2009 Chevrolet TRAVERSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
448 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 394 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 229 of 448 complaints (51.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 225 | 50.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 54 | 12.1% |
| Braking behavior | 38 | 8.5% |
| Engine operation | 29 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 229 |
| Power Train | 54 |
| Engine | 50 |
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Unknown Or Other | 35 |
| Air Bags | 26 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 21 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
Steering: 229; Power Train: 54; Engine: 50; Electrical System: 36; Unknown Or Other: 35; Air Bags: 26; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 21; Vehicle Speed Control: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 28 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 47 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 97 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 109 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 89 |
| 150,000 and above | 24 |
Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 47; 50,000 to 74,999: 97; 75,000 to 99,999: 109; 100,000 to 149,999: 89; 150,000 and above: 24
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (109). 54 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 56 |
| 2014 | 130 |
| 2015 | 64 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2017 | 28 |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2019 | 29 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 7; 2010: 7; 2011: 17; 2012: 22; 2013: 56; 2014: 130; 2015: 64; 2016: 32; 2017: 28; 2018: 30; 2019: 29; 2020: 9; 2021: 11; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 225 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 54 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10320251 · 2010-03-16 (March 16, 2010)
STEERING WHEEL PULSATING AND MAKING STRANGE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10320251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10320807 · 2010-03-18 (March 18, 2010)
STEERING WHEEL MAKES STRANGE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. PULSATING AND A LITTLE STIFFER TURNING IN A PARKING LOT OR GOING SLOW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10320807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10423612 · 2011-08-31 (August 31, 2011)
VEHICLE SEEMS TO HESITATE ALSO STALLING WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO PASS (FEELS LIKE A MISS IN THE ENGINE) RPM DROP ABOUT 500 - 700 RPMS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKUP IS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING NOT SURE IF THE NEW TRANSMISSIONS HAVE THAT ANYMORE. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP LAST MONTH REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION TO ELIMINATE THE HARD SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH A BULLETIN ISSUED FROM CHEVROLET .
Owner-reported narrative. 25,226 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440328 · 2011-12-18 (December 18, 2011)
1ST. MY WIFE WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND HAD TO STOP QUICKLY, THEN WHEN SHE PROCEEDED TO LEAVE AGAIN BY LETTING OFF THE BRAKE - THE CAR ROLLED FORWARD ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND HIT THE CAR PARKED NEXT TO HER. WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT TO THE GAS - NOTHING SHE COULD DO TO PREVENT THIS INCIDENT. 2ND. 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. WE FURTHER TESTED THE VEHICLE ON VARIOUS HILLS/INCLINES BOTH IN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10440328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10272933 · 2009-06-05 (June 5, 2009)
ON MORE THEN 5 OCCASIONS DURING NORMAL DRIVING WITH MY NEW CAR ON A SLIGHT (10 DEGREE) INCLINE AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS INTERMITTENTLY AS IF THE SHIFTER WAS IN NEUTRAL. FROM THE TIME IT TAKE FOR ME TO MOVE MY RIGHT FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR WILL ROLL BACK AT LEAST 4 FEET UNTIL I EITHER HIT THE BRAKE AGAIN OR ACCELERATOR TO STOP THE ROLL. THE CAR HAS 2,5 ON IT AND THIS ISSUE HAS GONE ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN IN REVERSE THE CAR WILL ROLE FORWARD ON AN INCLINE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295647 · 2009-12-14 (December 14, 2009)
SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR, I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION BE VERY ERRATIC. IT SEEMS TO SHIFT DOWN AND UP AT THE WRONG TIMES. IT'S VERY INCONSISTENT AS I TRAVEL THE SAME ROUTE EACH DAY TO WORK, I NEVER KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO. SOMETIMES IT LURCHES AHEAD AND THE RPM'S ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND DOWNSHIFTS WHEN IT REALLY SHOULDN'T. I'VE TAKEN IT IN FOR REPAIR, THEY PUT THE LATEST COMPUTER CHIP IN IT, WHICH MAYBE HELPED A LITTLE. STILL FOR THE MOST PART IT'S THE WORST CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN-AS A PASSENGER IT FEELS LIKE THE DRIVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10389972 · 2011-03-13 (March 13, 2011)
2009 TRAVERSE PURCHASED 4/30/2009. FROM THE START IT HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT NO SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE. WE TOOK IT TO DEALER 1 ON 9/02/2010, WITH 22,753 MILES. THEY REPLACED WIRING UNDER ENGINE PLENUM TO #1 IGNITION COILS. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. AT THIS TIME THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER ON THE FREEWAY SOMETIMES. WE TOOK IT TO DEALER 2 ON 10/11/2010, THEY HAD TO GET PARTS AND DID A TEMPORARY FIX. WE BROUGHT IT BACK ON 11/1/2010, WITH 24,656 MILES ON IT AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. THEY REPLACED CONNEC…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10389972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10317586 · 2010-04-19 (April 19, 2010)
CONSUMERS 2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE DASH LIGHTS DIM PERIODICALLY. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS CAN BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND VEHICLE CAN CATCH FIRE. *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10317586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10693637 · 2015-03-11 (March 11, 2015)
2/12/2014:CAR WOULD NOT START IN DRIVEWAY -TOWED TO JPCHEVROLET: CONTROL MODULE FUSE BLOWN;REPLACED FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE -ENGINE STARTED AND RAN PROPERLY PER DEALERSHIP. (ALL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY).7/24/14-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON: TIMING CHAIN ISSUES GASKETS/SEALS ALL UNDER WARRANTY.REMOTE LOCK TRANSMITTER STOPPED WORKING COULD NOT REPROGRAM - HAD TO BUY NEW ONE 0N 1/19/15 AT SAME TIME ASKED TO CHECK SURGE OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVG 40-45 MPH - COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. ON OR ABOUT 2/15/2015: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON - NEXT DAY CAR WOULD NOT REVERSE -AG…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,812 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10853840 · 2016-04-06 (April 6, 2016)
"TAKATA RECALL" THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT. IT HAS HAD 4 RACK AND PINIONS, THE STRUTS REPLACED, A GEAR REPLACED IN THE STEERING COLUMN, A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP, A FUEL INJECTOR, AND TIMING CHAIN REPAIR. NOW IT IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF TIMING CHAIN GONE BAD AND TENSIONERS, AS WELL AS NOW THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS LEAKING BACK INTO THE SYSTEM WHICH I WAS TOLD WILL CAUSE MY BRAKES TO JUST NO LONGER WORK AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. I DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR, I PAID OVER $25,000.00 FOR IT AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10853840 at NHTSA ↗