This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 GMC Terrain engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 GMC Terrain have filed 34 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 70,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Terrain | 114 |
| 2013 Terrain | 152 |
| 2014 Terrain | 93 |
| 2015 Terrain | 62 |
| 2016 Terrain (this page) | 34 |
| 2017 Terrain | 57 |
| 2018 Terrain | 18 |
| 2019 Terrain | 17 |
| 2020 Terrain | 18 |
What stands out
Owners have filed 34 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Engine accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 10 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 GMC Terrain with the 2.4L engine describe chronic excessive oil consumption—burning through a quart or more every two weeks, or consuming all oil between scheduled oil changes despite no visible leaks. Many report being forced to add oil repeatedly between services. This consumption frequently goes unwarned by the dashboard; owners state the oil light did not illuminate until levels dropped dangerously low, or never came on at all.
Owners allege a cascade of related failures: PCV valve restriction causing overpressurization; rear main seal failure resulting in catastrophic oil loss; timing chain degradation; and piston ring defects. These issues have led to engine seizing, stalling without warning during highway driving, loss of power, violent shaking and vibration, knocking or grinding noise, and ultimately engine failure requiring replacement at costs ranging from $9,000 to $11,000.
Critical to owners is the sudden, unwarned nature of failure. Multiple complainants state they received no warning lights before power loss or shutdown, creating hazardous highway conditions. One owner reports the vehicle stalled mid-rush-hour traffic; another lost power merging onto a busy highway. Owners cite GM's prior recalls for 2010–2014 model years on the same engine and component defects, yet no recall for 2016 models despite similar complaints. Owners emphasize the defect is widespread and well-documented on consumer forums.
Same GMC Terrain engine reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive oil consumption
Owners report the engine burns oil at an abnormal rate without visible leaks. Consumption rates cited range from complete oil loss between scheduled services (5,000-7,000 mile intervals) to requiring a quart every two weeks. Dashboard warning lights typically do not illuminate until oil reaches critically low levels, or fail to warn at all.
When: Occurs across mileage range; reported as early as 12,000 miles and through 104,000 miles. Often worsens over time.
Symptoms owners cite: Burning smell from engine; Oil dipstick reads empty or no oil reading despite recent oil changes; Need to add multiple quarts of oil between service intervals; No warning lights or late warning after dangerous depletion
Codes mentioned: P0014
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite faulty piston rings and PCV system issues as diagnosed causes. Engine replacement required in most cases; costs reported at $9,000–$11,000.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM reportedly denied goodwill assistance in at least one case. Owners note GM issued recalls for model years 2010–2014 with the same engine and defect, claiming production changes in 2013 fixed the issue, but 2016 models exhibit identical failures. No recall issued for 2016 model year as of complaint dates.
PCV valve restriction and overpressurization
Owners report diagnosis of PCV valve blockage or freeze, causing excessive engine pressure that ruptures the rear main seal. One mechanic told an owner the restriction led to overpressurization and main rear seal burst, expelling all oil.
When: Timing varies; one report at approximately 70,000 miles; another at 75,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding or knocking noise from engine; Hard acceleration or loss of power; Burning engine smell; Rear main seal failure and oil loss
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis reported by independent mechanics and dealerships. One owner was quoted for engine replacement without specific PCV repair cost.
Rear main seal failure
Owners report rear main seal rupture or blow-out, resulting in rapid oil loss and engine failure. Multiple complaints describe this as a known defect; one owner references a lawsuit settlement due to a faulty rear seal. Failures occur without warning.
When: Reported at mileage ranging from approximately 65,000 to 104,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking or knocking noise from engine; Rapid oil drainage; Oil dripping from undercarriage; Loss of power or engine stalling; No warning lights until oil critically low
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement necessary; costs reported at $9,000–$11,000. One owner reported rear seal replacement did not prevent subsequent oil in timing and engine failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners report dealerships acknowledging the defect as 'factory defect' but declining recall. One dealership blamed overpressurization from PCV restriction.
Timing chain failure
Owners report timing chain degradation or complete failure, causing engine to stop running. At least two owners were told by dealerships that timing chain failure occurred; one at 80,000 miles, another at 104,000 miles.
When: Reported at 80,000 and 104,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power while driving; Vehicle stalls at highway speed; Low compression in engine (reported in one case); Check engine light and reduced power warning
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; $9,000 estimate provided in one case.
Engine shaking and vibration
Owners report violent or abnormal shaking and vibration, particularly during acceleration or idle. One owner states the entire engine shakes violently when accelerating; another reports shaking during idle and stalling.
When: Reported across various mileage; one case indicates issue worsened over several years.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent or abnormal shaking during acceleration; Vibration from front of vehicle; Jerking when stopped; Engine seizing or stalling
Codes mentioned: P0014
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports estimated $2,000 repair for known issue; others report engine replacement needed.
Unwarned loss of power and stalling
Owners describe sudden loss of motive power and engine shutdown without prior warning lights. Multiple incidents occurred at highway speeds, creating dangerous conditions. Owners emphasize no check engine light or warning illuminated until after failure or not at all.
When: Reported at various mileages and in unexpected situations (e.g., merging onto highway, during rush-hour traffic).
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power while driving; Engine stalls without warning; All dashboard lights illuminate only after failure (in some cases); Reduced power warning appearing only after stall begins; Low oil pressure warning appearing after stall (in some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Underlying causes diagnosed as rear main seal failure, low oil, or timing chain failure. Engine replacement required.
Metal debris in oil and engine degradation
One owner reports discovery of metal flakes in the oil filter during diagnosis, indicating internal engine damage from the PCV/rear main seal failure cascade. Engine deemed non-salvageable.
When: At approximately 91,000 miles in the reported case.
Symptoms owners cite: Metal flakes visible in oil filter; Loud engine noise; Burning smell; Difficulty accelerating
Repairs/costs cited: Metal debris indicates internal failure; engine replacement required.
Synthesized from 34 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I have to put oil in my car every 2 weeks. There are no leaks. The engine is burning oil.
This is a 2016 GMC all wheel Terrain. Over the past several years when accelerating the car would shake violently, because we could not reenact dealership could not diagnose the problem ,however as the issue has gotten worse we have been able to recreate and diagnose AND we are looking at a $2,000 repair based on a known ISSUE which DID NOT lead to a recall. The ACTUAL ENGINE IN ITS ENTIRETY…
The engine - My engine blew because oil evaporated out of the #1 cyclinder, which drained the oil. No warning lights went on and the vehicle stalled in the middle of rush hour traffic. The dealership told me it was because of a factory defect, but no recall on that part of the vehicle. This could have been much worse if the vehicles behind me were going faster than they were and not able to stop…
Had engine trouble with your 2016 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 engine problem on the 2016 GMC Terrain?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 34 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 30,000 and 84,394 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 84,394. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2016/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.