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Common problems and reccomendations

21K views 22 replies 10 participants last post by  Toddsta 
#1 ·
New to the forum. Thanks for having me.
I'm in the market for either the NOX or Terrain. Either works for me but the Terrain has my eye. I'm wondering about common problems and stuff to stay away from. Looking to buy used, probably around a 2010 or 2011. I could do a 2009 for low miles. I see the I4 is a bit fussy for 2010 and 2011. Oil consumption and timing chain. What else are the common problems on these? I want FWD only so any known seal leaks?
And, if anyone is a mechanic or works on their own, How's the maintenance? Trans fluid change, Thermostat, PCV, cooler lines that kind of stuff. I'll do all my own work so any info up front would help. I see the TSB section but anything significant?
Thanks in advance
I looked all through the forum, great stuff.
 
#2 ·
shopsmith said:
New to the forum. Thanks for having me.
I'm in the market for either the NOX or Terrain. Either works for me but the Terrain has my eye. I'm wondering about common problems and stuff to stay away from. Looking to buy used, probably around a 2010 or 2011. I could do a 2009 for low miles. I see the I4 is a bit fussy for 2010 and 2011. Oil consumption and timing chain. What else are the common problems on these? I want FWD only so any known seal leaks?
And, if anyone is a mechanic or works on their own, How's the maintenance? Trans fluid change, Thermostat, PCV, cooler lines that kind of stuff. I'll do all my own work so any info up front would help. I see the TSB section but anything significant?
Thanks in advance
I looked all through the forum, great stuff.
09 Is a completely different vehicle than the 10
 
#5 ·
Agree with Darkside, get the V6 in 2010-2011 models, not all I-4s have problems, but why chance it. You don't say what your budget is or how many miles is the upper limit you're looking at.
 
#6 ·
I'm not married to a budget. Just know I'm buying used, between 2009 and 2011, with 30-40k miles. I'm aware the 2009 and 2010 are different beasts. Leaning towards 2010 on. Really trying to get a sense of the issues, like my 2007 cts has known trans cooler line failures and oil consumption. That kind of info would help. Any feeling people have about fuel filter (in tank?), pulling an intake stuff like that. I always put the car on a lift and check it over that way before I buy. I'm leaning v6 if 2012 or later, if I can afford a 2012 that it. They run 4-5 k more from what I see listed locally. Thanks again.
Oh, and do the 4 cyl in 2012 have the same oil and timing chain issues as 10-11?
 
#7 ·
We had an 08 Equinox before we traded it for the 2012. The wife drives most of the time now, she liked the 08 little better than the 12 but that's mainly because that was her baby before some jacka$$ rearended us.
 
#8 ·
Personally, I'd avoid the Terrain/Nox. Just spend a bit of time on these forums - they're turning out to be quite the problematic ****wagons. I'm one of many who sold their Terrain after just a few years of constant battles with their units.

That said, if you must, avoid the 2010 and 2011 at all costs. The 2.4L is turning out to have aweful reliability and major issues (odd, considering it's one of GM's common engines), and the old 3.0L V6 was not all that inspiring. The new 3.6 looks somewhat promising, though not overly well reviewed.

I don't want to poo poo on the parade, but seriously, they're not the most reliable cars on the planet. Move on. The Terrain/Nox is not GM's finest hour.
 
#9 ·
scottyyyc said:
Personally, I'd avoid the Terrain/Nox. Just spend a bit of time on these forums - they're turning out to be quite the problematic ****wagons. I'm one of many who sold their Terrain after just a few years of constant battles with their units.

That said, if you must, avoid the 2010 and 2011 at all costs. The 2.4L is turning out to have aweful reliability and major issues (odd, considering it's one of GM's common engines), and the old 3.0L V6 was not all that inspiring. The new 3.6 looks somewhat promising, though not overly well reviewed.

I don't want to poo poo on the parade, but seriously, they're not the most reliable cars on the planet. Move on. The Terrain/Nox is not GM's finest hour.
Not to rain on your parade, but I have a 4 cyl. '10 Nox and would do the same thing all over again in a heartbeat. :thumb:
 
#10 ·
I know I'm just fueling the fire...Neighbor's got a Nox and he couldn't be happier. Had it for years.

I'm aware of some issues, but not all. That said people slam and praise all makes of car depending on forum. So, I take it all with a grain. Thanks for the opinions though. Again, anyone take their Terrain/Nox apart? Ease of access to the spark plugs? Intake removal?
 
#11 ·
shopsmith said:
I know I'm just fueling the fire...Neighbor's got a Nox and he couldn't be happier. Had it for years.

I'm aware of some issues, but not all. That said people slam and praise all makes of car depending on forum. So, I take it all with a grain. Thanks for the opinions though. Again, anyone take their Terrain/Nox apart? Ease of access to the spark plugs? Intake removal?
As you are seeing, with any car, you will find both happy, and sad people - more sad people on forums - what is where unhappy owners look for solutions.

As far as plugs, the 4 cyl. is super easy. I haven't looked at the intake, and hope I never have to. I think that changing tranny fluid is involved, but not sure. Is is not needed often, if at all - if you don't tow anything.
 
