2016 Gmc TERRAIN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
152 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
51,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 46 of 152 complaints (30.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 6.6% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 5.3% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 4.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.3% |
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 | 46 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 46 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Steering | 6 |
Engine: 46; Visibility/Wiper: 46; Unknown Or Other: 13; Power Train: 11; Exterior Lighting: 10; Air Bags: 9; Electrical System: 9; Steering: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 89 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 9; 2019: 16; 2020: 17; 2021: 22; 2022: 23; 2023: 17; 2024: 14; 2025: 16; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10876065 · 2016-06-23 (June 23, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY AND FAILED TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND SHE …
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121628 · 2018-08-22 (August 22, 2018)
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND CORRECTLY TO THE ACCELERATOR, DELAYED RESPONSE. THE CAR WILL ALSO NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY (AS THOUGHT YOU ARE SHIFTING MANUALLY). WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S GAUGES WILL JUMP UP AND DOWN FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON. CAR WILL THEN GO INTO REDUCED POWER MODE. WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE WILL REV AND THEN THE CAR SLAMS DOWN INTO 2ND GEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN A GMC CERTIFIED GARAGE 7 TIMES AND OUT OF SERVICE WHILE IN THE GARAGE 40 DAYS AND COUNTING. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11121628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11300021 · 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)
ON JANUARY 17,2020. I WAS DRIVE WITH MY SON GOING ABOUT 35MILES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STALLED OUT OR FELT LIKE IT DID BUT CONTINUE TO DRIVE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE DASHBOARD SCREEN STATED ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND MY STABILITY NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT WASN'T ON TO LONG. LUCKILY WASN'T GOING TO FAST AND THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME. I'VE RESEARCHED OTHER COMPLAINTS AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IF THAT WOULD TO HAPPEN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. O.M.G.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11300021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11436115 · 2021-10-08 (October 8, 2021)
2016 GMC Terrain SLT, service engine light came on, vehicle stalled many times, restarted but drove and misfired, stalled again, was able to get it to repair garage who I trust. He checked code and said I had to put a complete timing chain kit. Total cost came to $992.36 and didn't have a vehicle for a week due to weekend and a holiday. The vehicle only had 30,763 miles on it at the time but was out of factory warrantee. Reading other customer complaints, this looks like an ongoing problem and I feel should warrant a recall. Additional info suc…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11436115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083133 · 2018-04-03 (April 3, 2018)
STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. TESTED CHEVEY EQUINOX WITH V-6 AND HYDRAULIC STEERING SYSTEM PRODUCED THE SAME RESULTS. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER OPERATES VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN. THESE VEHICLES ARE VERY QUICK ADD CAN CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLES/PEDESTRIANS IF NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. AT PRESENT DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED/SOLVED PROBLEM AND STATED IT IS NOT THAT SEVERE.OF A PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11302936 · 2020-01-29 (January 29, 2020)
WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEN DRIVING MY CAR STOPPED AT THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHEN DRIVING MY CAR WOULD SWITCH ON AMD OFF THE ECO MODE AND I FELT A JOLT EVERY TIME
Owner-reported narrative. 35,070 miles reported. Look up ODI 11302936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11190164 · 2019-03-20 (March 20, 2019)
I'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT DRIVING IN THE SNOW THE THE WHEELS LOCK UP UP ESPECIALLY WHEN I AN TAKING A TURN. I BROUGHT THIS BACK TO CARMAX WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHIC AND THEY STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY ANTILOCK BRAKES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11190164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11196198 · 2019-04-15 (April 15, 2019)
I HAD A TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURE AT 25MPH WITH A HARD BRAKE. I HAD A CAR PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HAD TO HARD BRAKE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING UNTIL IT WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND IT FINALLY WORKED WITH A SUDDEN STOP/JOLT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT MADE A LOW SORT OF ALMOST VIBRATION SOUND. I DID NOT FEEL A VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL THOUGH. THE BRAKES WORKED WELL BEFORE THAT AND AFTER THAT. IF THE BRAKE WOULD HAVE NOT SUDDENLY GRABBED WHEN THE PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR I WOULD HAVE HIT THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11196198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11001596 · 2017-06-27 (June 27, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SELLER GMC DEALER LOCATED AT 3800 GRAND RIVER AVENUE FARMINGTON HILL, MI 48335, PHONE NUMBER: [phone removed]. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH INDICATED THAT RODENTS WERE ATTRACTED TO THE WIRING COLORS AND WAS ABLE ACCESS AND DESTROYED ALL THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11012860 · 2017-08-04 (August 4, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (SULLER GMC LOCATED IN FARMINGTON HILLS, MICHIGAN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT RODENTS HAD EATEN THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PRODUCED USING SOY BASED MATERIALS, WHICH ATTRACTED RODENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. UPDATED 09/06/17*LJ *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11012860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11303053 · 2020-01-30 (January 30, 2020)
I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. THIS HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY SO I HAD TO GO TO A PLACE THAT WAS OPEN. I HAD MY CAR TOWED THERE AND COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE SOLENOID. I HAD TO GET THAT REPLACED AND ALSO A FUEL PUMP. THIS WAS THE FIRST PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11303053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11522405 · 2023-05-17 (May 17, 2023)
Multiple brake lines have corroded out of the gas tank. This caused gas to slowly leak from the vehicle . Not available for inspection - currently being fixed. Dealer confirmed multiple lines corroding. It has been inspected by a certified dealer, Golling in Chelsea, Michigan. There was no warning. Initially smelled gas, but could not pinpoint where it was coming from. Eventually the leak became so large that gas usage was excessive and smell was very strong.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11522405 at NHTSA ↗