NHTSA Complaint #11073770 — 2012 GMC TERRAIN

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I EXPERIENCED STRONG KNOCKING VIBRATIONS AND SOUNDS SEEMINGLY COMING THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD. AS I CONTINUED DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MILES TRYING TO GET HOME, THE KNOCKING BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED AND MY STEERING WAS AFFECTED. I ALSO BEGAN NOTICING AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR NECESSITATING LOWERING WINDOWS TO BREATHE. I NOTIFIED MY DEALERSHIP AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS THE VERY NEXT MORNING WITHOUT DRIVING IT AFTER ARRIVING TO MY GARAGE. I WAS TOLD THE AWD HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. MY CONCERN WAS THAT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY DASHBOARD NOTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM, NOT DID MY ONSTAR DIAGNOSIS INDICATE A PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN QUITE DISTURBED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED BEFORE I WAS AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT MY GMC DEALERSHIP AND WOULD LIKE AN EXPLANATION REGARDING THE FAILURE TO IDENTIFY THIS PROBLEM THROUGH THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS. I AM SINGLE SENIOR WOMAN WHO HAS NO BACKUP VEHICLE AND AM QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK ON THE PROBLEM ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018. I CALLED THE GMC COMPLAINT CENTER TO CHECK ON POSSIBLE RECALLS OR ANY REMAINING WARRANTIES THAT MIGHT APPLY AND I WAS TOLD THE CENTER WAS ASSIGNING A SR. ADVISOR TO CONTACT THE LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP THAT STILL HAS MY CAR AND THE ADVISOR WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP NEEDED MORE TIME TO DIAGNOSE AND ASSESS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.I HAVE HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE SINCE IT MAY BE ANOTHER 2-3 DAYS BEFORE I EVEN GET A RESPONSE REGARDING THE NATURE AND COST OF THE REPAIRS. I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THE ENTIRE AWD SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1500--$2000. I QUESTIONED THE REASON FOR THE EXTREME MALFUNCTION WITHOUT ANY WARNING NOTICES APPEARING...MAIN REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT AND CONCERN.