YearToAvoid

2017 GMC Terrain Engine Problems

Engine complaints account for 79 of 133 total complaints (59%) filed for the 2017 GMC Terrain, the highest share of any year in the lineup. Owners report rear main seal failures causing oil loss, sudden power loss, and stalling, with a median failure mileage of 82,500. No related recalls are listed.

Engine complaints
79
59% of 133
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
82,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Rear main seal fails and leaks oil out of the engine, often triggering a low oil pressure warning with no earlier indication of a problem.
  • Vehicle loses motive and electrical power suddenly at low speeds, sometimes restarting on its own.
  • "Reduced engine power" and "service stabilitrak" warnings appear together on the highway, causing jerking and slow acceleration.
  • Engine consumes oil at an accelerated rate, noticed as low oil levels shortly after a dealer oil change.
  • Intake manifold and PCV system clogging is described as building pressure that pushes out the rear main seal, especially in cold weather.
  • One case involved a power steering assembly fire that led to engine malfunction while driving at highway speed.

When 2017 GMC Terrain engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 29, 2021, latest Mar 29, 2026.

2017 GMC Terrain engine complaints: complaints filed per month9Jan 2021Mar 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Feb 2025Jun 2025Dec 2025
79 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2021 to Mar 2026; peak Jan 2024 (9).

Engine recalls for the 2017 GMC Terrain

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Terrain model year

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

  1. 2010126 (43%)
  2. 2011207 (54%)
  3. 2012179 (49%)
  4. 2013206 (57%)
  5. 2014130 (44%)
  6. 201583 (28%)
  7. 201648 (32%)
  8. 201779 (59%)
  9. 201858 (26%)
  10. 201976 (41%)
  11. 202067 (34%)
  12. 202111 (31%)
  13. 202213 (22%)
  14. 202316 (41%)
  15. 202413 (27%)
  16. 20253 (23%)

Frequently asked questions

Are 2017 GMC Terrain engine problems common?
Yes. Engine complaints make up 79 of the 133 total complaints filed for the 2017 Terrain, or 59% of all complaints for that model year, one of the highest shares among Terrain model years.
What is the most reported engine issue on the 2017 GMC Terrain?
Owners most often describe rear main seal failures that leak oil out of the engine, along with sudden loss of power or stalling while driving.
Is there a recall for the 2017 GMC Terrain engine?
NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to this engine complaint category for the 2017 Terrain.
At what mileage do 2017 GMC Terrain engine problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine complaint category is 82,500 miles.

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.