15 complaints reported

2019 GMC Terrain Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
15
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Oct 2025

I was driving home from vacation the vehicle went into limp mode and started to run very poorly with a brake pedal that was almost impossible to push. I limped the vehicle a couple of miles to the next exit. I had the car trailered home and taken to a service center the following Monday. They inspected the vehicle and found the vacuum pump had failed and caused what was described as “catastrophic engine failure.” They are now saying it needs a full motor replacement due to the widespread and severe damage. This is not the first time this pump has been an issue or supposed issue. About a year before this incident a month after we bought the vehicle in used condition from a GM dealership it started making a noise. We took it back to see if they could help us out being that it was recently purchased and they diagnosed it as the vacuum pump making the noise. They wanted almost $800.00 to replace it. I googled a video on how to fix it and found the cost of the part. The part itself is between $75-$90 from local and name brand parts stores. I paid the $250 diagnostic fee and took it somewhere else for a second opinion. The GM dealership pushed hard for the vacuum pump replacement and told me it was a well known issue for that part on that motor in many different makes and models. They said they recommend you change that mechanical part out every 80k miles or so and that you do not go by what the owners manual says for oil changes which is 5k miles and instead do that every 3k miles. That should not be “preventative maintenance.” That is a manufacturer issue. This should be a recall on the pump. I again did research and this vacuum pump is a known issue. You can find endless examples and discussions about it. It turned out not to be the pump originally that was making the noise saving me $800. The service center that has it now has all the pictures and pieces to show it’s failure and damage. It’s unsafe for something $85 dollars to cause that while driving at any time.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2025
Oct 2025

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the warning light turned off after approximately three miles of driving. The contact also stated that the vehicle experienced abnormal RPM fluctuations while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed; however, the diagnostic information was not provided to the contact. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,951.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2025
Oct 2025

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The low power message was displayed. The contact pulled over to the left side of the road and waited for towing assistance. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent where it was diagnosed that timing chain, timing gears, the vacuum pump, cam phasers, and sensors all needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred by the manufacturer and was informed to contact NHTSA to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2025
Jul 2025

I was driving this morning and my car put itself in neutral. I think had to pull off to the side because it was not accelerating. I could get it to go over 20 mph. Every time I tired to accelerate. The engine would feel forced.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2025
Mar 2025

Faulty vaccuum pump blew leading to engine failure. On the highway randomly, with my child in the vehicle. This almost caused a huge accident. I’ve kept up on all maintence and oil changes. This has been a huge effect on my life as I’m a single parent and randomly had to spend thousands on a new engine for zero fault of my own. I’ve read many many people having this issue. Something needs to be done and action needs to be taken!!!!!!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2024
Nov 2024

Driving on the interstate and got to a Toll the automatic stop start stopped the car and the car never came back on. The battery and starter started smoking and the engine has gone out. No explanation no nothing and the Mechanics at the Gmc Dealership stated it just happens with these engines they just go out! I purchased the vehicle on April 9th before I purchased it I had the dealership send it to a Gmc certified dealership to have it serviced. I've attached the paperwork from the dealership as well.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2024
Sep 2024 Fire

I bought a car from Boone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership in North Carolina on [XXX] and by [XXX] my engine was out before I purchase my car I made sure they serviced my vehicle at a GMC Dealership and there's a warranty on the service of my engine I did not buy the warranty on my car because they couldn't guarantee that the warranty transferred over to West Virginia shop's and that they would cover issues they stated they could deny service cuz it was out of state. So my car went to Moses Cadillac GMC in downtown Charleston on [XXX] they literally just randomly dropped it back off to me two Wednesdays ago. I've been working with GMC to try to purchase a new vehicle and get mine bought back, but it's been a whole process but I'm trying to work with Moses so I can purchase a new vehicle but they won't call me back and i feel like its because they know something is defective. The engine had a Regen done before i purchased it and now all of a sudden the cars engine is Done. Now when this happened the battery got so hot my car started smoking we originally thought it was the starter. Because when it stopped working we were at a Toll booth and pressed the break and the stop start kicked the engine off and it never came back on. Even now if you try to start it the battery gets hot and the starter smokes. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2024
Jul 2024

Turbo Charge Engine

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2024
Jun 2024

Engine overheating, cooling system contaminated with engine oil. Originally brought to dealership [Crown Buick GMC - 2121 Clearview Pkwy, Metairie, LA 70001 - (504) 302-8979] November 27, 2023. However, they were unable to identify the problem. Since the engine continued to overheat, brought the vehicle to an independent mechanic [EFI Services, Inc. - 5720 Heebe St., Harahan, LA 70123 - (504) 734-8200] January 25, 2024. They shared Service Bulletin 22-NA-240 and said it should be covered under powertrain warranty. Brought it back to the dealership [Crown Buick GMC] January 19, 2024. They informed me Bulletin 22-NA-240 did not apply to the vehicle year (2019) was not included. They also informed me no work would be covered under warranty because it expired December 18, 2023. I continue to have to refill the coolant due to overheating, and oil is clearly present.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2023
Apr 2023

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while approaching an intersection, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a friend jump started the vehicle, and she was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to an Auto Zone and was informed the fuel pump control module, enable circuit performance, and the passenger’s side seat belt switch circuit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2023
Nov 2021 Fire

My wife was driving the car, about 70 mph on route 84 passing danbury ct. She was traveling in the middle lane, some kind of oil light went on the dashboard, car shut down while traveling 70 mph on the highway, and caught on fire under the hood. She managed to pull over, and got out of the car with my daughter. This is a 2019 car with 14K miles. This car was packed with milwaukee cordless tools, complete Festool set, complete golf bag with all the clubs, two suitcases of best clothes for me and my daughter, her laptop, etc. We were driving to our new home in south carolina, and on the way the car burned.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2021
Feb 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPITAL BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 2150 COBB PKWY SE, SMYRNA, GA 30080 WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN ENGINEER WOULD BE SENT OUT TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 551,001.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2019
Feb 2020

WHEN AGGRESSIVELY ACCELERATING TO MERGE OR PASS ANOTHER DRIVER, THE 2.0T ENGINE PAIRED WITH AN AWD PLATFORM WILL LOOSE POWER AND 3 SENSOR LIGHTS WILL FLASH AND ILLUMINATE TRACTION CONTROL, AWD AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATING A CYLINDER MISFIRE. EVENT OCCURRED FIRST AT 2000 MILES AND VEHICLES SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP AND SECOND EVENT OCCURRED AT 4500 MILES AND RETURNED TO ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2020
Jul 2019

JULY 10, 2019 AT HIGHWAY SPEED UPON ACCELERATION TURBO BODY TUBE BLEW OFF SUDDENLY AND ENGINE REDUCED TO HALF POWER / CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAPPENED AFTER ONLY 1000 MILES ON NEW CAR. AFTER A REPAIR BY DEALERSHIP JULY 11,2019 SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED JULY 12, 2019 WHILE ON HIGHWAY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2019
Aug 2018

NEED THE OPTION TO DISABLE THE AUTO START FEATURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 GMC TERRAIN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2019 GMC Terrain has 15 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.