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U.S. public vehicle records

2017 Gmc TERRAIN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

133 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

48,850 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 77 of 133 complaints (57.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation1612.0%
Transmission and shifting129.0%
Braking behavior53.8%
Electrical and battery issues32.3%
Steering behavior32.3%
Fuel system concerns10.8%

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.

Engine
77
Power Train
23
Unknown Or Other
20
Air Bags
11
Electrical System
8
Exterior Lighting
7
Structure:Body
6
Fuel/Propulsion System
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine77
Power Train23
Unknown Or Other20
Air Bags11
Electrical System8
Exterior Lighting7
Structure:Body6
Fuel/Propulsion System4

Engine: 77; Power Train: 23; Unknown Or Other: 20; Air Bags: 11; Electrical System: 8; Exterior Lighting: 7; Structure:Body: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
9
25,000 to 49,999
11
50,000 to 74,999
6
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 96 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.

2017
4
2018
5
2019
8
2020
4
2021
7
2022
23
2023
24
2024
25
2025
21
2026
12
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20174
20185
20198
20204
20217
202223
202324
202425
202521
202612

2017: 4; 2018: 5; 2019: 8; 2020: 4; 2021: 7; 2022: 23; 2023: 24; 2024: 25; 2025: 21; 2026: 12

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 11397678 · 2021-02-24 (February 24, 2021)

PURCHASED GMC 2017 TERRAIN 1 MONTH AGO TODAY. THE FIRST WEEK I HAD IT THE ENGINE KEPT STALLING WHILE IDLING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO FIX. I GOT IT BACK AND IT SEEMED TO RUN HARD. 3 DAYS LATER I FOUND THAT NOT ONE BUT BOTH KEY FOBS WOULD NOT WORK. THE BATTERY IS BRAND NEW. WHEN I SPOKE TO SERVICE MAN AT DEALERSHIP, HE STATED THAT ONE FOB WAS FAULTY AND THEY WOULD ORDER A NEW ONE. I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM THEM...TODAY I GOT INTO A FRONT END COLLISION WHERE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING ME INJURY. ONLY AFTER THE FACT DID THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11397678 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11455588 · 2022-03-07 (March 7, 2022)

The contact's wife owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while his wife was driving 40 MPH, the vehicle started to stall, and shuddered inadvertently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact met his wife at the scene and noticed that oil was leaking from underneath the front end of the vehicle onto the ground. The contact refilled the engine oil and his wife was able to drive the vehicle to their residence; however, oil continued to leak while she was driving. The contact refilled the engine oil and the vehicle was tak…

Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11455588 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11277638 · 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)

I HAD MY 2017 GMC TERRAIN DENALI FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED TWO SERIOUS ISSUES. ISSUE #1-I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, GRINDING NOISE, AND HESITATION WHEN DRIVING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH CAUSED SOMETHING INSIDE MY TRANSFER TO BORE A HOLE THROUGH IT. DEALER COULD NOT GET THE PART FOR 2 WEEKS. IT WAS COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. A MONTH LATER WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AT A DIFFERENT AUTO SHOP, I WAS ASKED IF I RECENTLY HAD WORK DONE ONLY TRANSMISSION BECAUS…

Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277638 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11282165 · 2019-11-25 (November 25, 2019)

AT AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR, WHILE ACCELERATING, ALL TORQUE IS LOST AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE REVS HIGH. IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY SHIFTS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THIS CAUSES A BIG JOLT. IT IS DANGEROUS, ALL POWER IS LOST, THEN SUDDENLY TOO MUCH POWER IS APPLIED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 40,502 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11282165 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11102236 · 2018-06-17 (June 17, 2018)

I WAS DRIVING 9PM ON A CITY ST RD, COMING UP ON A MILE LIGHT THAT WAS RED. THE ROADS WERE DRY ON A 5 LANE RD. THERE WAS 1 CAR AHEAD OF MY CAR WITH THEIR BRAKE LIGHTS ON . ALTHOUGH NOT NOTED ON POLICE REPORT THE CAR WAS STOPPED APPROX 5 TO 7 CAR LENGTHS PRIOR TO THE RED LIGHT. I HAD BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN BUT DID NOT REALIZE THE DRIVER AHEAD WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN BUT STOPPED. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND AS NOTED IN PICS BELOW THE DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR HIT THE OTHER DRIVERS PASSENGER BACK CORNER. I ENDED UP IN A PARKING LOT ON THAT CORNER. OTHER THEN T…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102236 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11362597 · 2020-10-03 (October 3, 2020)

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2017 GMC TERRAIN. YESTERDAY, I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE. SOME PERSON PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID A CAR ACCIDENT. HIS VEHICLE CONTINUED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION IN WHICH HE DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT AWAY CAUSING ME TO HIT THE FRONT END OF HIS TRUCK. AS THE DRIVER STATES HE DID NOT SEE ME, I CAN CONFIRM I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES, WHICH ACTED AS THEY COULDN'T STOP. IT FELT AS THE BRAKES WERE NONEXISTENT. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY TERRIFYING MOMENT, AS I WAS GOING 45MPH (PER THE SPEE…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11362597 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11429650 · 2021-08-18 (August 18, 2021)

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle lost electrical and motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed but not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was still awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 48,850.

Owner-reported narrative. 48,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 11429650 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11567946 · 2024-01-26 (January 26, 2024)

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 s…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11567946 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11507532 · 2023-02-15 (February 15, 2023)

In 10 degree weather after warming the car up and driving 15 miles began noticing exhaust smell but wasn't sure it was my car. No warning lights. Arrived at destination parking lot and car began to run rough and stall out and only then did engine light and oil pressure light come on. Strong exhaust/gas smell. Stranded in frigid weather with passenger in a wheelchair. Had car towed to dealer- pvc port plugged causing oil pressure to blow out rear main seal losing all oil causing damage to the engine and components. Warning lights did not come …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11507532 at NHTSA ↗