2017 GMC TERRAIN Engine Problems

I had a message flash that said the power to the engine was reduce. Next message said check stabilink ( or something similar).. it said drive with caution. I live 2 mins from my job I drove home and pulled in the driveway I then felt the car act like it wanted to shake. This was on 2-10-26 I contacted onstar asked them to run a diagnostic. The codes that came back P0016 p0089 p228D are very well known codes with many people with the same vehicle/engine that have had to replace the engine. The engines have known issues had I known that maybe I could have replaced a part or two or three or four to have a stable vehicle now my vehicle is currently at GMC DEALER since Tuesday morning actually had it towed there monday night. I called Wednesday evening they still wasn't sure the "issue". Thursday...

Rear main seal blow out

On January 31, 2026, while driving on the highway, my 2017 GMC Terrain suddenly began shaking as if it was going to stall. Thankfully, I managed to exit the interstate before the vehicle lost power. Luckily, when this happened, it "only" blocked traffic on a side road. The Terrain was towed to my garage. The mechanic called to inform me that the vehicle was out of oil -even though it was not due for servicing, nor did a “check oil" warning appear. He noted that this was not the first time he had seen this problem occur with this particular make and model: the PCV valve had frozen due to recent cold weather, which led to the rear main seal fracturing, causing oil leaking. In addition, the manifold had also cracked. He explained that repairs would be costly given the labor needed to remove the transmission and perform other related...

Traveling on the expressway, engine made wearing noise, reduced engine power and complete engine failure while driving. Rear main seal blowout due to a defective PCV system freezing. It is a known issue for GM2.4L engine especially in cold weather leading to massive oil loss and catastrophic engine damage. This has been confirmed by a GM authorized dealer.

The PCV valve froze which caused pressure to build up in the rear main seal to fail. Causing oil to leak out of the motor. Hence the motor won't hold oil.

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the engine diagnostic result was confirmed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that two years prior to the failure, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal and the vehicle stalled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

I am filing this complaint to report a catastrophic engine failure involving my 2017 GMC Terrain equipped with the 2.4L Ecotec engine, which I believe is the result of a known manufacturing defect related to excessive oil consumption and premature internal engine wear. At approximately 88,000 miles, my vehicle experienced severe engine failure, including excessive oil consumption, timing chain failure, and complete engine failure, which has been confirmed in writing by a licensed repair facility. The shop determined that the engine failure was caused by oil starvation resulting from excessive oil consumption, leading to internal engine damage and timing chain failure. This failure occurred without warning and rendered the vehicle unsafe to operate. Sudden engine failure creates a serious safety risk, including loss of power while driving, inability to accelerate, and increased risk of collision. This engine failure matches a well-documented defect pattern involving General Motors’ 2.4L Ecotec engines, which...

[XXX], our 2017 Terrain Denali displayed code: “Low Oil/Shut Engine Off” so had it towed to Laura Buick/GMC Colllinsville, IL. Laura confirmed the issue was blown rear seal due to design of intake cover and PCV. They checked with aftermarket warranty for VIN [XXX] , warranty contract number [XXX] who said it was not a covered issue. We called Warranty folks also and were told it was an “external issue” and not covered. Appealed to GM Customer Service who said VIN was not covered. The vehicle has approximately 83,000 miles and we referenced PIP5093B and Special Coverage Program number SB-10057977, and Special Coverage Adjustment 16118 Excessive Engine Oil Consumption. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

This car burns 1 quart of 5w-30 synthetic blend oil every 200 miles! The pcv valve has been cleaned numerous times and this does not affect the burning oil issue and yes this can be inspected upon request. Safety put at risk you ask, this is a ticking timebomb ready to ruin the engine due to burning oil, leaves me stranded in my rural town for fear of mechanical breakdown, need to carry two 5 quart containers of oil, and dipstick needs to be checked every 100 miles. I have scheduled appt with GMC dealer in Chadron NE for mid January 2026. There are no warning lamps or messages that appear and this problem has been going on since August 2025, bought the car February 2025 from Chevy dealer in above mentioned town. KBB has a trade in value for this car at 1500 and private sale at 1900 for...

