Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 GMC Terrain owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I have owned this car for a little over year and have had nothing but issues. The car started on fire with an electrical issues once, the car has just stopped running on me multiple times while I was driving, almost causing a wreck. The engine goes through Oil like crazy. I've had it back to the dealership multiple times and never get a fix. I believe this vehicle is a true lemon.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 87,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 200,000.
Ok so my 2011 GMC terrain just went over 150,000 miles I bought this vehicle used from a dealership not knowing that there was a big lawsuit or that GMC continuted making this make and model knowing that it had a oil usage problem. So mmm mmm with that being said let's start with my vehicle uses oil, my vehicle idles high low and always rough at times, my service stabilitrak flashes, my motor sounds like a HEMI kock knock knock instead of a 2.4, doesn't matter where I'm at or where I'm going I let off of the gas and my car dies.... Let me clarify on that last one me and my 9 year old daughter we're headed home today let off the gas to go around a curve and a hill and you guesswd it my 2011 GMC TERRAIN died I lost all control and all power had no power steering and no brakes... …
The failure point was the seal on the sunroof and the sunroof itself. A correct failure mode would be for it to leak into the cabin thus being immediately visable. Instead, an internal seal apparently failed allowing the intruding water to flow unobserved into the bulkhead region between the car body and the internal liner of the vehicle. As a consequence it flowed down a side post exiting into the dashboard and control panel. The dashboard shorted out elliminating the turn signal indicator (and possibly the turn signal itself). The radio and amplifier and the general alarm system went to maximum volume. Fortunately, it did not short out the airbag, thus it did not deploy while I was on the freeway, maybe next time. The salient point is that water was allowed to intrude through the sunroof and able to proceed unobserved to the back of the dashboard. …
2011 GMC Terrain SLT The engine blew do to timing Chain breaking and it tore up the injectors as i was looking it up there where lots of people with the same problem and when it blew i was on the Highway and almost wrecked. We put new engine. After putting the engine in the transmission seems like every gear you put it in is like neutral and reeding up on other complaints people are having the same problems it only has 80,000 miles No lights came on or Warnings
Oil burning too quickly I recent got an oil change in Aug, checked oil and it was completely dry less then 2 months (oil consumption recall expired) I had same issue in 2017 but my was non operational due to oil consumption problem damaged my engine and dealer couldn't run test so I paid for new engine out of pocket! Second issue shortage in rear passenger lights I've changed bulbs several times now I see there's a shortage definitely.
After dealing with the repairs on excessive oil consumption issues, my warranty is now up and I am dealing with my car completely dying at a moments notice. This is not the battery as we've had both aaa and our mechanic test the battery several times - the issue, according to our mechanic, is "computer failure." essentially, I spent $400 four weeks ago for my mechanic to tell me that nothing was wrong except the computer stopped communicating to the car to "work" , and my car has still died twice since...with the keys stuck in the ignition. Tonight is the third time my vehicle has died and it has not started up again. My car was parked in the driveway and I was unable to unlock it before the power completely dying. Now I am unable to start or lock the vehicle again. And the keys are stuck in the ignition. I am still paying this car off and it is at 89,000 miles. …
Transmission failure with no warning, torque converter replacement $3,500 around 120K miles. Check engine light unable to be diagnosed or repaired succesfully since 100K miles. Code p0420 with no catalytic converter issues. Every o2 sensor replaced, code will not clear. Stalls without any warning, low RPM, rough idles, engine just shuts down. No dash indicator lights illuminate when failure occurs. Restarts. Oil must be changed early as it seems to consume too much. Undiagnosable. Have been told by every mechanic it could be computer related, timing chain related, regardless this 4cyl GMC has too many complaints for yheae issues not to have a recall. It is incredibly dangerous when random engine failure occurs and I have had more close calls fearing for my life in this vehicle than I can recall at this point. …
Ignition completely turned off, I push button to turn on radio and I hear several tap, tap, tap, tap behind mid-dash radio-cd, a.c, heat control unit. I'm sure the tap, tap, tap, tap noise is door to air recirculation/no recirculation door that somehow activates unit actuator just by turning on radio! Unbelievable! Also, when I need to defrost windshield I turn temp knob to cold and the tap, tap, tap, tap noise happens! I do not turn on A/C compressor. Again, unbelievable!! This is a design defect for sure. I'm sure that to diagnose and repair the steering wheel, dash must be removed so tech,. Can gat to mis-designed parts. No customer should have to pay for this kind of design defect. I want GMC to oay to solve their design defect!!! This defect happens every time I turn on radio of do a cold defrost. Problem happens at any speed or when no key in ignition.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. On several occasions, while attempting to drive, the key was locked in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the tumblers May need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to gem city motors [phone], 701 s central ave, sidney, mt 59270) where no diagnostic failure codes were found and the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The contact was advised to call NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016.
Electrical complaints in other Terrain years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2011 GMC Terrain?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the electrical system of the 2011 GMC Terrain, 8% of the model year's 386 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 GMC Terrain electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-502 (ignition, Jul 5, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 GMC Terrain electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.