10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,627 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #54

Aug 152023

Traverse

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that when she started her vehicle and shifted into drive (D) and depressed the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that she attempted to drive the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle nearby her residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #53

Sep 032022

Traverse

  • miles
I bought the car in August of last year and drove it for about 3 days before it started giving me problems. First incident I was driving my children home from the hairdresser and the car completely went out us on the highway, after repeated attempts for a half hour or so I was able to start it and drive it back home very slowly..this happened twice I went to get it diagnosed and codes came up for crank shaft sensor and o2 sensor, before I could even get that fixed more problems came up, the steering wheel began to become stiff and almost impossible to turn, while picking my son up from school I was trying to pull away from the curb in the drop off spot and almost hit another car and a child because the steering wheel stiffened up on me!!! I was told I would need an entire steering rack!!!...also the key has gotten stuck in the ignition and wouldn't start and I had to have it towed to a mechanic for that as well. Driving up hill one day I lost power that made it seem like it was stuck in low, then we lost reverse altogether as well as the ability to climb hills. I got the transmission repaired, barely made it home before it started doing the exact same thing, no reverse and won't go up hills, so I had to get it towed back to the shop to fix it once again, now I find out that the computer went bad as well and was causing the car to perform in neutral. This car has given me nothing but problems since I bought it! It is very dangerous to be on the road! I don't understand how they're even still in circulation!! This is by far the worst experience I've ever had with a vehicle! Upon doing research online I seen that there were HUNDREDS of people with these cars experiencing the same problems. Something has to be done!! I had the car almost a year and only got about a week's worth of use!!

- Rochester, PA, USA

problem #52

Apr 012022

Traverse

  • miles
Wiring failing, abs won't work, track control not working, reverse camera, stable track,

- Bradford , ME, USA

problem #51

Jan 282021

Traverse

  • 68,000 miles
I was pulling out of my driveway in reverse and control of the car was lost. I could have been killed. I just bought the car and I was never told of any issues or recalls with the car as it should have went through a safety inspection. Even when I looked online the vehicle was cleared for recall repairs. No service engine lights alerted me of any problems. This happened instantly and without warning. My vehicle was in motion backing into a city street.

- Elyria, OH, USA

problem #50

Sep 012019

Traverse

  • miles
I have a 2009 Chevy Traverse with vibration problem while driving in around 3gear and around 5 gear. Driving city and highway vibration come and go away for couple second. I raplaced wheel hub bearing both side, lower control arm and bushing, driveline shaft, cv boot axle. Vibration is really rough, feel it from front and back of vehicle. When start up driving around ok, about 10 min of driving vibraation starts. I have read many forum online Traverse, acadia and Saturn having same problem. I feel this problem should be recall and isn't safe for me or other people with this problem. Second problem is radio system not working, from getting inside wire connector on side door, causing a short to amplifier.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #49

Feb 012015

Traverse

  • 85,423 miles
2009 Traverse fwd at 75000mi, transmission wave plate failure. Upon diagnosis, found pressure plate buttons deteriorated, and wave plate broken. Had dealer inspect vehicle weeks prior to failure. Failure included codes pertaining wave plate, slippage, and performance issues with failure to shift and accellerate. Call to GM to verify extended coverage under #14404B: Special coverage adjustment - transmission clutch wave plate (Aug 12, 2016) was told that the VIN number did not correspond to the affected coverage adjustment. VIN number and production date available as needed. Invoices available for review. Replaced with genuine GM re manufactured unit and warranty denied.I own and operate an ac delco service center since 1964.

- Matawan, NJ, USA

problem #48

Jan 032020

Traverse

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, making a right turned the vehicle gear failed to shift to third without warning. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the road, turn the vehicle off and back on however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed by progress to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred and the vehicle was taken to the dealer myers garage 522 w 2nd St, lizton, in 46149 (317) 994-5436 where a second diagnostic test was performed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but no further assistance was taken. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

- Coatesville, IN, USA

problem #47

Sep 132019

Traverse

  • miles
Gears lacking to go to next.

- Keystone Heights, FL, USA

problem #46

Jan 072019

Traverse

  • 130,000 miles
My ltz started shuddering at about 25-30mph @ around 130,000 miles. Check engine line is on sporadically. If you push the gas harder, it picks up and moves on. This seems to be the problem with many '09 models. There needs to be a recall/fix for this issue. We use this car only for family trips or big grocery trips. I'd hate to get rid of it. Paying $45,000 for a vehicle means it should last for a very long time!