For a year we have had to check to the oil weekly and add oil due to the vehicle burning oil so quickly. The past month we have had to check it daily and add oil. We do regular routine oil changes and have had to get them before the next one is due. Recently when driving the “oil pressure low stop engine” light has been coming on almost daily. The oil change company has reported to us that it is due to the 2.4 Eco tech motor. You can smell the oil burning through the vents inside the car.

The power steering assembly failed and caught on fire. This then caused the engine to malfunction and no longer work. This happened while driving on the interstate at a speed of approximately 80mph. No prior check engine lights were visible

We have been keeping up with all maintenance and oil changes. We have only driven the car for less than a year. At time of oil change; the oil has been low, resulting in OVER oil consumption; Requiring an extra quart of oil to be added between oil changes. When we purchased the vehicle, there was an strong exhaust smell; The shop that we bought the vehicle stated there were no issues and we have taken it to them multiple times an hour away from our home. The car completely shut off while my minor son and I were driving. Placing both of our lives at risk! It would never start back up. Now the car has seized and requires an engine replacement. It is sitting at a local garage while we wait for the dealership to help us, to no avail.

I was driving back from out of state and all the sudden the engine just got loud. So I pulled over and check oil levels. Except there is no access to the transmission oil. The only way to check this is to remove the front driverside tire, take a bolt out and see if any oil drips out. This is insane that there is no dip stick. I am taking it to a mechanic on Monday but to not have quick access to this is wild.

Throttle position system all of a sudden went bad. My 2017 Terrain started shaking. I was holding up traffic. The sun couldn't go over 5mph. I've read online where this is happening alot in 2010'2017 GMC Terrains.

GM recently recalled over 500,000 car engines. The warning signs to look out for was a “knocking” sound coming from the engine. I had recently experienced the same issues that the recalled car engines were experiencing. I went to get it checked out and my mechanic said there were chunks of metal in the engine. The GM engine recall should include 2017 GMC TERRAINS SLT. If I had not got it looked at, it would have caused an accident that would have been unpreventable due to the warning signs of only the knocking sound. No other lights had came on in the car. Please consider putting this make and model in the engine recall! If someone reaches out to me, I have the name of my mechanic that can verify the engine issue of my GMC.

March 1, 2025, I was driving from Charlotte, NC east bound on highway 40 towards Wilmington and all of a sudden my car just stopped while I was in the left lane. I was able to cruise over to the right shoulder and park my car in front of a sign that read exit 298 a few feet ahead. From there I was on the highway about two hours trying to get a tow truck to tow my 2017 GMC Terrain to the nearest GMC dealership which so happened to be 10 miles away. Which the tow never came. My step father drove about 100 miles west to pick me and my daughters up. All night I was on the phone with one tow truck company after another and every one kept saying they couldn’t find my car. In the morning I called another tow and he was able to...

1st time - rear main seal blew out & engine lost all of its oil causing rocker arm to break & chains to slip-vehicle sputtered & DIED while driving down busy street & would not restart - my safety & safety of others driving behind me were at risk for causing a rear end accident and/or pile up crash - no warning lights or sounds alerted me - dealership told us General Motors is aware this is/has been a problem with 2017 Terrain vehicles especially those driven in Midwest states due to colder temperatures - the intake manifold vent hole is not large enough to let air out, so it plugs up & causes pressure to blow out rear seal, which causes oil to leak out and engine dies. When replaced with a remanufactured engine intake manifold vent hole was not drilled out causing it to happen again 2nd time...

