8.3
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $5,120
- Average Mileage:
- 93,950 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 45 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (21 reports)
- replace engine (12 reports)
- new pistons, rings, catalytic converter, timing chains, cams (6 reports)
- replace piston rings (3 reports)
- replace thing chain, repair damaged parts (3 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your GMC dealer.
When I first bought this car, everything seemed fine. And then we noticed it was eating oil. I called GM and they told me I would have to do an oil change and then pay for them to do an oil consumption test and then pay for them to fix it. So we said screw you guys and started going it on our own. $3,000.00 later and my car is still sitting in my garage due to problem after problem after problem. I have only owned this car for 3 years.
- Jayce A., Wright, US
2011 GMC Terrain Ecotech engine uses excessive oil consumption due to piston and rings. A ring engine cost to fix quoted $9000. I have not had it fixed signed up with class action lawsuit for GMC to fix it at dealership.
- liltenia, Burleson, US
Bought the car April 1st and it's already burning oil. It was a quart low when I got the oil changed. I feel like I bought a lemon.
- Rafi C., Visalia, US
How and where do I get this fixed without it costing me? Recall notices for this issue?
- mperry9410, Westport, US
The engine sounds like it's about ready to come apart at startup. This is my 83 year old mother's vehicle, she probably doesn't put 2000 miles a year on it and changes the oil every year, regardless of the mileage. I check the oil every couple of months and it's always at least 1/2 a quart low. I search and found lots of issues with this engine in an Equinox. Sounds like the issue is bad pistons and rings and also problems with the timing chain. Any one of these should be justification for a recall, yet I can't find anything other than talk about a possible lawsuit. If there is a class action lawsuit, we would be interested in joining.
- Keith L., Sulphur Springs, US
First I had to replace the transmission 2 year ago, and now the engine is shot with no compression from piston #2. The car also consumed a lot of oil. It's the worst car ever.
- Brian S., Kendall Park, US
I have a GMC Terrain. When I found out about the pistons, I had them looked at and the GMC dealer said now the whole engine is bad but the lawsuit only repairs the pistons - that is not right! GMC knows the pistons are bad - they should replace the engine too! I did not spend this kind of money to be told too bad!
- Jacki M., Oklahoma City, OK, US
I bought this car for my granddaughter it had high miles on it but my understanding these engines were bad from the factory with bad rings... every two weeks I have to add 3 quarts of oil. Its out of the mileage range but this motor should have been fixed before I bought it... gmc should be ashamed of themselves!!! I had no idea it was a bad engine when I bought it... I need my car fixed.
- Mark W., Zanesville, OH, US
I purchased this vehicle and it has been a nightmare! Last year, my car began to completely shut off in the middle of driving with a notification light saying "engine power reduced". In August of 2019, I took it to a mechanic close to my job as that is where I got stuck. The mechanic diagnosed and repaired the catalytic converter and intake exhaust. Not even 5 months later, the same problem occurred. I went back and they replaced the catalytic converter again but said that they did not know why the engine was running so "hot".
A few months later and after researching, I was notified of a class action lawsuit indicating that my vehicle was identified as consuming excessive oil due to piston ring wear issues. I contacted GM directly and was advised to take my car to the dealer where it was purchased. in the meantime, a new warning light came on indicating that I must idle the engine. I contacted the dealer alerted them to all of this and was told that my car was not under warranty for this. I went back to GM and shared what the dealer advised. They opened a case number for me to which the service department at the dealer told me that the number meant nothing to them.
It has now been 10 days and my car is still at the dealer awaiting a "diagnostic" check. I am getting the run around and now inconvenienced with additional travel expenses as this is my sole vehicle. I contacted the dealer once again this morning and was told they could not advise anything as the systems were down. I contacted them again this afternoon and was told to call back in 10 minutes. No one is taking this seriously and I feel that I am being avoided for an issue that they knew about when they sold me this LEMON!
