NHTSA Complaint #11499273 — 2017 GMC TERRAIN

It was Christmas weekend, the coldest days our area had seen this time of year in decades. Temperatures were around 0 degrees, with wind chills that were -25 below. The check engine light had come on the day before. My husband was literally driving to the mechanic to have it looked at, when the vehicle completely broke down across the street from his destination. Thank God he was approaching an intersection when it died, and not traveling at a higher rate of speed, where he could have been injured, or others on the roadway around him could have been injured. We had the vehicle towed to our GMC dealership where we purchased it just three years prior. Upon inspection from the mechanic, it was determined that the PCV valve was plugged causing pressure on the rear main seal, which then blew out, bending the valve covers, breaking the timing chain, the water pump chain, and damaging the head gasket. The whole bottom of the motor was covered in oil. Absolute catastrophic damage!! I’m told the cost to replace these parts to essentially rebuild the engine, would start at approximately $4000. A brand new engine would be about $11,000! This entire situation to me is just unbelievable! A five year old GM vehicle, with just 46,000 miles on it! This should not have happened. In researching, I’ve been made aware that this is a common issue with GMC Terrains. In fact there was Technical Service Bulletin made by GM for 2010-2013 models whose PCV valve would clog causing rear main seal blow outs. The holes were so small in diameter, technicians would use a 1/16 drill head to clean it out. This is an obvious manufacturer defect that apparently hasn’t been resolved in the newer model Terrains. How has this not been a safety recall yet?? Shame on you GM! This will be the last GMC vehicle I will own!