Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 GMC Terrain owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The contact stated that she was adding a quart of oil every two weeks. The vehicle was taken to the Nissan dealer where the vehicle was purchased. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact stated while at a complete stop, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact lifted the hood and noticed oil residue. Additionally, the contact added oil since the oil level was low. The contact stated that vehicle stalled twice while driving to a nearby gas station. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear master cylinder had failed. …
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact noticed that there was oil leaking onto the ground. The contact inspected under the hood and saw that there was no oil on the dipstick. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the engine was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The contact stated that after two oil changes, the oil was extremely black on the dipstick. The contact stated that the engine had consumed over 2 quarts of oil after 2,500 miles. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that an oil consumption test was necessary to diagnose the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled at various speeds, and now was stalling while accelerating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who linked the failure to excessive oil consumption. The fuel pump was replaced and oil was added. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred the following morning. The check engine and oil service warning lights were illuminated. The oil level was low. The contact stated that the oil was changed almost every 3-months. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The vehicle had not yet been taken back to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 75,000.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle started hesitating and then stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic added 2-quarts of engine oil to the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that later that evening her son notified her of an oil leak nearby the rear of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to another independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the rear main seal to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly stall. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that there was no presence of engine oil inside the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, and he had been refilling the engine oil reservoir weekly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine piston rings were faulty, causing the rapid oil consumption. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 97,000.
The contact's uncle owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 34-35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road and allowed the vehicle to cool down. The contact drove to the residence under 15 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the variable valve timing chain was bent, and the dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but a diagnostic test was not performed. The contact was informed that the engine control module and the camshaft actuator solenoid were replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 191,843.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH the vehicle was consuming engine oil. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed it. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the manifold on the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated the vehicle consumed 4-quarts of engine oil per every 3,000 miles driven. The vehicle was not taken for an oil consumption test. The contact stated that there were no visible oil leaks found. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated after driving approximately 25 MPH and then stopping, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the engine power reduced warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with an unstated failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Engine complaints in other Terrain years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2012 GMC Terrain?
NHTSA has 173 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2012 GMC Terrain, 48% of the model year's 364 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 GMC Terrain engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2012 GMC Terrain, though it has 4 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 2012 GMC Terrain engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling 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.