- Jolie B., Carteret, US
It sucks when you have to keep adding oil between oil changes.
- Stephen M., Chatham, US
Last time I get a GMC. Dissatisfying. Don’t have the money to fix it.
- Javier H., Chicago, US
having to add 2 quarts between oil changes. there needs to be a recall
- Hans P., Seldovia, AK, US
At 95212 miles I had a timing chain failure while driving and had to have the engine rebuilt. I have 104560 miles on my Terrain now and I am using a quart of oil every 400 to 500 miles. No satisfaction what so ever from GM and don't know if I will replace this vehicle with another GM vehicle.
- Gene A., Bellaire, US
Pulling out of my driveway and the car stalls. Ok, could be nothing. Driving to the Dr. Shuts off. Stop at a red light, turns off. Turn it back on and stalls again. Do this 7 times in 2 miles. Not cool!!! Take it to the dealer, nope not covered under the special warranty. Well isn't that special!!! Call from dealer, its the intake something or another but is linked to the timing. Hmm imagine that! Like, really!!!
Good lord help me from going ape sh*t on these people!!!
- Dawn K., Green Bay, WI, US
I have had on and off issues regarding oil for quite some time. I have had to add oil on several occasions even shortly after oil changes. Didnt take to dealer because the warranty was up. However, the problem became so frequent where I was need to put oil in car weekly; which lead to car being towed to a GMC dealer. During the time in shop, I found out about the recall and call the service dept and was advised that it was not listed under my vin no. I told them that it didn't make sense, I have the same year, make and model with the exact same issue oil consumption with reason described in the recall. They stated it is based on the vin no. How can the be based on a individual vin with the same car is having the same issue. The has lead me to not being able to pay for the repairs that resulted from the oil consumption with the oil consumption not even being repair. So basically I would still have I cant afford the repairs and I still would he the oil consumption problem. For some reason would not allow me to key my vin no which is 2CTALME0B6414688 for this complaint.
- jlovett14, New Albany, US
My car has low mileage for a 2011. This is how I get back and forth to work. This is my only vehicle. Do not need the engine to go out since I am still paying for this vehicle. I get oil changes every 3 months whether I need them or not. The car company was absolutely no help at all. They just said to check if you have any warranty. Turns out one happen to expire in 2018 go figure. Had this company or if I knew this type or vehicles have this issue I would of never purchased it.
- Lisa C., Keshena, US
My truck was burning oil really bad, therefore after 2 months GM approved the replace the rings and pistons, in 2016, but I really think it was because the mileage was so low...Eventually, it started burning oil again...When I inquired I was advised not to worry because they replaced the rings and pistons already, but to just keep extra oil on hand, because that is just the way GM manufactured the motor...NO NEED TO WORRY!!!!
- Marie G., Monroe, US
Upon doing research to find out about the check engine light, I found that there are a number of complaints about excessive oil consumption for this year make and model. I called GM and guess what... the recall just ended 37 days ago. So the solution is to check my oil at least twice a week. Add oil when needed, and wait until I can afford to buy another one. But the good news is there is a special bulletin for the balance chain if you are under 120k miles so that did not cost me anything. GM products are the worse. I'm going back to a Ford as soon as I can afford it. I am very unhappy with them, :( but love my truck. I hate to get rid of it. But I will do research whenever I buy ANYTHING ELSE.
- Claudette B., Cleveland, OH, US
I bought this 2011 GMC Terrain about a year ago and had nothing but problems with it. The camshaft went bad in it while in New York and had to have it towed back for repairs. The oil has also been an issue since day one. I've been putting oil in it, like I drink water...
- Ronald M., Mentor, US
I got the Piston ring recall done and it's STILL burning oil at a rate of 1 quart every 2 weeks. GM really built a bad engine here. I have seen and read about many different solutions but the only one that I think will fix the problem is a new engine from GM at their cost. This was their mistake.
- Larry V., Aurora, IL, US