: 71; Unknown Or Other: 33; Fuel/Propulsion System: 31; Visibility/Wiper: 28; Electrical System: 27; Air Bags: 25; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 21
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 57 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 27 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 51 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 66 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 76 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 57; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 51; 75,000 to 99,999: 66; 100,000 to 149,999: 76; 150,000 and above: 19
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (76). 90 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 29 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 30 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2019 | 57 |
| 2020 | 41 |
| 2021 | 24 |
| 2022 | 26 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 2; 2011: 29; 2012: 18; 2013: 12; 2014: 23; 2015: 33; 2016: 30; 2017: 34; 2018: 34; 2019: 57; 2020: 41; 2021: 24; 2022: 26; 2023: 13; 2024: 5; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 70 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 52 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10407178 · 2011-06-16 (June 16, 2011)
I OWN A GMC 2011 TERRAIN. IT HAS 3600 MILES ON IT. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT THERE IS A HESITATION AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHEN TO SHIFT GEARS!.IT ALSO JERKS ALL OVER THE PLACE I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE ONE DAY IT ALMOST COMPLETELY STALLED ON ME. THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WERE NO CODES THAT CAME UP ON IT AND EVERYTHING IS FINE. THE KICKER IS THAT THE SERVICEMAN WHO TOOK CARE OF ME TOOK IT HOME AND SAID THAT IT IS DOING WHAT I SAID AND THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL IT SHOWS A CODE ON THE COMPUTER. I CALLED GM AND THEY TOL…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10413184 · 2011-07-17 (July 17, 2011)
THE ISSUE IS ONLY HAPPENING ON 2011 I-4 2.4L ENGINES. MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS ENGINE (TERRAIN AND EQUINOXS FOR A COUPLE) HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE VEHICLE MAKES A RATTLING NOISE WHEN STARTING UP..ITS INTERMITTENT. ALSO I HAVE HAD (AS OTHERS HAVE) HAD THE CAR STALL AND GIVE AN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH CODE P0011. THE CAR MAKES THE RATTLING WHEN CAR IS COLD OR HOT..I HAVE IT HAPPEN AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. GM HAD A TECH. BULLETIN OUT ON IT IN FEB.2011. THE FIX DID NOT TAKE CARE OF IT. IN JUNE 2011 GM PUT OUT ANOTHER TB SAYING 'THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSU…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10413184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10368558 · 2010-12-01 (December 1, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED UPDATES TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE AFTER THE UPDATES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10368558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10405312 · 2011-06-06 (June 6, 2011)
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING/JERKING ON MY GMC TERRAIN SUV-SLE MODEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 2TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG, BUT IT'S STILL JERKING, IT'S HAPPEN WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTING (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) THE CHANGE OVER IS NOT SMOOTH. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT'S DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN THEY DRIVE IT OF COURSE, BUT THIS DOES NEGATE THE FACT THAT IT IS HAPPENING. PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE CHECK INTO THIS PROBLEM. BECAUSE I'M SURE IT'S HAPPENING TO OTHER TERRAIN OWNERS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,540 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10420411 · 2011-08-17 (August 17, 2011)
A RUBBING SOUND AND VIBRATION AS YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420411 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10423710 · 2011-09-01 (September 1, 2011)
THERE IS A RUBBING/VIBRATION SOUND/FEEL WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT MOST OF THE TIME. THE SOUND/FEEL IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT TIMES THAN OTHER TIMES AND THERE WHEN MOVING OR PARKED. MY DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS. GM SAYS (VERBAL ONLY) THEY KNOW OF NO FIX BUT THEIR ENGINEERS ARE WORKING TO FIND A FIX. THIS (NO FIX BUT WORKING ON IT) HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR NEARLY 30 DAYS. SINCE THE ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE STEERING I AM CONCERNED THAT MY ABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR MAY BE LOST AT SOME POINT…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10371832 · 2010-12-20 (December 20, 2010)
ON 11-21-10 MY FIVE YEAR OLD SON BUMPED HIS HEAD ON A HARD SURFACE THAT WAS NOT SAFELY DESIGNED OR PADDED PROPERLY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED STRONGLY. NOTHING WAS DONE BY GM TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475006 · 2012-09-11 (September 11, 2012)
THE SELECT THE PARTS WONT LET ME ENTER THE DESCRIPTION. WHEN MY VEHICLE IS IN CRUISE CONTROL THE SWITCH CAN BE ACCIDENTALLY SLIGHTLY TOUCHED AND WILL SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. GMC HAS A NEW CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FOR 2012 WHICH IS A PUSH ON AND PUSH OFF SWITCH WHICH ALLEVIATES THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND THEY INFORMED THAT THERE IS NO PLAN TO RETROFIT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445839 · 2012-01-30 (January 30, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE, GASOLINE FUEL SPILLED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER MADE SIX ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BY STRAIGHTENING THE FUEL HOSE, REPLACING THE FUEL TANK AND THE FILTER HOWEVER, NONE OF THE REPAIRS CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER HAS HAD OFFERED ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE SINCE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,200 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,40…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10676284 · 2015-01-18 (January 18, 2015)
THE VEHICLE JUST STOPS WHILE DRIVING, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING!..FOR AN ALMOST BRAND NEW CAR THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE!..NOW IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN..THE VEHICLE STOPS/THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING!..IM TAKING THE VEHICLE AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY... *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10676284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10693055 · 2015-03-09 (March 9, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TERMINAL CABLE ENDS AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 80,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693055 at NHTSA ↗