YearToAvoid

2011 GMC Terrain Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 76 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 GMC Terrain, 20% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 74,500. No related recalls are on file for this problem area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
76
20% of 386
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
74,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report hard jerking or lunging when shifting from first to second gear at low speeds, often starting within the first few hundred to few thousand miles.
  • Several describe erratic or hesitant shifting in stop-and-go traffic, with the transmission delaying before engaging the correct gear.
  • Some owners report violent jerking or sputtering during acceleration between roughly 18 and 40 mph.
  • Multiple complaints describe unexpected stalling while idling, in drive, or in reverse, sometimes happening repeatedly within days.
  • Dealers frequently told owners the jerky or hard shifting was normal operation, even after repeated visits and software updates.
  • One owner linked the jerky transmission and hesitation to lower-than-rated fuel economy and rough engine running.

When 2011 GMC Terrain transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 1, 2010, latest Jan 1, 2024.

2011 GMC Terrain transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter52010 Q42012 Q42015 Q22016 Q42018 Q12019 Q32020 Q42022 Q3
76 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q4 to 2024 Q1; peak 2019 Q1 (5).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2011 GMC Terrain

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Terrain model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201051 (18%)
  2. 201176 (20%)
  3. 201237 (10%)
  4. 201344 (12%)
  5. 201433 (11%)
  6. 201521 (7%)
  7. 201611 (7%)
  8. 201723 (17%)
  9. 201841 (19%)
  10. 201951 (28%)
  11. 202028 (14%)
  12. 20218 (23%)
  13. 20228 (13%)
  14. 20237 (18%)
  15. 202421 (43%)
  16. 20254 (31%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2011 GMC Terrain have?
NHTSA lists 76 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 Terrain, which is 20% of all 386 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2011 GMC Terrain?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to the Transmission & Powertrain complaints for this year.
At what mileage do transmission problems usually show up on the 2011 Terrain?
The median mileage at failure among reported complaints is 74,500 miles, though several owners reported jerking and hesitation appearing much earlier.
Did the transmission issues cause crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records 0 crashes but 5 injuries linked to complaints in this area for the 2011 Terrain.
Is the 2011 Terrain worse than other years for transmission issues?
Among model years listed, 2011 has the highest complaint count in this area at 76, compared to 51 in 2010 and 37 in 2012, suggesting it stands out relative to other Terrain years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.