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine, especially during colder mornings. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the solenoids had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence and determined that the timing belt was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

I am writing to formally express my dissatisfaction with my 2017 GMC Terrain, which has experienced severe engine failure due to excessive oil consumption. I purchased this vehicle with the expectation of reliability and durability, yet at only 80,000 miles, the engine seized without warning, rendering my vehicle completely inoperable. I have consistently maintained my Terrain according to the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule. However, I recently discovered that the engine was consuming oil at an alarming rate of 1 quart per 1,000 miles, which ultimately led to catastrophic failure. There were no warning lights or clear indicators of low oil, making it impossible for me to prevent the damage. After researching, I have found that numerous other GMC Terrain owners have reported similar excessive oil consumption issues, indicating a potential widespread defect in this engine design. As a loyal GM customer, I am extremely disappointed that a well-maintained vehicle would...

As per several other complaints on the GMC terrain of particular years my vehicle has had a rear main seal leak, a blown engine terrible amounts of oil consumption and now the second engine has malfunctioned. And made the vehicle inoperable. The safety of myself and others was put at risk as the vehicle lost all power and cut off. The problem has had class action lawsuits filed. The first time the engine failed no warnings came on the second time a reduced engine power came on that we had no idea existed. The vehicle consumed oil very quickly, with in days the oil could need replaced. Oil consumption has been going on for years. Even after replacing engine.

DETAILS: Frozen/clogged PCV in the intake manifold caused the rear main seal to burst due to crankcase pressure, leading to complete engine failure. The 2.4 EcoTech engine must be entirely replaced. GMC refuses to act despite being well aware of this consistent issue. There is a class action lawsuit, service bulletins and multiple examples of this scenario all over the internet. RESOLUTION NEEDED ASAP. - 1/20/25: While driving home from my night shift at highway speeds, exhaust fumes entered the cabin, followed by a loud pop and sudden engine failure. The check engine light never came on and the vehicle would not restart. After towing to the dealership, they confirmed what occurred and noted that it happened on the coldest night of the year, consistent with the well-documented defect in the 2.4L EcoTech engine. They estimated replacement cost can run up to $10,000 and is my responsibility, advising that GM...

While driving on a county highway during an extreme cold front, the vehicle experienced catastrophic engine failure due to low oil pressure. There was traffic that was impacted by this issue and the occupants (mother and child) were stranded in dangerous temps. This issue has been confirmed by a mechanic shop the vehicle was towed to. No warning from vehicle given, regular oil changes and vehicle maintenance performed. It is my understanding this is a known issue with this motor as far as oil consumption, faulty piston and piston ring assemblies and there have been class actions filed for these vehicles.

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired; however, the contact was informed that the engine oil levels were low, and oil was added to the engine by the mechanic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed the failure persisted. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact stated that the oil level was low, and the engine was not consuming oil. The contact also noticed oil leaking from the bottom of the engine compartment. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Hole for timing chain guide bolt damaged by failed guide bolt

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact discovered that there was an oil leak. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the residence and the contact self-diagnosed the vehicle and was able to confirm that there was an oil leak, and the oil leak was coming from the rear main seal. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

While driving home from work in single digit temperatures on Monday 01/20/25 the engine of my 2017 GMC Terrain stalled without warning at a traffic light. I was able to restart the vehicle and drive it the 1.5 miles home. When I exited the vehicle I noticed a trail of oil leading up the driveway into the garage. Oil continued to leak from the vehicle in the garage, and we had it towed the next day. Righter’s Auto Repair found the rear main seal had blown due to a frozen PCV system that GMC is well aware of and subject to TSB 5093c.The vehicle only has 64,856 miles.

We have had 4 transmissions since we bought the vehicle. It slows down to almost a stop after it hits 30 mph and makes weird noises all throughout the vehicle. The back right tire sticks to the pavement and jerks when i start to drive. The key ignition has been fixed several times and still sometimes won't turn with the key or come out. Yes Warranty told the repaid service company to fix whatever, and they did but it still after 2 more transmission hasn't fixed the issues. Engine light and not sure what else.

