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While Driving, Everything Shut Down - computer, engine, everything - twice

38K views 16 replies 15 participants last post by  JamesMyBoy 
#1 ·
We purchased a 2012 GMC Terrain about 5 months ago, with only about 3K miles on it. We were enjoying everything about the car.
Last week, my wife was driving home on I-95 at about 70 mph, when all of a sudden, the car completely shut off. The computer system shut down, the lights turned off, the gauges went to 0, and the engine turned off. The car immediately started slowing down and she was able to coast from the far left lane to the breakdown lane on the right. Thankfully, there was no traffic coming behind her as she would not have been able to speed up, or even signal that she was changing lanes.
After about 15 minutes, she tried starting the car up again, and it worked fine. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED!!!

We brought it to a local GMC dealership to take a look as to what would have triggered everything to shut down, but they couldn't find anything wrong with the car. Since the computer system did not provide any codes to show that it shut off, the mechanics were essentially useless. They basically said there's nothing they can do, but to contact them if it happens again. Well, what if it does happen again while she's driving on the highway but this time there's speeding traffic behind her?

Any ideas as to what could have caused this to happen, for a second time in 5 months? I don't want my wife driving around in a car that could randomly turn off at any given moment, but GMC has so far been of no help. Any recommendations as to what to do, other than wait for the next time this happens and pray that we're driving on an empty country road when it does?
 
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#2 ·
A company I worked for had a chevy that did the same thing. It shut down with no codes. The third time in a little over a year they found the problem was the computer itself. replaced and no more probs. Could be a possibility for your terrain.
 
#4 ·
PatrickEwing9999 said:
We purchased a 2012 GMC Terrain about 5 months ago, with only about 3K miles on it. We were enjoying everything about the car.
Last week, my wife was driving home on I-95 at about 70 mph, when all of a sudden, the car completely shut off. The computer system shut down, the lights turned off, the gauges went to 0, and the engine turned off. The car immediately started slowing down and she was able to coast from the far left lane to the breakdown lane on the right. Thankfully, there was no traffic coming behind her as she would not have been able to speed up, or even signal that she was changing lanes.
After about 15 minutes, she tried starting the car up again, and it worked fine. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED!!!

We brought it to a local GMC dealership to take a look as to what would have triggered everything to shut down, but they couldn't find anything wrong with the car. Since the computer system did not provide any codes to show that it shut off, the mechanics were essentially useless. They basically said there's nothing they can do, but to contact them if it happens again. Well, what if it does happen again while she's driving on the highway but this time there's speeding traffic behind her?

Any ideas as to what could have caused this to happen, for a second time in 5 months? I don't want my wife driving around in a car that could randomly turn off at any given moment, but GMC has so far been of no help. Any recommendations as to what to do, other than wait for the next time this happens and pray that we're driving on an empty country road when it does?
Hi there,

Have you spoken with anyone in GM Customer Service about this issue? If not, I'd definitely like to document the issue you've had with your vehicle losing power. I'd also like to look further into this to see if there are any service bulletins on this issue. Could you private message me your full name, address, and VIN so I can document your issue on file. If you have any further concerns please don't hesitate to reach out to us here on the forum.

Thanks

Amber N.
GM Customer Care
 
#5 ·
PatrickEwing9999 said:
We purchased a 2012 GMC Terrain about 5 months ago, with only about 3K miles on it. We were enjoying everything about the car.
Last week, my wife was driving home on I-95 at about 70 mph, when all of a sudden, the car completely shut off. The computer system shut down, the lights turned off, the gauges went to 0, and the engine turned off. The car immediately started slowing down and she was able to coast from the far left lane to the breakdown lane on the right. Thankfully, there was no traffic coming behind her as she would not have been able to speed up, or even signal that she was changing lanes.
After about 15 minutes, she tried starting the car up again, and it worked fine. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED!!!

We brought it to a local GMC dealership to take a look as to what would have triggered everything to shut down, but they couldn't find anything wrong with the car. Since the computer system did not provide any codes to show that it shut off, the mechanics were essentially useless. They basically said there's nothing they can do, but to contact them if it happens again. Well, what if it does happen again while she's driving on the highway but this time there's speeding traffic behind her?

Any ideas as to what could have caused this to happen, for a second time in 5 months? I don't want my wife driving around in a car that could randomly turn off at any given moment, but GMC has so far been of no help. Any recommendations as to what to do, other than wait for the next time this happens and pray that we're driving on an empty country road when it does?
Do you have a sunroof?
 
#8 ·
Are you sure you weren't driving a Chevy Cobalt?

Interesting that the computer system was reported to have caused this. Mine has (thankfully) never exhibited this behavior, but I must inquire given the Cobalt business: You are sure when you were able to stop that the key was still in the "run" position and had not been knocked out of place by your knee or something else?
 
#9 ·
That happened to me in 2012 Malibu that had about 6K on it. AT NIGHT. Luckily no traffic behind me either or it could have been bad since there was no way to signal distress. I was on a slight incline and was able to steer it off. I never found out exactly what it was but never drove that car again and got rid of it. Prior to it happening, the guages and everything went a little haywire earlier that day two times but didn't affect anything and it was quick and done, but I suspect it was the computer. A little scary that EVERYTHING relies on something that can fail like that. It was really scary.
 
#10 ·
Ralphalph said:
Are you sure you weren't driving a Chevy Cobalt?

Interesting that the computer system was reported to have caused this. Mine has (thankfully) never exhibited this behavior, but I must inquire given the Cobalt business: You are sure when you were able to stop that the key was still in the "run" position and had not been knocked out of place by your knee or something else?
When with the key is not in the ignition, you can still get interior lights. When this happens (as it happened to me in a Malibu) absolutely nothing works. No guages, no lights, no engie, NOTHING. It's like the car is just a shell and hasn't been finished being put together. It's obviously electrical/computer related and REALLY dangerous.
 
#11 ·
Today while driving my 2016 GMC Terrain the whole thing shut down, no codes or warning lights. Computer engine everything just stopped. Thankfully I was in a parking lot but now I have a trip planned the end of week and I’m scared that it will happen on the highway. Has anyone had any good ideas as to what could cause this.
 
#12 ·
I would start by having the battery load tested and clean the battery cables.
Just a week ago I replaced my original battery and negative battery cable.

I was getting some corrosion on the top of the neg cable so I ordered a new one.
When I pulled the cable off the battery I was surprised how much corrosion was on the bottom side.
Just once I lost all power like you did, that was enough for me.
 
#14 ·
As an update to post #12 in this thread, after the work done in 2019 it never happened again.
If I had to guess I would say it was the negatice cable.
Surprised at the amount of corrosion on the bottom of the negative terminal.
 
#16 ·
@davidsullivan00 : take @rednox301 's advice and clean your Battery connections. In Post #12 (2019) he said he experienced a similar power loss and ended up changing his NEG Battery Cable (as it had corrosion on the bottom). Two years later (2021) ... in Post #14 ... he came back to this Thread to report he hadn't had any further problems.
 
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