97 complaints reported

2011 Chevrolet Traverse Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
97
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2024

Unknown

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2024
Oct 2023

12/24/2022 while driving the car made a popping sound then started to slow down while I was driving. I went to make a left turn and the car stalled in mid turn. No warning or anything. Had it towed to a shop and was told that the motor had no oil in it. Which wasn’t true, when they pulled the dip stick it read that it was full. However when they opened the motor up, it appeared to be bone dry.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2022
Jun 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 45 MPH, the RPM became elevated, and the check engine warning light illuminated before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 125,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2023
Oct 2022

Engine failed at 182,000 miles. No warning. No indicator lights. Speed was 45+ miles per hour on 2-lane highway. Loss of engine power resulted in loss of steering control. Very hard to maneuver as vehicle coasted to stop at side of road. Put all occupants in a dangerous situation due to significantly reduced vehicle control. Vehicle would not re-start (or attempt to turn over) after failure. Towed to local shop. Local, trusted auto service center reported engine had “locked up” potentially due to low oil pressure. Again, no indication lights and routine, full oil service completed just 2500 miles prior. Engine was replaced after cost-benefit analysis of current car market prices and availability and the well-maintained condition of the vehicle overall. Concerns: Loss of control. Disappointments: One of many reliability issues with this vehicle that was purchased new in January 2011.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2021
Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact noticed that the air conditioning system was blowing warm air. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone for diagnostic testing. The contact was informed that the timing chain was out of position. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2022
Feb 2022

2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE BUT, WAS CONCERNED OF THE POSSIBILLTY DUE TO MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2022
Sep 2021

The contact's wife owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, an abnormal knocking noise would emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they replaced the idler pulley however, the vehicle was not repaired, and the vehicle would not start. The contact called his son and towed the vehicle to his home. The contact then called the dealer where he arranged to have the vehicle towed to a local dealer. The dealer informed him that the failure was due to a defective timing chain; however, while repairing the vehicle, the dealer informed him that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact also mentioned that the middle rear seat belt would become stuck and would not unlatch as needed. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was referred to NHTSA for further assistance. The contact replaced the engine himself. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2021
Aug 2021

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud banging sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The front of the vehicle started shaking and vibrating before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine was damaged and needed to be replaced, due to a faulty oil pump seal which caused the engine rod to malfunction. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2021
Mar 2021

AT 90,000 MILES I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN. LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKES LOCKED UP, ENGINE DIED. BROUGHT IT HOME REPLACED BATTERY AND SERPENTINE BELT. ATTEMPTED TO START, AND TOOK SEVERAL TRIES. ONCE RUNNING THERE WAS A HORRIFIC LOUD KNOCK COMING FROM THE ENGINE. TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO REPORTED THE ENGINE WOULD "THROW A ROD ANY TIME NOW" AND THAT HAVING LOOKED THE VEHICLE OVER IT WAS NO FAULT OF MY OWN. FLUIDS WERE ALL FRESH AND FULL, NO DEBRIS IN OIL, NO REASON FOR FAILURE. I'M NOW STUCK WITH A LOAN ON A CAR THAT FAILED WAY BEFORE INDUSTRY STANDARDS. DO YOUR JOB GM AND HELP OUT YOUR CUSTOMERS! I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHER TRAVERSE MODELS IN THIS YEAR RANGE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2019
Jan 2021

ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE LOUD NOISE KNOCKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION. HAD A MECHANIC CHECK, THEY SAID ENGINE WAS SHOT AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE TRAVERSE VEHICLES HAVE ENGINE FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2019
Jan 2021

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE CAR STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAD THREE DIFFERENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE. ALL POINTING TOWARDS THE TIMING CHAIN OR POSSIBLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR HAS HAD MAINTENANCE REGULARLY AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TRAVERSE HAS A LOT OF ISSUES REGARDING THE TIMING CHAIN ON A HUGE SCALE. I AM AT A LOSS ROAD AS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE. I HOOE THAT THETEIS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE CAUSE AFTER READING SO MANY PEOPLE ISSUES WITH THEIR CARS, IT IS WRONG TO JUST LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED AND HOPELESS TO GET BACK ON THE RAOD. STEP UP TO THE PLATE GM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2020
Oct 2020

