2011 Chevrolet TRAVERSE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Chevrolet TRAVERSE has 945 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 11.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: car shakes and vibrates when stopped at stop signs and lights. car suddenly came to a completely halt. was able to get help and move it to shoulder. was able to start the car later in the day and drive to the dealer. dealer mentioned that 4 cylinders are misfiring. surprised that a car only 9 months. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 20 crash reports 26 injuries

945

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

11.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

213 complaints

23%

• CAR SHAKES AND VIBRATES WHEN STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A COMPLETELY HALT. WAS ABLE TO GET HELP AND MOVE IT TO SHOULDER. WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR LATER IN THE DAY AND DRIVE TO THE DEALER. DEALER MENTIONED THAT 4 CYLINDERS ARE MISFIRING. SURPRISED THAT A CAR ONLY 9 MONTHS
• CALL VIBRATES AND SUDDENLY CAME TO A HALT. WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR TO SHOULDER. PRIOR TO THIS I NOTICED THE CAR WAS SHOWING ME A RPM INDICATOR ON 2 AND 3 EVEN WHEN IN PARKED CONDITION, SCARY. MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT CYLINDER ARE MISFIRING, ABOUT 3 TO 4 OF THEM
• THE VEHICLE ALWAYS ROLL BACKS WHEN YOU ARE STOPPED ON A SLOPE. THIS HAPPENS TO ME AT ALL TIMES WHEN I AM PICKING UP KIDS FROM SCHOOL AND HAVE A STOP SIGN AT A SLOPE. THE SLOPE IS NOT VERY STEEP AND OTHER CAR I HAVE DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. JUST BIZZARE THAT YOU REALLY HAVE TO ACCELERATE YOUR WAY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“CAR SHAKES AND VIBRATES WHEN STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A COMPLETELY HALT. WAS ABLE TO GET HELP AND MOVE IT TO SHOULDER. WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR LATER IN THE DAY AND DRIVE TO THE DEALER. DEALER MENTIONED THAT 4 CYLINDERS ARE MISFIRING. SURPRISED THAT A CAR ONLY 9 MONTHS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

165 complaints

17%

• PULLLING UP TO THE AIRPORT PARKING AS I WAS GETTING MY TICKET TO ENTER THE PARKING LOT THE GATE OPEN AND I STEP ON THE GAS TO CONTINUE WHEN THE TRUCK SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT BEING IN BETWEEN TWO BARRIERS THE TRUCK DID HAD MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE RIGHT BUMPER WHEN IT SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT I COULD NOT GO F
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A TURN WHEN HE HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ST
• I FIRST TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO JIM BALL PONTIAC A GM CERTIFIED DEALER IN ORCHARD PARK, NY BECAUSE OF A WHINING NOISE BY ENGINE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A LEAK IN POWER STEERING BOX AND SERVICED IT. THE. EXT DAY AFTER I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING UP TO AN INTERSECTION TO MAKE A LEFT AND THE VEHI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“PULLLING UP TO THE AIRPORT PARKING AS I WAS GETTING MY TICKET TO ENTER THE PARKING LOT THE GATE OPEN AND I STEP ON THE GAS TO CONTINUE WHEN THE TRUCK SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT BEING IN BETWEEN TWO BARRIERS THE TRUCK DID HAD MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE RIGHT BUMPER WHEN IT SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT I COULD NOT GO F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

103 complaints

11%

• DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM INCLUDES STABILITRAK AND ABS SYSTEM. THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FIVE TIMES FOR BRAKING FAILURE. WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE ABS KICKED IN AND THE BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE SENSORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED/DEBRIS CLEANED/AND FRAYED WIRES REPLACED. THE VEHICL
• PURCHASED 2011 TRAVERSE ON MONDAY, BY TUESDAY EVENING THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE STABILITRAK SERVICE SOON CODES WERE SHOWING. THE PRESENT MILEAGE IS 440 AND THIS STARTED AROUND 350 MILES ON ODOMETER. ALSO, WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY ON INCLINE PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND LET OFF BRAKE BEGAN PRESSING G
• WE WERE MOVING FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO WISCONSIN WHICH IS A 1,000 MILE TRIP. ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 9TH, 2013 WE WERE ABOUT TO ENTER CINCINNATI ON THE SECOND LEG OF OUR TRIP WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN THE DASH DISPLAYED A MESSAGE THAT SAID TRAK SYSTEM FAILED, SOON FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER MESSAGE INDICATING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM INCLUDES STABILITRAK AND ABS SYSTEM. THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FIVE TIMES FOR BRAKING FAILURE. WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE ABS KICKED IN AND THE BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE SENSORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED/DEBRIS CLEANED/AND FRAYED WIRES REPLACED. THE VEHICL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

79 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE SHIFTING INTO THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT INDICATED THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED IN THE TRANSMISSION MODULE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISS
• WHEN REVERSING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I CANNOT PUT IT IN DRIVE OR STOP IT. I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK TURN IT OFF AND PRESS THE EMERGENCY BRAKES IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP ROLLING DOWN THE HILL. THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 4X. LAST NIGHT IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK THE ENGIN
• WHILE IN THE DRIVE POSITION ON A HILL AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC SIGNAL, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACK ALMOST HITTING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. IT STARTLED ME AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR BEHIND. *TR IN THE SECOND INCIDENT, MY WIFE WAS PULLING BACK FROM PARKING SPOT WHIC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE SHIFTING INTO THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT INDICATED THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED IN THE TRANSMISSION MODULE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

67 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE F
• THE RADIO UNIT EMITS A VERY HIGH FREQUENCY NOISE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OR NOT. THIS CAUSES HEADACHES ON A REGULAR BASIS. GM IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT IS STATING THAT IT IS NORMAL OPERATION AND NOT OFFERING ANY OPTIONS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE OFFENDING UNIT CAUSING THE HIGH FREQ
• THE CHEVY TRAVERSE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES SINCE MAY OF 2012 FOR SUDDEN TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITRAK ERROR MESSAGES . ONCE THESE MESSAGES POP UP ONT HE CAR THEY ARE ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY A REDUCED POWER MESSAGE WHICH IMMEDIATELY SHUTS OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 945 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: CAR SHAKES AND VIBRATES WHEN STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A COMPLETELY HALT. WAS ABLE TO GET HELP AND MOVE IT TO SHOULDER. WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR LATER IN THE DAY AND DRIVE TO THE DEALER. DEALER MENTIONED THAT 4 CYLINDERS ARE MISFIRING. SURPRISED THAT A CAR ONLY 9 MONTHS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: PULLLING UP TO THE AIRPORT PARKING AS I WAS GETTING MY TICKET TO ENTER THE PARKING LOT THE GATE OPEN AND I STEP ON THE GAS TO CONTINUE WHEN THE TRUCK SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT BEING IN BETWEEN TWO BARRIERS THE TRUCK DID HAD MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE RIGHT BUMPER WHEN IT SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT I COULD NOT GO F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM INCLUDES STABILITRAK AND ABS SYSTEM. THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FIVE TIMES FOR BRAKING FAILURE. WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE ABS KICKED IN AND THE BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE SENSORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED/DEBRIS CLEANED/AND FRAYED WIRES REPLACED. THE VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE SHIFTING INTO THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT INDICATED THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED IN THE TRANSMISSION MODULE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)