This technical bulletin provides a procedure to Inspect harness, splice 6 wire pigtail connector. Replace Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) sensor on vehices that have the condition of Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) ON, Reduced Power Mode and DTCs
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 GMC Terrain cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2010 GMC Terrain have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 60,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Terrain (this page) | 10 |
| 2011 Terrain | 10 |
| 2012 Terrain | 7 |
| 2013 Terrain | 5 |
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 10 cruise control complaints filed for the 2010 GMC Terrain, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 7 model years of GMC Terrain in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Car and Truck Fix it Right the First Time Issues
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the cruise-control system (integrated with throttle/engine management) cutting out abruptly while driving, causing sudden loss of engine power and speed reduction to 25–30 mph without driver input. Dashboard warnings typically precede or accompany the issue: "Reduced Engine Power," "Service StabiliTrak," "Check Engine," and related warning lamps illuminate simultaneously. Some owners describe heavy idling and rough running before power loss; others note the vehicle briefly recovers after restart, only to fail again. A few incidents escalated to safety hazards—one owner reported the vehicle lunged forward from a stop and struck another car, injuring the other driver; another lost power in freeway rush-hour traffic at 70 mph.
Dealers and independent shops diagnose throttle body defects, exhaust cam solenoids, camshaft position actuators, and crankshaft/camshaft sensor faults. One transmission replacement was recommended for a separate loss-of-acceleration complaint. Repair costs cited range from $458 to $900+. Multiple owners report recurring failures on the same vehicle after repairs, and the pattern repeats across multiple 2010 Terrain units owned by the same household. Owners stress this problem is widespread among 2010 Terrain and Equinox models and should trigger a recall.
Same GMC Terrain cruise control reports on nearby years: 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Throttle body failure with engine power loss
Throttle body defect causes sudden loss of engine power and speed reduction to 25–30 mph. Dashboard displays 'Reduced Engine Power,' 'Service StabiliTrak,' and 'Check Engine' lights. Vehicle may recover temporarily after restart but failure repeats.
When: Reported at 40 mph, 55 mph, and freeway speeds; failures cluster within 2–3 year ownership window
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power with speed drop to 25–30 mph; No driver control over acceleration; Reduced Engine Power warning on dashboard; Service StabiliTrak light illuminates; Check Engine light; Heavy idling and RPM fluctuation; Vehicle may recover briefly after restart
Codes mentioned: Check Engine (specific codes not provided in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement cited at $458–$800+; often combined with camshaft/solenoid work
Exhaust cam solenoid and camshaft position actuator failure
Exhaust cam solenoid and camshaft position actuator defects trigger stalling, power loss, and warning lights. Owners report replacing these components multiple times on the same vehicle with persistent recurrence.
When: First reported at 500 miles; recurrences at 43,000–48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalling while driving; Check Engine light; Loss of engine power; Service StabiliTrak and related warning lights; Rough running and misfires after vehicle sits idle
Codes mentioned: Camshaft position sensor fault (mentioned in narrative #9)
Repairs/costs cited: Exhaust cam solenoid and camshaft position actuator replacement; repairs are repetitive and do not resolve the underlying issue on the same vehicle
Crankshaft and camshaft sensor fault
Crankshaft and camshaft sensor failures cause timing issues, rough idle, loss of power, and repeated warning light illumination. Mechanics note no diagnostic codes appear when scanned, complicating diagnosis.
When: Reported across 2016–2018 on same vehicle after initial 2010 model failures
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of engine power; Rough idle and misfires; Check Engine light; Service StabiliTrak and power steering warning lights; Timing issue (narrative #9); No codes present on computer scan (diagnostic paradox)
Codes mentioned: Crankshaft sensor fault, Camshaft sensor fault
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body, spark plugs, and camshaft replacement; total $1,000+ with recurrence within months
Transmission loss of power and acceleration failure
At 48,000 miles, vehicle failed to accelerate or reverse despite depressed accelerator pedal. Dealer diagnosed transmission replacement requirement.
When: 48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle failed to accelerate with pedal depressed; Vehicle failed to reverse; Loss of power
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement recommended; vehicle not repaired per narrative
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no recall or warranty coverage documented
Transmission shift anomaly and lurching (separate incident)
At 22,000 miles, vehicle abnormally skipped gears while accelerating from a stop, then lunged forward uncontrollably, striking a preceding vehicle. Driver of struck vehicle was injured.
When: 22,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal gear skipping at 5 mph; Uncontrolled forward lunge during acceleration; Vehicle collision resulting in injury to other driver
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; inspection details not provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not contacted per narrative; no recall
Service StabiliTrak with brake lockup and loss of power
Service StabiliTrak light illuminates accompanied by brake lockup lasting 2–8 hours and near-instant loss of engine power. Issue persists after four separate shop repairs, including dealership service.
When: Not specified; recurrence one week after dealership repair
Symptoms owners cite: Service StabiliTrak light; Brake lockup (2–8 hour duration); Loss of engine power almost instantly after warning light; Repeated failure after repair attempts
Codes mentioned: Service StabiliTrak code (specific code not stated)
Repairs/costs cited: Four separate repair attempts by different shops including dealership; underlying cause unresolved
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
2010 GMC terrain with v6 loss of power, engine codes timing issue, camshaft sensor fault, crankshaft sensor fault. Stabil-track fault. Rough idle, oil consumption. The list goes on. This is a common thing with these engines and gm has done nothing. This has been going on with this vehicle for awhile. Stay away from gm vehicles they do not stand behind there products, I will be buying a Ford and I…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 GMC terrain. The contact was driving 5 MPH when the vehicle began abnormally skipping gears. The contact was accelerating from a traffic stop when the vehicle abnormally lunged forward and caused the contact to crash into the rear of a preceding vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle was injured. A police report was available. The contact sustained substantial…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2010 GMC Terrain?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2010 GMC Terrain?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 46,786 and 83,137 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,786; a quarter make it past 83,137. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/GMC/Terrain.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.