2011 GMC Terrain Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

178Engine complaints

46.1%Of all 386 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE178 · 46.1%

POWER TRAIN71 · 18.4%

Unspecified / other33 · 8.5%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM31 · 8%

VISIBILITY/WIPER28 · 7.3%

Share of the 386 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 GMC Terrain overview page.

What owners report

“I USE 1 QT.OF OIL EVERY 450 MILES AND THERE IS A LOUD CLATTERING NOISE ON INITIAL START UP”NHTSA complaint 10849584 — filed 03/14/2016

“VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE THAT WAS NOT COVERED BY GMC UNDER ANY WARRANTY. ENGINE BLEW UP AND ALL THE OIL LEAKED OUT DUE TO…”NHTSA complaint 10838523 — filed 02/25/2016

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STABILITRAK AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND…”NHTSA complaint 10825313 — filed 02/10/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 GMC Terrain have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2011 GMC Terrain: 178 of 386 complaints on file (46.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 GMC Terrain have in total?

386 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 11 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, 24 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.