10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
82,291 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 #34

Nov 232021

Traverse

  • miles
The car appeared to have lost power, not while entering the freeway. I pressed on the gas, but it made a loud sound and barely moved. I then saw smoke, pulled over and the car cut off. The car continued to smoke. I opened the hood, and it was a fire under it. Prior to driving, the check engine light was on.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #33

Jul 012021

Traverse

  • miles
I bought a used car and maybe it-€™s just wear and tear but I-€™ve seen it in lots of forums on the internet also. My back end sways going around curves almost like I am fishtailing and then my traction control dings and it says service traction control and also my car jumps when in idle the rpm needle moves with it. It acts like it doesn-€™t want to get up and go at about 60. I-€™ve seen a lot of people talk about the engine and transmission going out in vehicles. I didn-€™t know this when I bought the vehicle. I have 2 kids and I need this car to take them to school and errands. I don-€™t know if this is normal wear and tear or if it-€™s something wrong with the car from the beginning

- Hemphill, TX, USA

problem #32

Feb 182021

Traverse

  • 163,000 miles
Was driving fine and all of a sudden with no warning car would not go faster than 15 mph. Check engine light came on then traction control went off. Across the dash it said "service traction control, service stabilitrack and reduced engine power" the car started shifting between 2 different gears making it extremely scary to try driving to a safe spot with 3 young kids.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #31

Nov 282018

Traverse

  • 170,000 miles
My wife and I own a 09 Chevy Traverse and have had for about 3 years. When we first bought it it drove like brand new but over the period of a year or so we started to feel a side to side swaying (such as rocking in a boat) while driving about 60 mph. Since we've got 4 kids and my wife uses it as a day to day vehicle I took it to the dealership and had them tell me it was struts (which I had replaced) and after being replaced it still had the side to side movement. It has gotten to the point I don't allow her to drive her nor the kids because of the dangers. I've had the rack N steering, front upper and lower control arms the rear upper control arms, stabilizer bar bushings along with numerous other bushings and all 4 brand new tires. The dealership nor other independent shop knows what else to replace.

- Williamson, WV, USA

problem #30

Jun 262020

Traverse

  • 10 miles
Couple months ago I was out with my family and noticed that the car was almost stuttering when I placed it in reverse. A little like when you drive a car with a manual transmission and you depress the clutch but don't give the car enough gas and is starts to jerk backwards instead of roll smoothly. Then as I traveled home I noticed a sort of shutter when the car shifts at 25 mph- I'm guessing around 3rd gear. No shuttering at a higher gear. It has been in my garage since that day and I have not driven it. From what I been reading & learning it has to do with the wave plates on the inside the transmission. Please help.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #29

Mar 312020

Traverse

  • 88,000 miles
Warning chimes / speakers not working due to water shorting the plugs for the door attachments. Backup safety chimes and all chimes are install with purpose and safety in mind.

- Oak Forest, IL, USA

problem #28

Jun 112020

Traverse

  • miles
My 2009 Chevy Traverse has a lot of recalls on it. From the air bag, seat belts, electrical system

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #27

Aug 072019

Traverse

  • 163,000 miles
Catalytic converters are clean and appears in good condition but keeps turning check engine light on. No chane noted in cars perform3

- Bourbon, MO, USA

problem #26

Aug 092019

Traverse

  • 73,833 miles
There are large numbers of complaints regarding the timing chain prematurely going on these models of the Traverse. They should last the life of engine in most cases. My Traverse has benn throwing a code for a long time now and now GMC says it needs new timing chain. My car only has 73833 miles

- Danbury, CT, USA

problem #25

Jul 312009

Traverse

  • miles
We bought our 2009 Traverse ltz with towing package brand new in July 2009. From day one it has rolled backwards when in drive while stopped at a light, a stop sign, or pausing for traffic. Once, we rolled backwards into the car behind us even though my foot was on the brake. When I spoke to service rep at the dealership, he said it was fine, that's what they did. Obviously it was a problem because within a few years, Chevy made a big deal about the new system that stopped trucks from rolling backwards when stopped on a hill.

