[Anduril]

I have found a 2016 GMC Terrain for sale that I'm thinking about buying. I got the carfax from the dealer and I noticed two transmission fluid changes kind of close together. The first time was at 75,589 miles and the second time was at 82,901 miles. This kind of concerns me that they are so close together. Does this year have any sort of major problems?

 

[repairman54]

2.4 engine or 3.6? 3.6 is the preferred engine.

 

[Anduril]

2.4 engine or 3.6? 3.6 is the preferred engine.

2.4

 

[chevy05]

The consensus is the 2.4 in itself is a time bomb. The transmission fluid should have been first changed before 50,000 miles. The the short interval does look suspicious. The transmission is not known for problems but the 2.4 engine is well documented to be a bad design. The 3.6 V6 is a much better engine but harder to find as fewer were built as it was a $1500 option in 2016 & 2017. I strongly urge people to look for the 2018 or newer 1.5 or 2.0 Twins as they appear to have a good track record.

 

[Colt Hero]

Two transmission fluid changes close together like that would definitely raise a red flag with me ... but then again ... there are so many other red flags already raised that it'd be hard to see it! LOL!

You don't want to purchase a vehicle and have to worry about its "major mechanicals" right out of the gate. With these 2.4's, the biggest concerns are:

1.) Oil Consumption: GM got sued for these Engines from model years 2010-2012, and early 2013's until they claimed the problem was rectified with new and improved Piston Rings in the late 2013 Model year run. This 2016 is supposed to have the N&I Rings, but do they really fix the problem?? We're not so sure. Maybe they just slow the problem down. If you buy this 2016, realize that you're signing up for pulling and checking its dipstick at least as often as you change your underwear ... to avoid getting caught with your pants down (i.e. NO OIL)!

2.) Transmission: Not really a major concern with these vehicles, but there have been some failures reported (and at shockingly low mileage). Is this 2016, with two recent fluid changes, about to join this club? How lucky do you feel, @Anduril !

3.) Cracked Exhaust Manifold: Not really a "major" problem, but a chronic one that will cost you a few hundred bucks to fix if yours cracks (and many seem to ... in the exact same place!)

4.) Frozen PCV and Rear Main Seal Blowout: If you're gonna drive this 2016 in a snow-belt state (or anywhere it gets cold for longer than a few minutes), you better get the special Oil Filler Cap with the "Breather" hole to make sure your 2016 doesn't suddenly, and catastrophically, blow out its Rear Main Seal and lose all of its Oil!

5.) Timing Chain: This one occurs when you run the Oil low on these 2.4L Engines. See #1 above.

That's 5 Red Flags!

How much are you expecting to pay for this (1 Flag short) Amusement Park Ride?

 

[Anduril]

Two transmission fluid changes close together like that would definitely raise a red flag with me ... but then again ... there are so many other red flags already raised that it'd be hard to see it! LOL!

You don't want to purchase a vehicle and have to worry about its "major mechanicals" right out of the gate. With these 2.4's, the biggest concerns are:

1.) Oil Consumption: GM got sued for these Engines from model years 2010-2012, and early 2013's until they claimed the problem was rectified with new and improved Piston Rings in the late 2013 Model year run. This 2016 is supposed to have the N&I Rings, but do they really fix the problem?? We're not so sure. Maybe they just slow the problem down. If you buy this 2016, realize that you're signing up for pulling and checking its dipstick at least as often as you change your underwear ... to avoid getting caught with your pants down (i.e. NO OIL)!

2.) Transmission: Not really a major concern with these vehicles, but there have been some failures reported (and at shockingly low mileage). Is this 2016, with two recent fluid changes, about to join this club? How lucky do you feel, @Anduril !

3.) Cracked Exhaust Manifold: Not really a "major" problem, but a chronic one that will cost you a few hundred bucks to fix if yours cracks (and many seem to ... in the exact same place!)

4.) Frozen PCV and Rear Main Seal Blowout: If you're gonna drive this 2016 in a snow-belt state (or anywhere it gets cold for longer than a few minutes), you better get the special Oil Filler Cap with the "Breather" hole to make sure your 2016 doesn't suddenly, and catastrophically, blow out its Rear Main Seal and lose all of its Oil!

5.) Timing Chain: This one occurs when you run the Oil low on these 2.4L Engines. See #1 above.

That's 5 Red Flags!

