Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 GMC Terrain owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Driving back from a two hour trip at aprox 55 MPH our 2010 GMC started flashing "reduced engine power" with the check engine light, and "service stabilitrak" with the stabilitrak light. Speed dropped down to about 30 MPH without control. The car was idling heaving with rmps jumping. We pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the car, the only light that remained on was the check engine light. Speed control was restored. By the time we made it home, aprox 20 miles, the check engine light turned off. Then a couple weeks later again, twice in one night, back to back. I called the dealer for an appointment because I assumed it would be covered by a GMC warranty, they did not have availability for 7+ days. The night before my appointment it happened again but did not correct itself and we had to drive it to the dealership at 30 MPH. …
While driving my car the stabili-track service light comes on. Then the check engine, brake, ABS, AWD, as well as the power steering lights come on. Then I lose power steering and my speed is throttled down a lot. Its happened on the expressway and city streets. When on the expressway I have to immediately get to the shoulder without getting into an accident. I've had my car towed to the mechanics shop multiple times and they've told me that there are no codes when hooking up the computer. They kept it a few times in the last 3 years and have told me there were misfires after letting the car sit and testing it out (test driving) and work was needed (throttle body replacement, spark plug replacement, cam shaft swap out and a full tune-up). $1000 and less than a year later it happens again and then again. …
When in motion stabilitrak light comes on, I receive the message "engine powering down", car slows down to 10 miles an hour. You must pull off on side of road turn car off wait approximately 60 sec and restart car. This is so unsafe I am afraid to take it on expressways. Took to dealership they claimed it was timing chain at cost of $2000. Got GM and dealership to pay part of cost. Then was told it needed a serpentine belt at an additional cost of course. Picked car up and the very next morning the car did it again. Took vehicle back to dealership and am now being told it needs a throttle body at an additional cost of $400. Check engine light has been on the whole time. Do they really know whats wrong with it or just shooting in dark while I spend more money. This is a safety hazard!! …
While driving the stability track service lift comes on, the ABS, brakes, service all wheel drive, as well as the service power steering at which time I lose power steering. It also feels like it is accelerating sluggishly when drive sometimes. This happens and goes off sometimes with out me turning the car off or stopping but other times I have to pull over and wait a few minutes after turning the car off. It happens various times. At one moment it is driving fine and then these lights come on. When taken to dealership the lights have gone off and they get no codes. I was told the that it says a miscommunication and no code is recorded. The service light issues happen on city streets. The sluggish acceleration happens on both city and highway. I have been to the GMC dealer several times over the last 2-3 weeks.
I own a 2010 GMC Terrain that only has 51,000 miles. I was excellerating to get onto the highway when my check engine light came on and my vehicle all the sudden had lack of engine power. I was able to pull to the shoulder of the road, thankfully without getting hit. My vehicle was towed to my mechanic's shop. A test was done and the code p2135 throttle/petal sensor switch was revealed. The car was turned off and then back on and the engine light was not on. Now, two weeks later, this happened again on a city street. This time another warning came on along with the engine light. The warning says engine stability trak. This is a huge concern as bot times, I narrowly escaped an accident. My vehicle only has 51,000 miles and it is well taken care of. My concern is this is a manufacturer defect.
I ordered this vehicle in 12/2009 and received it 2/2010. There have been several recalls and most recently I had to replace cam shaft accuators and high pressure fuel pump to the tune of $1800.00. My wife was driving home from work and the car was rattling and vibrating like it had two flat tires. Before that she informed that the service engine and stabilitrak lights had come on. There is a noise that rattles in the exhaust and I have had problems with the heater not working in the cold days of wisconsin. I am highly disappointed in GMC, who received a "bail out" now owners of this vehicle need a "bail out" from this terrible design of a vehicle.
I was getting gas, fiiled up, when I got back into car, didn't want to start, really had to hit gas pedal, very scary, that happened 3 times after getting gas, another time I was at stop light, and it just stalled, engine completely stopped, hard start up again, so I decided for safety reasons taking it to dealership, it's still there as of 11/20/2017, but wanted to get this out there, I think maybe this is ongoing issue with certain models of GMC, and feel maybe it will be a recall issue if enough people report issues as such as these. I thank god I wasn't driving and this happened, def a safety concern GMC needs to address.
I purchased this vehicle last May 2015 with no warning indicators working my vehicle loss excessive oil and now needing a new engine, how does a vehicle lose 4.5 quarts between a oil changes. Now I'm stuck with the cost of repairs for installing a new engine and the extended warranty and GM motors refused to help me with repairs. I have six children at home I provide for and now will be eating a new engine at the dinner table for the next four years! Thanks a lot GM for not living up to your name im going to Toyota next vehicle. The good thing I was parked at a store when the vehicle gave out with no warning!!!!!!!
While driving the stability track service lift comes on, the ABS, brakes, service all wheel drive, as well as the service power steering at which time I lose power steering. It also feels like it is accelerating sluggishly when drive sometimes. This happens and goes off sometimes with out me turning the car off or stopping but other times I have to pull over and wait a few minutes after turning the car off. It happens various times. At one moment it is driving fine and then these lights come on. When taken to dealership the lights have gone off and they get no codes.
My car is idling when it suddenly begins to idle roughly then stalls. There is a "reduced engine power" warning that appears with the check engine light, and "service stabilitrak" with the stabilitrak light. This has happened 3 times, twice when the vehicle was stationary, another time in motion, driving on a city street, and I was able to pull over before it died. In reading other complaints, this seems to be a known safety issue for 2010 GMC terrains and should be investigated as a recall issue.
Traction Control complaints in other Terrain years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2010 GMC Terrain?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2010 GMC Terrain, 8% of the model year's 290 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2010 GMC Terrain traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2010 GMC Terrain, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 GMC Terrain traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.