- Dalworthington Gardens, TX, USA

problem #24

Jul 042019

Traverse

  • 160,000 miles
"takata recall" while driving on I70 South in the fast lane my 2009 Chevy Traverse started to loose power, lights started flickering, and then ultimately stopped as I was partially in the roadway. State patrol had to come out and move the vehicle and assure my safety of exiting on this very dark interstate. The vehicle would not even start up again. And this was three days following a tune-up w/6 new coil packs, oil change w/filter and flow vent. And all this cost almost $600 bucks because coils are nearly $45 per coil. And all this had to happen because of a constant misfire in all of my cylinders. So I had the truck towed 48 miles home and then 16 miles to the dealer just to be told that this truck has a timing chain recall that was never done. So I was told by the dealership to call che Y corporate office. Lol. Chevrolet told me that the the recall expired and that I would have to pay for the timing chain myself. After 2 years of constant spending. Im done and have been advised to sue. The trooper called to follow up with me because I did almost die on the interstate because my vehicle went completely out and 18 wheelers were going extremely fast. And he provided me with a complete police report to go after Chevy. My two kids now hate the vehicle. My daughter cried all through the 4th of July because of the trauma. And Chevy should not be allowed to sell family vehicles without having a families safety in mind. This was my first Chevy purchase and it will be my last. This is not a company I wish to support. Because it could careless about our lives and safety. I refuse to pay another 2K to repair an issue that had a recall that I didnt know about. #2ndownersclub

- District Heights, MD, USA

problem #23

Jun 022019

Traverse

  • 118,000 miles
Well first of all the car runs stable on cruise control and I don't know where it starts shaking hesitating it seems like there's a lot of Chevy Traverse the be doing the exact same thing from 2009 I've been looking it up and there's a lot of them the do the exact same thing and nobody seems to figure out what's wrong with them

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #22

Jun 172019

Traverse

  • 106,000 miles
I bought this car 6/21/2016. Never received any recall notice for the timing chain. The dealership is refusing to fix it. I have 106K miles on it. The dealership should honor the recall as it's a safety concern. I have 4 children in the car with me at all times.

- Ottsville, PA, USA

problem #21

Mar 122019

Traverse

  • 10 miles
Seatbelts and the electrical system need to get fixed.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #20

Nov 012017

Traverse

  • 130,690 miles
I have been battling my check engine light all 2018 and now 2019. Not to mention the stabiliztrak and hard to turn steering wheel. I have been getting a misfire in all my coils. This issue has caused the vehicle to stutter, drink high volumes of gas and almost sent me broke. I have changed every coil, every plug, changed the stabilizer, tentioner, bearings, swaybar links and much more. I am completely done with Chevy. They know this make and midel is horrible and we as customers need to do a class action lawsuit. This vehicle sounds like a tin can when it starts. It rattles and stutters while driving and it shakes when stationary.

- District Heights, MD, USA

problem #19

Jan 082019

Traverse

  • 198,730 miles
I was driving on a highway at speed of60miles the car just stopped running in the middle of the highway would not start had to be towed home going straight on the highway no warning whatsoever I could have been killed from the car behind

- Connersville, IN, USA

problem #18

Oct 012018

Traverse

  • 100,000 miles
The rear hatch would open and shut on you. I opened it and had it come down on me and it closed on my legs. The recall # 257343 was done for this but was doing it again. I would think since it's doing the same thing it would be covered again....it wasn't. I paid to have fixed.

- Longview, WA, USA

problem #17

Oct 162018

Traverse

  • 140,000 miles
Stabilitrak light keeps coming on along with brake warning system, car power keeps cutting out, this will reset when I restart the vehicle, while vehicle is moving

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #16

Oct 102018

Traverse

  • miles
Very dangerous situation driving my traverser 2009 on free way at 70 miles the engine lost power and drop to 35 miles per hr, I did put my emergency light and move out quickly to avoid any crash or accident this is a very unsafe and not stable vehicle unfortunate since I bought the vehicle I have been on many situations unfortunate I don't have options and I have to use some times but honestly Chevy traverser 2009 is a hi risk and unsafe vehicle where you don't know what issue you will get during a use day, Chevy dealer doesn't fix any issue I report it only charge me for inspections and recommend change all kind of parts and after I fix it the problems that they recommend the problem persist unfortunate I had spend over $2500 already my biggest concern is that I can't drive this vehicle with my kids and is very expensive vehicle but un safe for the family, I hope some layer or attorney see our claims and sue Chevy for bring this kind of vehicles on the road,

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #15

Mar 012018

Traverse

  • 140,000 miles
While driving to work my Traverse completely shut down. I had to coast to the edge of the road and then push it into a parking lot. While driving the lights seemed to go dim and the vehicle shut off!. the vehicle was towed to a mechanic who said the timing chain went and when it did it basically blew the engine. A new engine cost more then what I owe on the car. After calling around I found out that mechanics do not like to replace the engine in the Traverse because the timing chain issue. My mileage is about 140,000. I called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. I was told they do have a 'special warranty on the timing chain however it's only up to 120,000 miles and I am 20,000 over the special warranty. If engine dies completely at 70mph on freeway a bad wreck can happen this is unsafe and Chevrolet should replace these engines.

- Garrettsville, OH, USA

Read the next 14 complaints »