How much are you expecting to pay for this (1 Flag short) Amusement Park Ride?

The two transmission changes was the deal breaker for me. I'm looking at a 2016 Chevy Traverse. I haven't found many things wrong with them.

 

[RIT333]

Good summary Colt. Maybe you can sell it to a competitor.

 

[Crankme69]

If GM had conscience all those equinox’s that get traded in with the 2.4 would be sent to the crusher! Dam shame

 

[handydoctor]

I'm one of those very rare ones who are happy with a 2.4L. To this day, I have never replaced even one part on my entire car, except regular maintenance. I did recently put an fc219 oil cap on it and put an oil catch can(waste of money on this one) 2 years ago.

That being said, I recommend against a 2.4L because of what I heard and read. At the very least, whichever one you buy must have perfect maintenance records. If not, just forget about it. With good maintenance habits though, it isn't too bad. Maybe I'm lucky, 😂.

 

[Colt Hero]

@handydoctor , @Crankme69 : yeah ... I've said this before here ... anytime I've crossed paths with an Equinox or Terrain 2.4L owner, I ask them how they like the vehicle ... and they always have this beaming look on their face as they proceed to tell me how much they absolutely love it ... so they're definitely not all bad!

Or maybe I'm just being lied to ...

 

[Crankme69]

I have some friends and family that are running the 2.4 Nox but I would never recommend anyone buy one. And I always suggest to anyone who has one to install the revised oil cap. But I have never recommended to anyone that ask to buy one ever ☀

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then 🥜

 

[handydoctor]

If I'm not purely lucky, I think maintenance is really the key that makes the difference. And I don't mean just following the manual. I in fact don't. My other car asks for replacement of brake fluid every 2 years and I call that bullshit. At the same time, antifreeze and ATF are life time, . You need to do it with a working brain. You need to know what you are doing. Here is the problem. Most stores Joe Sixpacks go to don't know what they are doing, many dealerships included. I have had horrible experience with pretty much all dealerships running across a few manufactures. So you go figure.

Of course, some cars can tolerate quite a lot of abuses but not this one. And yes, that's GM's fault.

 

[Anduril]

If I'm not purely lucky, I think maintenance is really the key that makes the difference. And I don't mean just following the manual. I in fact don't. My other car asks for replacement of brake fluid every 2 years and I call that bullshit. At the same time, antifreeze and ATF are life time, . You need to do it with a working brain. You need to know what you are doing. Here is the problem. Most stores Joe Sixpacks go to don't know what they are doing, many dealerships included. I have had horrible experience with pretty much all dealerships running across a few manufactures. So you go figure.

Of course, some cars can tolerate quite a lot of abuses but not this one. And yes, that's GM's fault.

I've come to the conclusion that most people don't take care of cars like they should. In all my research, it seems like most newer engines run a very thin oil and people don't keep an eye on it enough which leads to a lot of problems. I have a feeling most everyone just relies on a light on the dashboard to remind them. I just watch the mileage.

 

[repairman54]

The 2 largest investments people make in their lives are houses and cars. And quite frankly quite a few do not take care of either one of them. Just my observation of doing on site service for decades in my previous life.
Houses in disrepair can only imagine the vehicles.
You will not believe how many are too lazy to even change a smoke detector battery, every minute low battery alert beeping and still doing it a week later when returning to install an ordered part.

 

[Anduril]

The 2 largest investments people make in their lives are houses and cars. And quite frankly quite a few do not take care of either one of them. Just my observation of doing on site service for decades in my previous life.
Houses in disrepair can only imagine the vehicles.
You will not believe how many are too lazy to even change a smoke detector battery, every minute low battery alert beeping and still doing it a week later when returning to install an ordered part.

I have been searching every car dealer in a hundred miles. Getting reports. Reading reviews. Seems like every vehicle is junk (which I find hard to believe). I feel like I am doing lots of homework before I buy. It's almost overwhelming. I'm sure some people just do a test drive and that's it. I might go test drive a 2016 Traverse today and see if I like it (I'm also asking for reviews on a Traverse forum). I'm terrified about buying one and getting stuck with expensive repairs.

 

[handydoctor]

I have been searching every car dealer in a hundred miles. Getting reports. Reading reviews. Seems like every vehicle is junk (which I find hard to believe). I feel like I am doing lots of homework before I buy. It's almost overwhelming. I'm sure some people just do a test drive and that's it. I might go test drive a 2016 Traverse today and see if I like it (I'm also asking for reviews on a Traverse forum). I'm terrified about buying one and getting stuck with expensive repairs.

Pretty much every model, there would be lots of complaints. Not too many exceptions. Even for those exceptions, their owners may still put a lot of money into repair but because everyone else says it's bulletproof, they dare not say it anymore. Some of my friends driving those reliable cars get huge repair bills all the time.

Besides this 2013 2.4L, we used to own a 2011 mini cooper. If you google it, this is pretty much the last car you should buy. We had it for 9 years and the only thing we replaced was a camshaft position sensor, big bill of 8 bucks, lol. The timing chain tensioner did become loose, a typical problem. Huge disaster was going to happen soon but you have to be blind not to notice oil on the garage floor. I didn't even know that was a typical problem when I saw the oil. I just googled "mini cooper oil passenger side" and it immediately got me to the answer. Tightened it and problem solved. If this was someone else, yes, the engine would be gone soon and this would be horrible car. I still blame Mini for this of course but to me, this wasn't that big a deal.

 

[Anduril]

Pretty much every model, there would be lots of complaints. Not too many exceptions. Even for those exceptions, their owners may still put a lot of money into repair but because everyone else says it's bulletproof, they dare not say it anymore. Some of my friends driving those reliable cars get huge repair bills all the time.

Besides this 2013 2.4L, we used to own a 2011 mini cooper. If you google it, this is pretty much the last car you should buy. We had it for 9 years and the only thing we replaced was a camshaft position sensor, big bill of 8 bucks, lol. The timing chain tensioner did become loose, a typical problem. Huge disaster was going to happen soon but you have to be blind not to notice oil on the garage floor. I didn't even know that was a typical problem when I saw the oil. I just googled "mini cooper oil passenger side" and it immediately got me to the answer. Tightened it and problem solved. If this was someone else, yes, the engine would be gone soon and this would be horrible car. I still blame Mini for this of course but to me, this wasn't that big a deal.

I believe lots of issues are caused by people ignoring obvious signs. It's hard for me to tell the difference between common problems and user error.

 

[Colt Hero]

I'm terrified about buying one and getting stuck with expensive repairs.

I know I would be! The only used car I'd consider buying is one off someone I knew personally. We had a co-worker here for years who'd buy a new Toyota Avalon every 4 years (cash). He'd drive it 100,000 miles, do the oil changes, but that's about it. I remember him bragging about "never doing anything" to any of these vehicles ... no Battery (for sure) ... and no Tires (that I could remember ... but I wonder how he made it to 100,000 on one set of tires?).

Anyway ... I would've trusted one of those to buy used because I knew the person and the history of the vehicle (he drove 40-45 minutes each way to work each day ... all highway). But when you're buying some random vehicle ... boy ... you better know what to look for ... or you're probably going to be in for a big surprise ... because people love to dump their vehicles when they feel like a big bill is coming! So - you're doing the right thing with all the "research", but then you also need to check the health of the "major mechanicals" (Engine and Transmission) ... because those are where the "big bills" come from!

Transmissions are kind of mysterious ...all buttoned up ... you never know what might be going on in there with all those tiny parts and plates. It's really a miracle that they don't fail more often than they do. To checkout a Transmission, you kind of need combine "research" with "feel" while test-driving the vehicle. And check the Fluid, of course. But still ... you can get burned here because all Fluids gets changed prior to sale ... and who knows if someone had been using the vehicle to tow a trailer up Mt Washington (NH), or just hadn't been changing the Fluid right up to the point of dumping the vehicle! Maybe look under the rear bumper to see if there was once a Hitch installed ... and just decide that you won't buy one if it did. Oh ... and then there's "All-Wheel-Drive" and those added complications. Ugh!

But the Engine can reveal more than a Transmission (I think). You can do a Compression Test. You can do an Emissions Test (to see what's coming out the tailpipe). You can check the Fluids much easier (even if they have been recently changed). You can read the OBD Port (after a Test Drive). I certainly wouldn't be bashful. You have to assume that any unknown seller of a Used Vehicle is trying to "pull a fast one" on you ... and your job is to do the most exhaustive checkout you can to keep that from happening. Hopefully, you're not in a rush and can take your time.

Good Luck!