2014 GMC Terrain Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 301 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 2 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2014 GMC Terrain receives a 5/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 301 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 2 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports with a median failure point at 50,249 miles (IQR: 2,000 – 82,500 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $950 – $3,200 .
35.4 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
2 Active / Free Remedies
2014 Terrain Failure Distribution by Vehicle Subsystem
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“My husband just did an at home oil change on the car not long before the incident. Unfortunately my car was barely under 3,000 miles since the oil change and we were going to change the oil again when my engine died mid drive on the way home. There was no oil in the car due to...”
“I purchased this in March of 2025. 2 or 3 weeks after I bought this I took it to an oil lube shop and they said there was not any oil on the.dip stick. Also I started noticing the car being jerky while driving and when shutting it off it sputters. I took it to Max motors, a GM...”
“The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and hesitating abnormally. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the piston rings were damaged, the hi...”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“Tensioner issues keeps breaking the timing chain. . Replaced twice at own cost. Fuel pump/ loss of power while driving. Back up camera doesn't work sometimes. Screen goes black. If key is left in the ignition it starts itself. If you try to use a car charger for a phone the AC...”
“Vehicle is consuming excessive amount of oil in short drive time up to 3qt in less than 1000 miles. With no oil leaks. Vehicle only has 139840 miles. Has regular oil changes and services done.”
“I have a 2014 GMC Terrain with less than 70k miles on the vehicle. I took the truck to the mechanic and was advised the power belts were no good. Why is this? The truck has no mileage on it basically for a 2014, I have a 2011 Chevy with more miles than this truck and its power...”
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“ABS Brake problem and have tried to get it repaired for over 3 months and cannot seem to be able to get the part and call GM with no help. Can not tell me when or where to buy the part. Nobody seems to be able to get a new part and no help from GM. If there is this many proble...”
“Tensioner issues keeps breaking the timing chain. . Replaced twice at own cost. Fuel pump/ loss of power while driving. Back up camera doesn't work sometimes. Screen goes black. If key is left in the ignition it starts itself. If you try to use a car charger for a phone the AC...”
“The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, and the steering wheel was locked. A tow truck driver was able to start the vehicle after several attempts. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the re...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“My husband just did an at home oil change on the car not long before the incident. Unfortunately my car was barely under 3,000 miles since the oil change and we were going to change the oil again when my engine died mid drive on the way home. There was no oil in the car due to...”
“ABS Brake problem and have tried to get it repaired for over 3 months and cannot seem to be able to get the part and call GM with no help. Can not tell me when or where to buy the part. Nobody seems to be able to get a new part and no help from GM. If there is this many proble...”
“My check engine light would come on, the oil dipstick would be dry and multiple misfire codes happened. This went on multiple times because of oil consumption. I would pull over and call AAA to tow my car. Driving while the oil is low is damaging parts in my car, causing loss ...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while at a complete stop at a red light, the doors were making locking and unlocking sounds. The contact stated upon depressing the accelerator pedal to resume driving, the vehicle failed to exceed 25 MPH. The messages "S...”
“The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, and the steering wheel was locked. A tow truck driver was able to start the vehicle after several attempts. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the re...”
“On December 26, 2022, my son and I were on our way to Indianapolis, Indiana from Anderson, Indiana. When we were about to the end of going through Ingalls, I noticed that my check engine light went off. I pulled over within 3 to 5 miles within notification of my engine light g...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“The contact owned a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light a vehicle one rear-ended the vehicle. This caused the contact to crash into in front of her. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound l...”
“None of the Airbags deployed in my 2014 GMC TERRIAN when I was in an accident.was struck very hard on rear passenger side spun around and hit a tree head one.”
“I was in a pretty nasty single vehicle accident. I had my seatbelt on and it DID NOT LOCK on impact as should. It was like I didn’t even have a seatbelt on. I had free range of motion which meant I was pretty much just being bounced around with the airbags and could of went th...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“I purchased this in March of 2025. 2 or 3 weeks after I bought this I took it to an oil lube shop and they said there was not any oil on the.dip stick. Also I started noticing the car being jerky while driving and when shutting it off it sputters. I took it to Max motors, a GM...”
“The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and hesitating abnormally. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the piston rings were damaged, the hi...”
“Tensioner issues keeps breaking the timing chain. . Replaced twice at own cost. Fuel pump/ loss of power while driving. Back up camera doesn't work sometimes. Screen goes black. If key is left in the ignition it starts itself. If you try to use a car charger for a phone the AC...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (2)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2014 GMC Terrain
Before purchasing a used 2014 GMC Terrain, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 2 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2014 GMC Terrain
Is the 2014 GMC Terrain a reliable used car?
The 2014 GMC Terrain earns a 5/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 301 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2014 GMC Terrain?
The leading complaint category is Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports, with a median failure point around 50,249 miles (IQR: 2,000 – 82,500 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2014 GMC Terrain?
Yes, the NHTSA records 2 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.