Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2019 GMC Terrain owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the accelerator was depressed to overtake a vehicle; however, the vehicle hesitated, and RPM revved to 4,000 RPM. The vehicle then shifted into gear with a jerk, causing the vehicle to shake abnormally. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while accelerating from a stop. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle but was unable to retrieve a fault code. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but persistent. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that occasionally while driving at various speeds, the vehicle independently shifted into neutral(N) and the vehicle lost motive power while the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, the vehicle had shifted from park(P) to drive(D) and into neutral(N). There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not identified. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to the Nissan dealer where it was purchased for an oil change, the dealer informed the contact that there was a crack in the transmission. The vehicle was then taken to a GMC dealer, where the contact was informed that the crack was more than two months old. The dealer determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,700.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that after pulling into a parking lot, the vehicle failed to shift into park. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the contact was informed that three fault codes were found. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission needed to be disassembled for a full diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was scheduled for the transmission to be disassembled for the diagnostic test. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral(N). There was transmission fluid on the ground, and the vehicle became disabled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a transmission accumulator leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,400.
*Service trans, check engine, stabilitrak, gas light, would not come out of 1st gear, stalled, started back up and jerked on the way to dealership, locks were flickering, lights would not light up for the PRNDL, shift to park message on, and vehicle would not start back up when pulled into service drive. *would not shift out of 1st gear while in traffic, vehicle stalled in traffic, vehicle jerked whi9le driving. *Confirmed by LaFontaine of Ann Arbor, MI *Vehicle inspected by LaFontaine of Ann Arbor, MI Service trans, check engine, stabilitrak, gas light, would not come out of 1st gear, stalled, started back up and jerked on the way to dealership, locks were flickering, lights would not light up for the PRNDL, shift to park message on, and vehicle would not start back up when pulled into service drive. TAC Case # 9-6556499036. …
The car failed to shift into gear. Message displayed, "transmission unable to shift" ,"2 gears selected " or "service transmission". Issued started in June 2022 while in drive thru line, when shifting from park to move the car would not shift. Had to turn car off for about 10 minutes and car was able to shift and drive normal. Check engine light came on about a week later and had checked for code p07b5. A couple of days later, light went back off. About 3 days later getting ready to leave home and car would not shift into gear again but turn car off and back on a couple of times and car shifted and drove normal. On July 13 2022 was driving in traffic and message displayed, unable to shift and service transmission. …
My transmission keeps sticking when I shift into drive or reverse. Just a couple of days ago, it happened the worst it has ever done before. I shifted into reverse and my vehicle was completely stopped when I shifted. I began to let off of the brakes and gently push the accelerator to start moving back, my vehicle then punched itself into reverse. I felt after that incident, something had to have been damaged. I'm almost afraid to drive my vehicle after that. When my vehicle punched itself into reverse, I was literally jolted towards the steering wheel and thankfully my seatbelt caught me. Incidents with the the shifting into drive or reverse have happened before, but never nearly as intense. About a year ago, I brought my vehicle in to my local GMC Dealership for a concern with my transmission shifting weirdly and holding itself in gear at an unnecessarily high RPM speed. …
Accelerating from a stopped position into a busy intersection heard a loud clunk come from engine bay resulting in immediate "Reduced engine power" warning and stall condition. Was able to push vehicle onto the side of the road. Engine would not restart and a tow truck was called. Vehicle towed to local dealership who discovered that Vacuum Pump had failed resulting in sheering off of the exhaust camshaft. Dealers recommended fix was to replace vacuum pump and camshaft at around $4,000 but could not guarantee no debris had gotten into valve body resulting in engine failure so stated they could replace with used engine for 8500. Second vacuum pump to blow on this vehicle, first at 35k miles and replaced under warranty, this incident at just under 80k miles. Could not afford repairs and vehicle has sat for nearly 2.5 years. …
I bought this Terrain brand new from Betten Baker Chevrolet in Muskegon Mi in 2019 with 500 miles. That same year we had transmission Slippage causing it to slip out of gear then slam back into gear while driving. I took it to the dealer to have it looked at. They did nothing and informed me it was known by the manufacturer that this was an issue. I then had to bring it back for electrical issues as the lights would all start going off in the cab including dome lights and shift buttons. All key fob would not be recognized by the car and would have to be reprogrammed counting 5 times now. Now I am sitting at just oflver 100,000 miles and what I thought was going to be a simple spark plug change gas turned into a complete motor failure. did an oil change and there was no oil in it. The turbo was replaced and now the engine started making a lot of rattling noises and just stopped. …
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020.
Transmission complaints in other Terrain years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2019 GMC Terrain?
NHTSA has 52 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2019 GMC Terrain, 28% of the model year's 186 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2019 GMC Terrain transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-668 (automatic transmission, Oct 29, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2019 GMC Terrain transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 17,000 miles, and 57% 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.