Vehicle repeatedly stalled while on highway, there were no warning lights on dash or anything indicating of an issue prior. Took vehicle to repair shop and after thorough investigation they reported that there was no oil in engine despite dashboard monitor registering oil life was fine. Oil changes are always completed regularly and on time for vehicle. Mechanic said that this is a known issue with GMC for this specific model where oil is consumed at an irregular rate. There is a lawsuit against gmc for oil consumption that includes years 2010-2014 where gmc was at fault however the lawsuit was filed before the 2017 model came out. It was later discovered that years ,2014-2017 also have this known defect however a recall has yet to be placed. Being a common symptom of this issue is frequent vehicle stall this really should be a recall. After speaking with a couple...

The 2.4-liter engine contains a defect that causes them to improperly burn off and consume abnormally high amounts of oil. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Excessive oil consumption cannot be reasonably anticipated or predicted and causes the engine to run while low on engine oil, putting me and other drivers at risk due to engine fire, unexpected engine failure, vehicle jerking, power loss, etc. Yes, both certified dealers, independent service centers, and myself have observed and noted the low levels of engine oil as soon as 500 miles after an oil change. I have spoken with GM representatives via phone about the issue, but they are not interested in inspecting the vehicle or offering driver support. They have consistently denied awareness of an issue despite hundreds of documented complaints and a pending class action lawsuit in the state of Missouri. There are no warnings, messages, or symptoms...

Car stalls out suddenly after stopping. The engine oil was changed as required and there were no warning lights on the dash. Took the car to a mechanic and the mechanic said there was no oil and metal shavings in the engine, and that the engine would need to be replaced for $10,000. The car is out of its warranty and slightly over 100,000 miles.

Oil goes back into motor blowing motor so causing you to get a new motor

2.4L Ecotec engines contain a defect that consumes excessive engine oil leading to: unanticipated engine shutdowns, engine stalls, engine knocking, unexpected loss of power, and vehicle jerking. The first instance I was still in a parking lot, the second on was on a local street traveling at 25 mph. During the third instance, My son and I have driven our car on 4 separate occasions and while driving on the freeway at 70 mph just after rush yesterday when the engine shut off. I took the car to my mechanic who informed me that my vehicle that has less than 88k miles is burning up the oil and soon will need the engine replaced.

4/3/2024 picked my car up from the mechanics at 5pm and when driving home going 35 mph the engine shut off. This incident is is tied to my previous incident.

My car was driving without issue until I stopped at a street light. My car started rocking front to back while sitting at the light and every other time I had to make a stop. The engine light came on. I had the vehicle towed to an auto shop where they confirmed that the timing chain broke. Due to this my engine was damaged to no repair. I would need to replace it. My gmc terrain is a 2017 with only 99,000 miles. I further learned that GM is aware of this issue but failed to recall this issue or warn owners that we were at risk. This can cause a vehicle to stop in the middle of driving which could cause a death if in the wrong place.

Broken rear main seal broke which causes oil leak. Almost all GM vehicles around my year have the same issue resulting in blow engine. $2000 to repair and GM told me they know of this being an issue but won’t do anything to resolve.

The air bags will show that they are shut off while we are driving down the road with my wife sitting in the seat and they will also does it if we are just sitting in the drive way. Also they had a recall in the older models of this car for the pvc valve getting clogged and building pressure and causing the lower seal to bust and that happed to my car but they never gave a low oil light when it happed. All that happed was my wife was driving and the lower engine power came on while she was driving in traffic causing her to freak out and feel unsafe with my kids in the car as well. I contacted them about and they said there is no recall for the car at all about it. They clearly still had the same issues in my car because...

main seal blew is in dealership now. it was not running right as i drove it was afraid it would die in the middle of the road. just inspected at the dealership. i got the engine light about a mile from my home where it sat till it went to the dealership.was over 4 quarts low with oil but never had oil light or anything else before it showed engine light.