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #45

May 152019

Traverse

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. While the contact's brother was driving 35 mph, all the warning indicators illuminated. The driver informed the contact that there was a burning wire odor under the hood, which entered the vehicle throught the vents. The vehicle stalled on an incline, but the driver was able to place the gear shifter into neutral. The vehicle rolled backwards and the driver was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart. The following day, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the high pressure fuel pump failed due to fuel in the oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no open recalls. No further assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Warrensville, NC, USA

problem #44

Apr 052019

Traverse

  • 163,096 miles
My 2009 Chevrolet Traverse won't go into reverse and also won't switch gears on time while driving with the steering so stiff

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #43

Dec 202018

Traverse

  • miles
When driving truck seems to accelerate normal; then it start to get a little sluggish and start to kick from the back like its trying to catch up with the front. And also when I put it in park it jerks forward or rolls back.. all this happened while driving in the city

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #42

Oct 102018

Traverse

  • miles
I have a Chevy traverser 2009 105K miles on it, it have all king of problems, 3 years and don't pass emission test, I have spend around $2500 on it since I bought this vehichcle, unfortunate on 3 times I have bring the veicle to the dealer and ignition coils changed on first visit, they told me to change the catalitic converters on 2nd visit I did, and now on my last intent the dealer service department say I have to fix all this first the wiring from the motor to transmition, every time I bring the vehicle to the dealer they came out with some thing new and I end paying around $200 for only diagnostic service, please if some one now a good lawyer or a sue case let me know thanks

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #41

Jul 142017

Traverse

  • miles
When you stop up a upgrade to the light, the car rolls back.I would have to give it gas then release the brakes.I never had this to happen in any other car we had.it kind of scare me, because I almost roll back in another car. The other situation is the parking brake doesn't release like it suppose to.I saw a recall on some Traverse, but my vehicle doesn't have one.I need this to work properly, because these SUVS' then be hard to put in gear on slight inclines

- Norfolk, VA, USA

problem #40

Dec 222017

Traverse

  • 112,884 miles
While my car was in motion on city street I had sudden loss of gears and car would not shift into higher gears nor move more than 25 mph. Had diagnosis that I needed new transmission at Chevy dealership. Dealer repeatedly denied that issue was related to special coverage bulletin #14404, transmission clutch wave plate, well documented defect with 2009 Traverse and then wanted to charge me ridiculous fee to diagnosis after I replaced transmission. Had transmission replacement at local shop and old transmission disassembled to reveal broken wave plate in 3 pieces. Chevy cust. Service now refuses to reimburse for any costs since repair was not made at dealer despite the fact my car met requirements for special coverage

- Sherborn, MA, USA

problem #39

Nov 212017

Traverse

  • 158,000 miles
Traverse stopped at a city intersection and failed to move or start after that. Timing chain broke at 158,000 causing damage to catalytic converters. Failure of power steering was an ongoing problem for months that caused wheels to lock up during turns and then suddenly release causing much over correction because of having to pull so hard on the steering wheel when it would go out.

- Drasco, AR, USA

problem #38

Oct 082017

Traverse

  • 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the vehicle independently downshifted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic was able to retrieve fault code P0776 (transmission solenoid, torque converter) failure. Haley Buick GMC located at: 9831 midlothian turnpike, richmond, va 23236, (804) 320-9054, was contacted by phone. The contact was informed that if the fault code was 35R (clutch wave plate) failure the vehicle would have been covered under GM's special coverage for the power train. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.

- North Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #37

Mar 012016

Traverse

  • 113,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the vehicle had no specific failures other than failing an inspection. The contact called a dealer (lannan Chevrolet, 40 winn St, woburn, MA 01801, (781) 897-0508) to inspect and diagnose the failure. The manufacturer did not send a notification of any extended warranty campaigns; however, the vehicle was included in a water pump seal leak, power steering, transmission, and additional service campaigns. After the dealer's repairs, the vehicle was rode roughly and the engine indicator illuminated two days later. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer who indicated that further diagnostic testing was required. The vehicle had been at the dealer for longer than two weeks with no resolution. The manufacturer was notified and refused to provide a remedy for the several extended warranty campaigns, of which some were not completed, but the dealer specified on the invoice that the vehicle was serviced. The vehicle was not repaired and was unable to be driven. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

- Tewksbury, MA, USA

problem #36

Aug 102017

Traverse

  • 100,000 miles
While spouse was driving vehicle with kids on expressway, the vehicle shut off by itself. Spouse pulled over and waited about 10 minutes before vehicle started again. Couple of days later, vehicle would not start at all. Took to dealer a couple of weeks later as vehicle still would not start. Dealer found the electronic chassis module(ECM) was shorted. There is a known recall for this same vehicle and symptoms. Dealer and GM state this vehicle is not part of recall however same model and year across country has same issue.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #35

Oct 012016

Traverse

  • 102,000 miles
As soon as my vehicle reached just over 102,000 miles, my engine completely shut down while we were driving our kids to practice. I have taken it to the Chevy dealership that has been repairing my vehicle since we purchased it (1.5 years prior to the engine shutting down) and they have informed us we need a completely new engine because the crankshaft is completely blown. When they finally got it started up, it sounded like a bag of hammers being violently shaken. In the 1.5 years that we have had the vehicle, the timing belt has gone out, an electrical issue that caused the car to shut down completely as well, and another repair that my husband handled shortly after we got the car. Chevy has told us we are out of luck and that we have to pay for a new engine. When the dealership checked the value of the vehicle because we were going to try to trade it in, they told us the car, in perfect working condition would only be worth $6,000, even though 1.5 years prior, it was worth $20,000. The engine replacement is going to cost us more than the vehicle is worth! from what we have seen, a lot of these cars (same year make and model) are having the same problems and should be recalled completely!

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »