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2010 GMC Truck Terrain

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2010 Terrain.

The 2010 GMC Terrain is the first model year of the nameplate's 2010–2018 complaint record, a vehicle whose routine servicing specifies 5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. It logged 295 owner complaints and three recalls, with the engine standing out as the top complaint area, a pattern that frames the early-reliability conversation for this generation. Compared with the broader run, 2010 falls short of the 2011 high-water mark of 397 complaints while remaining above the 2017 low of 133, positioning it as a moderate, first-year data point rather than the generation's most troubled entry.

Model year2024 2023 2020 2018 2010

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12690386. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Tire sizeP225-65R17OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12690386 alt 12580255
Engine air filter	23335811
Spark plug	12681660 alt 12681658
Battery	88866271 alt 88866291
Front wiper blades	19432580 alt 19432579
Serpentine belt	12636138 alt 12634319
Thermostat	03522676 alt 12622410
Cabin air filter	20901295

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	4.2-6.4
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	2.0 qt
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	10 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	NVG900: 11.0, Gertag 760: 29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	NVG900: 18.0, Gertag 760: 29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	151 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	151 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.43 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	4.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	48

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Injector Primary Resistance	1.9-2.3 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	1.9-2.3 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi
Engine Compression	140 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure	30-70 psi

Brakes

Minimum Pad Thickness

0.080

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 100 ft. lbs., step 3: 150

74 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. · M11 Bolts

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	150 degrees; M8 Bolts	150 degrees
1	11.0 ft. lbs.	11 ft. lbs
2	75 degrees	75 degrees

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

10.3 ft. lbs., Step 2: 10.3

10.3 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 17

17 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2010 GMC Truck Terrain lead in one area — the engine, 54 of 295 reports (18%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the engine, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 10 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

295

Owner complaints

10 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’10’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 295 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine54

Visibility/Wiper28

Power Train22

Air Bags14

Electrical System12

Unknown Or Other11

Visibility10

Power Train,Engine9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V447000Seats:Front Assembly:Power AdjustReported 23/07/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014…

09V489000Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac SystemReported 23/12/2009

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPUTER MODULE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Terrain. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 47 battery Vehicles taking 5 qt Engine oil filter 12690386 Engine air filter 23335811 Spark plug 12681660 Battery 88866271

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2010 Terrain take?

5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2010 Terrain have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.