2009 Chevrolet Traverse Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
Airbag “Service Airbag” light appears on dash intermittently.
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON
"SERVICE AIR BAG" DIC MESSAGE AND DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING ICON CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THEN IT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR A WHILE - LONG ENOUGH TO LOG A CODE. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER SAID IT NEEDED AN AIR BAG HARNESS. THEY TOLD ME THE CONNECTION POINTS OF THE WIRING LOOSEN UP OVER TIME AND GIVE A DIFFERENT CIRCUIT RESISTANCE READING THAT THE COMPUTER READS AS A FAULT. THAT WILL COST 3 HOURS OF LABOR AND MANY DOLLARS FOR THE REPLACEMENT HARNESS. I AM WAITING FOR THE HARNESS TO COME ON NOW. BUT THIS VEHICLE EXHIBITS THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT WERE COVERED IN A 2014 RECALL PROGRAM. THE 2014 REPAIR WAS DONE, AND NOW THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED. SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. I WAS TOLD IT IS OKAY TO DRIVE BUT BE AWARE THAT IF THE WARNING LIGHT IS LIT, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY.
STATES SERVICE AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND STRUCK THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT EYE AND SUFFERED NAUSEA AND DIZZINESS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
HISTORY: I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE ON 10/22/2013 WITH A SERVICE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE HAS 44339 MILES. PRESENT: A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO MY CAR BEING SERVICED BEFORE A ROAD TRIP. I NOTICE WHAT TURN OUT TO BE A RED AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT SYMBOL ON MY DASH BOARD THAT STAYS ON WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. ON JUNE 9TH 2015 AT 6:30 AM I DROPPED OFF MY CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AT 12 NOON I CALLED SERVICE TO GET FEEDBACK ABOUT MY CAR; I HOWEVER, HAD TO LEAVE A MESSAGE REQUESTING AN UPDATE ABOUT MY CAR. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER 2:30 PM. SHE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE S.D.M. MODULE AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO CHECK FURTHER. SHE STATED THAT TO CHECK FOR THE TROUBLE IT WOULD COST CLOSE TO $600 AND IF THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE SMD IT WOULD COST ME $980.80. I ASKED WHY I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE OR DAMAGED AIR BAG SERVICED OR REPAIRED ESPECIALLY WHEN IT BE IN SAFE WORKING ORDER. THE NEXT DAY I SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR AT MY JOB WHO SAID THAT HE HAS THE SAME CAR, SAME YEAR AND THE SAME COLOR AS MY CAR. HE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH HIS CAR WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HE SAID THAT HIS CAR WAS IN THE SHOP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH MULTIPLE DEALERS THEY NEVER COULD FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON. HE SAID FINALLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF WITH NO EXPLANATION AFTER BEING SERVICE AT A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. NOW THE SIDE AIR BAG WAS RECALL FOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE? OR HOW MANY TIMES THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE AIR BAG OR THE HISTORICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRAVERSE. DEALER: CHEVROLET OF JERSEY CITY 905 COMMUNIPAW AVE. JC, NJ 07304 201 793 ? 4270. *TR
HISTORY: I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE ON 10/22/2013 WITH A SERVICE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE HAS 44339 MILES. PRESENT: A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO MY CAR BEING SERVICED BEFORE A ROAD TRIP. I NOTICE WHAT TURN OUT TO BE A RED AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT SYMBOL ON MY DASH BOARD THAT STAYS ON WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. ON JUNE 9TH 2015 AT 6:30 AM I DROPPED OFF MY CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AT 12 NOON I CALLED SERVICE TO GET FEEDBACK ABOUT MY CAR; I HOWEVER, HAD TO LEAVE A MESSAGE REQUESTING AN UPDATE ABOUT MY CAR. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER 2:30 PM. SHE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE S.D.M. MODULE AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO CHECK FURTHER. SHE STATED THAT TO CHECK FOR THE TROUBLE IT WOULD COST CLOSE TO $600 AND IF THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE SMD IT WOULD COST ME $980.80. I ASKED WHY I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE OR DAMAGED AIR BAG SERVICED OR REPAIRED ESPECIALLY WHEN IT BE IN SAFE WORKING ORDER. THE NEXT DAY I SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR AT MY JOB WHO SAID THAT HE HAS THE SAME CAR, SAME YEAR AND THE SAME COLOR AS MY CAR. HE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH HIS CAR WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HE SAID THAT HIS CAR WAS IN THE SHOP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH MULTIPLE DEALERS THEY NEVER COULD FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON. HE SAID FINALLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF WITH NO EXPLANATION AFTER BEING SERVICE AT A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. NOW THE SIDE AIR BAG WAS RECALL FOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE? OR HOW MANY TIMES THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE AIR BAG OR THE HISTORICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRAVERSE. DEALER: CHEVROLET OF JERSEY CITY 905 COMMUNIPAW AVE. JC, NJ 07304 201 793 - 4270. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V118000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
SINCE RECEIVING RECALL NOTICES ON OUR 2009 TRAVERSE, I HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO GET THE RECALLS CLEARED ON THIS VEHICLE. IN ALL INSTANCES, EXCEPT THE RECALL ON THE 2ND ROW SEAT BELT RECALL, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE RECALL ON THE AIR BAG HARNESS IS NOW THREE MONTHS OLD AND THE DEALER IS STILL SAYING THE REPAIR PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALERSHIP IN QUESTION IS EDWARDS CHEVROLET 280, LOCATED ON HWY 280 IN INVERNESS, ALABAMA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SAVAGE FACILITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
AROUND JUNE 8, 2013 VEHICLE DASH BOARD SHOWS AIR BAG SERVICE REQUIRED AND AIR BAG SERVICE INDICATOR ON, ALSO NOTICE WHILE SITTING ON PASSENGER SEAT, PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR SHOWS OFF . CONTACTED TO DEALER AND GOT REPAIRED AFTER PAYING $107 ON JUNE 10,2013, WHICH WAS CHARGED FOR NEW FUSE . AGAIN SAME ISSUE ACCRUED ON AUGUST 19, 2013 CONTACTED DEALER. OWNER CONTACTED ON AUGUST 22, 2013 CHEVROLET CUSTOMER DEPARTMENT THROUGH ONSTAR REPRESENTATIVE, FROM HER NO SATISFIED ANSWER RECEIVED AND THEY MENTIONED THERE IS NOTHING PROBLEMATIC IN VEHICLE MODEL HISTORY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRES FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WERE CROSSED AND NEEDED TO BE UNTANGLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, CRASHED INTO A HIGHWAY BARRIER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE FOR TREATMENT OF INJURIES TO THE BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIANGOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
I BOUGHT A USED FLEET 2009 TRAVERSE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY. I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT, BUT NOW IT'S REALLY AGGRAVATING ME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME FOR CHECKING IT. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE BUT THE LIGHT HAD TURNED OFF AGAIN SO NOT MUCH ATTENTION WAS PLACED ON IT. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN FOR ME. ALSO THIS VEHICLE HAS THE HABIT OF ROLLING BACK WHEN I PARK OR ON A SLIGHT INCLINE THIS IS SCARY!!!!! *KB
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Quick Summary
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse has 15 Air Bags complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.