#12 ·
Rit, how many miles do you have?
I'm buying the repair manual before I buy the car. I'm a bit of a mechanic so that should help me out. Not much of a mechanic, but a bit of one. I can then see the layout of everything. I mention the intake because my ford escape has the pcv valve below the intake. The intake removal is a real pain, like take out the radiator and the front support kinda pain. So, that said, that pcv will run til failure. Meanwhile my caddy requires 4 bolts to get the intake off....under there is where they put the thermostat. Stupid really, frequently changed parts buried under intakes.
 
#13 ·
I'm aware of some issues, but not all. That said people slam and praise all makes of car depending on forum. So, I take it all with a grain.
The most important thing is to look at the overall numbers. Of course you'll gets lots of happy people combined with lots of angry people on forums. Look at a product like an iPhone, which will sell 10 million units in the first 1-2 weeks. Even a really low problem/defect rate (say, .1%), still means that out of that 10 million people, you're going to have 10,000 busted products and angry people.

That said, it's looking like the numbers aren't stacking up great for the Terrain/Nox, not for the 10's and 11's at least. It's still a little early to tell on the 12's and 13's. The really freaky thing for me is how dealers and GM are treating these people. You want to treat your problem units and customers like rockstars, not spit in their faces and laugh at them. "Lol, your terrain burns through 5L of oil between changes? don't be mad bro, that's normal". It's **** like that that's dangerous.

But of course, your mileage (and oil consumption) will vary.
 
#16 ·
scottyyyc said:
The most important thing is to look at the overall numbers. Of course you'll gets lots of happy people combined with lots of angry people on forums. Look at a product like an iPhone, which will sell 10 million units in the first 1-2 weeks. Even a really low problem/defect rate (say, .1%), still means that out of that 10 million people, you're going to have 10,000 busted products and angry people.

That said, it's looking like the numbers aren't stacking up great for the Terrain/Nox, not for the 10's and 11's at least. It's still a little early to tell on the 12's and 13's. The really freaky thing for me is how dealers and GM are treating these people. You want to treat your problem units and customers like rockstars, not spit in their faces and laugh at them. "Lol, your terrain burns through 5L of oil between changes? don't be mad bro, that's normal". It's **** like that that's dangerous.

But of course, your mileage (and oil consumption) will vary.

My opinion, Iphone's are ****. I've had my Nox for almost a year. Drive the hell out of it, not a single issue. Forums tend to bring out those who have issues moreso than those who do not. It's a fact.
 
#17 ·
My 2012 I4 has had nothing but problems. I fill up the gas tank and 400 miles later it's empty! This has happened consistently over the past year. The dealer says it's "normal" for a car to burn gas when you drive it. Yeah right...GM will say anything rather than address an issue. To make matters worse, I tried to drag race a 'vette and lost. WTF?? I paid almost 30k for this car...it's a high end, high performance vehicle and it can't even beat a sports car. And once again, the dealer says "well it's not a sports car, it's a truck". Like that is some kind of excuse for why my car is slower than a 911. And why was I not told this before I purchased the car!!

When I demanded a new interior because the carpet in my Nox was not as thick as the carpet in my brother's 945, they said I was being unreasonable! Unreasonable?? Really?? Why shouldn't my carpet be as good as what you find in a 100k car?? Just because I paid less doesn't mean I should get less, I'm an American dammit!! :angryfire:

Same thing when I demanded a new engine. I even after I showed them that the internet agreed that the car was/would/possibly in the future be crap, they wouldn't budge. They just laughed and said...and you won't believe this..."you can't believe everything you read on the internet because for the most part only people who have problems post to message boards." :banghead:

In all seriousness, the long and short of buying ANY used car is a thorough inspection and complete service history. In forty years, I can only think of a handful of car models that I would say absolutely do not buy. The Yugo, whose electricals had a tendency to only work on one side of the vehicle at any given time, comes to mind.

So just do your homework OP and you will be fine. Other than the "issues" I mentioned, I have no complaints. :beer:
 
#18 ·
Eclipsed, I have all of the same problems, especially the gas problem, with my Cadillac. **** thing! Of course, when pressed about the interior I had to admit not much could be better.
I agree though, sometimes I get lucky and get a wrench head to respond and they can give specifics. Like really common failures etc. Certain switches, fittings etc. that's sort of what I was hoping for along with general impressions. Thanks for all the responses from everyone. I do consider the I4 a bit undersized but it shares the same oil consumption issue as the 3.6 from a couple years back. Not a deal breaker for me.
People tend to blame the cars, especially American cars. Truth is, after turning wrenches over the years I have maybe twice found one or two brands at a complete loss, VW comes to mind. Even then it's only for a few years and they trend better. So, I take it all with a grain. Most problems I see are from neglect. Cars can get a little sick or allotta sick depending on the care they get. And that's not brand specific.
 
#23 ·
scottyyyc said:
Personally, I'd avoid the Terrain/Nox. Just spend a bit of time on these forums - they're turning out to be quite the problematic ****wagons. I'm one of many who sold their Terrain after just a few years of constant battles with their units.

That said, if you must, avoid the 2010 and 2011 at all costs. The 2.4L is turning out to have aweful reliability and major issues (odd, considering it's one of GM's common engines), and the old 3.0L V6 was not all that inspiring. The new 3.6 looks somewhat promising, though not overly well reviewed.

I don't want to poo poo on the parade, but seriously, they're not the most reliable cars on the planet. Move on. The Terrain/Nox is not GM's finest hour.
Agree with Scottyyyc...... there are better choices out there....
 
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