This service bulletin provides a procedure to flush and bleed power steering system to correct a power steering noise or fluid leak concern that is caused during extremely low temperatures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 GMC Terrain steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2010 GMC Terrain have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 90,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Terrain (this page) | 12 |
| 2011 Terrain | 15 |
| 2012 Terrain | 7 |
| 2013 Terrain | 14 |
| 2014 Terrain | 5 |
When does it fail?
Of the 12 steering complaints filed for the 2010 GMC Terrain, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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 12 model years of GMC Terrain in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 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 steering 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.
This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel which may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2010 GMC Terrains describe a pattern of steering and electrical system problems. Power steering loss or stiffening happens abruptly while driving—one owner nearly hit a wall and pedestrian in a parking garage when steering locked. Another owner reports steering friction during long highway drives per GM's Special Coverage Adjustment #14232A, but GM will not replace the steering gear until the condition fully manifests.
Intermittent warning light clusters appear without stored diagnostic codes: service power steering, StabiliTrak, ABS, brake service, and all-wheel-drive service lights all illuminate together, sometimes clearing on their own and sometimes requiring a restart. Dealerships report "miscommunication" with no fault codes to diagnose.
Engine stalling at stops or during city driving is reported multiple times across the narrative set, paired with check engine lights and reduced engine power warnings. One owner cites this as a known safety issue for the model year.
Additional complaints include sudden loss of throttle response on the freeway (engine decelerated from 46 mph to 5 mph without warning; throttle body replacement cost $540 out-of-warranty), severe shuddering during turns and U-turns, and a broken sway bar link discovered during tire rotation. Owner satisfaction with warranty claims and manufacturer responsiveness is low; GM has required extended documentation periods and evidence of failure before honoring coverage.
Same GMC Terrain steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Loss / Stiffness / Locking
Multiple owners report sudden loss of power steering while driving, steering wheel becoming stiff or locked, or service power steering warning lights appearing. In one case, power steering locked twice—the second time nearly causing a collision in a parking garage. Another owner reports increased friction in the steering system during long highway drives per Special Coverage Adjustment #14232A, with risk of steering wheel sticking in straight-ahead position. One owner reports steering became tight after engine replacement.
When: While driving on highways and city streets; one incident during parking garage entry
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering while driving; Steering wheel stiffens or locks; Service power steering warning light; Increased friction in steering system on straight highways; Steering wheel sticks in straight-ahead position
Codes mentioned: Service Power Steering light
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealership attributed a power steering lock to improper battery cable connection (adjusted, but issue recurred within one month). Another owner needed power steering pump and rack replacement at 140,000 miles. Per SCA #14232A, GM requires the condition to occur before replacing steering gear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: SCA #14232A (Power Steering) — GM will only replace steering gear after condition manifests; owner states GM would not provide clarity on whether issue worsens progressively or fails without warning. Dealership repair for battery cable connection on another vehicle.
Service Power Steering Warning Light with Electrical Issues
Owners report service power steering warning light appearing in conjunction with multiple other warning lights (stability control, ABS, brake service, all-wheel-drive service) and electrical system failures. Warning lights sometimes clear on their own; other times vehicle must be shut off and restarted. Dealership diagnostics show no stored codes, attributed to 'miscommunication.'
When: Intermittently during driving on city streets and highways; recurs multiple times over 2–3 weeks
Symptoms owners cite: Service power steering light illuminates; Multiple warning lights appear simultaneously (StabiliTrak, ABS, brake service, all-wheel-drive service); Temporary loss of power steering function; Sluggish acceleration; Lights clear without turning off vehicle or persist until vehicle is shut down
Codes mentioned: StabiliTrak service light, ABS light, Brake service light, All-wheel-drive service light, Service power steering light, No stored diagnostic codes at dealership
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership reports 'miscommunication' with no recorded codes; unable to diagnose intermittent issue.
Engine Stall at Stop / Reduced Engine Power
Vehicle stalls at complete stop or during city driving without warning. Stalling accompanied by check engine light, reduced engine power warning, and service StabiliTrak light. In one case, vehicle stalled twice at stops; in another, rough idle preceded stall. Owner cites this as known safety issue for 2010 Terrain model.
When: At stops and while driving on city streets
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls at complete stop; Vehicle stalls while driving on city street; Rough idle followed by stall; Check engine light; Reduced engine power warning; Service StabiliTrak light
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Reduced engine power warning, Service StabiliTrak light
Sudden Loss of Throttle Response / Limp Mode
Vehicle quickly decelerated from highway speed (46 mph) to 5 mph without warning and would not accelerate above 5 mph. Dealership diagnosed throttle body failure.
When: While driving on freeway
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden deceleration from 46 mph to 5 mph without warning; Unable to accelerate above 5 mph; Error light on dashboard
Codes mentioned: Throttle body fault
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement; owner reports cost of $540 was not covered under warranty.
Severe Shudder During Turns and U-Turns
Vehicle shudders severely when accelerating out of right or left turns, or during U-turn steering maneuvers. Shudder is felt throughout vehicle and described as alarming, feeling like loss of vehicle control or locked brakes. Owner reports spending over $1,000 attempting to address the problem.
When: During right/left turns and U-turn maneuvers
Symptoms owners cite: Hard shudder when accelerating out of turns; Shudder during U-turn steering; Shudder felt throughout vehicle; Feels like loss of vehicle control; Feels like brakes locked up
Repairs/costs cited: Owner spent over $1,000 on unspecified repairs attempting to resolve.
Broken Sway Bar Link
Dealership discovered sway bar link on driver front side broken in two during routine tire rotation. Owner has no indication of what caused the failure.
When: Discovered at routine tire rotation; all-wheel-drive model
Symptoms owners cite: Sway bar link broken in two on driver front side
Repairs/costs cited: Sway bar link replacement required.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
GMC special coverage adjustment #14159a took an unnecessarily long time to fix(over 6 months) because gm said the vehicle has to consume a certain amount of oil every 1000 miles for them to honor the vehicle. I was forced into driving the vehicle less to avoid causing further damage. The longer duration I drove it the more oil it would consume. Why would I keep driving a vehicle if the problem…
My car is idling when it suddenly begins to idle roughly then stalls. There is a "reduced engine power" warning that appears with the check engine light, and "service stabilitrak" with the stabilitrak light. This has happened 3 times, twice when the vehicle was stationary, another time in motion, driving on a city street, and I was able to pull over before it died. In reading other complaints,…
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2010 GMC Terrain?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 47,600 and 132,685 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,600; a quarter make it past 132,685. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.