I was driving our 2017 GMC Terrain in subzero temperatures when my vehicle started making sounds and loosing power. With in seconds I heard a pop, and then my dash went crazy with alarms. I had it towed to my local mechanic who determined that the vehicle's engine was seized do to a frozen PCV valve that caused the engines real seal to give away. If need be, the the vehicle is currently available to be examined. My family's safety was in danger because of the location and frigid temperatures that were present at the time of the breakage. The vehicle has not been examine by a GMC dealer, just an independent mechanic. There was no warning what so ever of a possible problem. The vehicle started making sounds and loosing power. With in seconds, I heard a pop and all the lights on the dash light up. We had...

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 start, but would keep quitting. I called a tow truck and had it towed to the condo. The next day, I went out to start it and it would start and oil light came on. It smelled. I turned it off. I...

In certain makes of General Motor vehicles there is a defect with the PCV system in which the system can freeze in cold temperatures which in turns causes excessive crankcase pressure in the engine, and can lead to a dangerous loss of motor power due to this defect. The dangers of this defect can be catastrophic to myself and others on the roadway as the loss of motor power can happen suddenly and can happen while the vehicle is being driven. General Motors has released many service bulletins regarding this specific defect. The most recent service bulletin that was issued was GM January 2019 Bulletin PIP5093C, so they are aware of this dangerous problem in these vehicles. For my vehicle I have had a certified GMC dealership diagnosis the problem, and submit their findings to General Motors. There were not any warning lamps, messages, lights, or symptoms signaling that there...

Rear oil seal failed resulting in engine oil pressure loss and vehicle was stopped in middle of roadway

It's a known problem with gmc with a lawsuit for the PVC pipes clogging and blowing the main rear oil seal causing the vehicle to quit running

I just had an oil change in late December of 2023. As I was driving to work on [XXX]. My engine locked up. There were no warning lights. By the time I was able to pull over, a rod had gone thru the engine. Apparently there was an oil leak but no warning lights. This has not only caused me to have to purchase a new engine but could have resulted in a collision while driving. After doing some research this is a known defect by GM and a class action lawsuit. GM has failed to recall these vehicles for a known defect. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I purchased this Vehicle in February of 2023, I had a problem shortly after with the oil always being low. I was adding oil to it all the time. 7 months later the engine blew. This is a very faulty problem with this engine that I am NOW finding out. This problem needs to be addressed and fixed. Now I am stuck with a vehicle that I still owe money on that will cost me 6 to 9 thousand to replace the engine.

Engine shut off while doing 70 mph on interstate. There was no warning signs or nothing.

1. The car started making a noise then started surging and jerking. I'm not a mechanic, so I don't know what happened but it will not crank now. Yes, someone can come inspect the vehicle, by appointment only. 2. I was afraid that the car was going to blow up or the brakes would not hold. 3. No, the problem has not been reproduced or inspected. 4. No, the vehicle or component has not been inspected. 5. NO, there were no warning lights to let me know there was a problem.

2017 GMC Terrain motors consume oil at an excessive rate (1 quart per 1,000 miles). Getting an oil change every 5,000 miles, even consistently, puts the engine at risk for major internal failure and safety risks to the passengers. My engine in my 2017 GMC Terrain has a broken timing chain and internal damage due to the excessive oil consumption issue. The engine will have to be replaced. GM has known about this issue for years. GM is in several lawsuits for this issue, but GM has failed to recall the parts of the motor that are excessively consuming oil. They refuse to help cover repair costs even though the costs are due to their poorly designed motor.

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle failed to remain idling. The vehicle was driven to the residence and parked. The vehicle was not able to be restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 79,500.

The engine burns oils twice as fast as it should and gives no warning of a problem. I am 3 years into payments on this vehicle and the engine is shot due to this issue. I have under 80,000 miles but this is a major problem that GMC is not addressing its very frustrating I will have to pay off a damage car they sold and now buy a new for an obvious problem they won’t acknowledge

Due to cold weather the PCV froze which caused pressure to build up in the vehicle’s crankcase which caused the rear main engine seal to pop out. Results in losing all engine oil without and warning driving down the highway. I was lucky enough to get off the highway but currently without a vehicle due to possible engine damage