2013 GMC TERRAIN Complaints and Recall Information
The 2013 GMC Terrain has 5 complaints and 4 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report transmission failures causing stalling and shifting issues, along with engine problems such as hesitation, excessive oil consumption, and failure related to previous emissions repairs. Some complaints mention unresolved repairs and disagreements over recall remedies.
Common Issues- Transmission failure. Reports indicate the vehicle stalls and fails to shift properly, requiring replacement. One complaint mentions a diagnosed transmission replacement that has not been performed.
- Engine hesitation and stalling. Several owners report the engine hesitates or causes stalling, sometimes with the check engine light illuminated.
- Excessive oil consumption. High oil use noted at about two quarts every 1500 miles leading to timing chain breakage and engine damage.
- Emissions system repair discrepancies. One owner states the dealer replaced the oxygen sensor instead of the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors as required by an emissions recall.
- Fuel odor. A complaint includes a fuel smell described as rotten eggs during vehicle operation.
- Check engine light. The warning light shows intermittently or constantly in some cases.
There are 4 recalls affecting various safety and operational systems including exterior lighting, windshield wipers, ignition, and transmission control. These recalls address defects related to driver visibility, theft protection, and rollaway prevention.
Recalls- Headlight reflection. (NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V137000) Affects 740,581 vehicles. Defect causes light to reflect outside of driver’s view, potentially blinding other drivers and increasing crash risk. Dealers will install headlamp appliques free of charge.
- Windshield wiper motor. (NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V582000) Affects 367,808 vehicles. Corroded ball joints may cause one or both wipers to fail, impairing visibility and raising crash risk. Dealers will repair or replace the front wiper module free of charge.
- Electronic park lock lever. (NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 16V502000) Affects 8,367 vehicles including 2013 GMC Terrain. Faulty lever allows key removal without transmission in PARK, risking vehicle rollaway and injury. Dealers will inspect and replace key cylinder lock housing if needed at no cost.
Owners with repeated issues involving critical safety systems or unresolved recall repairs may have rights under state lemon laws. Those facing ongoing transmission or engine problems or concerns about manufacturer recall remedies should consider consulting legal resources specific to consumer vehicle protections.
2013 GMC TERRAIN Summary
2013
Model Year
5
Total Complaints
3
Total Recalls
1116756
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2013 GMC TERRAIN
740581 vehicles affected
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
2013 GMC TERRAIN
8367 vehicles affected
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
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. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
2013 GMC TERRAIN
367808 vehicles affected
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode and wear over time, possibly resulting in one or both of the windshield wipers becoming inoperative.
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Complaints
2013 GMC TERRAIN
ID: 2117396ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle hesitated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that while coming to a stop, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed due to the engine consuming oil. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine could be repaired and suggested that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
2013 GMC TERRAIN
ID: 2094913ENGINE
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the transmission failed to shift as needed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stopped and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a transmission center, which determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a claim. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.
2013 GMC TERRAIN
ID: 2094912POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the transmission failed to shift as needed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stopped and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a transmission center, which determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a claim. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.
2013 GMC TERRAIN
ID: 2065690ENGINE
Oil consumption rate was too high, roughly 2qts every 1500miles. Caused timing chain to break. Second time with the oil consumption. First fix under 100k mile warranty checked off as recall. It was done before a recall came out. Paying for timing chain to get fixed but recommended a new engine. Prefer GMC to replace engine since it's an ongoing issue. 307373 miles strong and now this.
2013 GMC TERRAIN
ID: 2060004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that when slowing down to come to a stop, the vehicle was jumping and hesitating, causing the contact to shift into neutral(N) to stop the vehicle and prevent the vehicle from shaking. There was a fuel odor that smelled like rotten eggs. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated at first but became a constant failure. The vehicle was previously included in the emissions recall N192268180; NHTSA Campaign Number: 10183214 (Engine and Engine Cooling); with DTC: P0420 and the vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the repair was performed had not matched the repair in the Emissions recall. The contact stated that the dealer had replaced the oxygen sensor instead of the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors as stated in the remedy. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 10183214 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, since the repair was marked completed, there were no additional repairs available due to the mileage. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.