I have to put oil in my car every 2 weeks. There are no leaks. The engine is burning oil.
2016 GMC Terrain engine problems
moderate 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
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 9 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
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.