I PURCHASED THIS CAR A MONTH AGO, DIDN'T SEE ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BUT I NOW IT IS AND IT IS A CODE RELATED TO THE TIMING BELTS, IT SEEMS THE CAR STILL WORK OK BUT SOMETIMES STARTS SHAKING A LITLE. SO I SEE THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, I HOPE CHEVROLET HAS A RECALL TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE, BECOUSE THIS IS A VERY HIGH COST REPAIR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2020
Oct 2020

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT THE END OF JULY AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER STARTED NOTICING POWER FLUCTUATION WHILE DRIVING AND A KNOCKING ON THE TOP PART OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING, SPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AND DECIDED TO PARK IT AND WAIT FOR OUR SHOP TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. APPARENTLY THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN DESPITE OF "ISSUES ALREADY BEING CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER'. THIS VEHICLE IS AROUND 98K-99K MILES RANGE AND IT MIGHT NEED THE HOLE ENGINE BLOCK REPLACED DUE TO A SLOPPY RECALL REPAIR. SPENDING 5K ON A NEW ENGINE THAT DOESN'T HAVE EVEN 100K SEEMS RIDICULOUS, BUT HAVING PEOPLE DRIVING WITH THE CHANCE OF MALFUNCTION A HIGH SPEEDS IS VERY CONCERNING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2020
Sep 2020

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH 80,000 MILES ON IT. A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING IT I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO A BURNING OIL SMELL AND WAS TOLD IT WAS "NORMAL TRAVERSE SMELL". THE SMELL KEPT GETTING WORSE BUT EVERYWHERE I TOOK IT THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS NOW AND AFTER TAKING IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, NOT A GM OR CHEVY MECHANIC, WE WERE TOLD IT NEEDS THE TIMING BELT REPLACED SO WE HAD THAT DONE. THE BURNING OIL SMELL NEVER WENT AWAY SO I TOOK IT BACK AND HE FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDS REPLACED AFTER TWO MONTHS BECAUSE A BRASS RING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED WASN'T. THIS BRASS RING WAS NEVER ON THE RECALL LIST SO THE PREVIOUS OWNERS KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT. CHEVY KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE BUT THEY WON'T REPLACE THEM. I AM NOT STUCK WITH A PILE OF JUNK THAT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE ALL BECAUSE CHEVY WON'T OWN UP TO THEIR FAILURE. WHY NOT RECALL THE BRASS RING INSTEAD OF EXPECTING PEOPLE TO FORK OUT $6,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2020
Sep 2020

COMING HOME IN DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. LOCAL MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS A CAM SHAFT SENSOR, BUT AFTER LOOKING FURTHER IT'S THE TIMING CHAIN & I NEED A NEW ENGINE ON 2011 TRAVERSE WITH 93,000 MILES. CHEVY CORP SAID CHEVY NEEDS TO DIAGNOSE AT $100 AN HOUR. THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO A COMPLETE ENGINE TEAR DOWN WHICH COULD BE 10 HOURS PLUS THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE & THEY WON'T GUARANTEE COST ASSISTANCE. THE WORK HAS TO BE DONE BY CHEVY. THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE MARCH 2019. I'D LIKE FOR CHEVY TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM & FIX MY VEHICLE AT NO COST

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2019
Jul 2020

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING HORRIBLE NOISES, OVERHEATING LOSING POWER AND BUCKING. ONCE IT WAS TOWED HOME, LEARNED THE ENGINE JUMPED TIME AND THE CAR WOULDN'T RUN AND BARELY STARTS. BOUGHT A TIMING CHAIN KIT AS WELL AS PREVIOUSLY CHANGING THE CAM SENSORS TO NO AVAIL. NEED A WHOLE NEW MOTOR NOW. I CANT AFFORD TO CHANGE IT AND NOW HAVE AN EXPENSIVE YARD ORNAMENT I'M STILL PAYING ON. CHEVROLET KNEW OF THESE ISSUES AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECOUP THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LOST OUT ON A VEHICLE WE PURCHASED ANDCANNOT DRIVE. CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE DONE A MASSIVE RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND SAVING ALL OF US THIS FINANCIAL BURDEN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2020
Jul 2020

DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD IT STARTS MAKING A NOISE. I PULL THE VEHICLE OVER OFF THE STREET. THERE IS NO POWER, THE VEHICLE STILL STARTS BUT DOES NOTHING BUT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. THE TIMING CHAIN IS THE ISSUE. I HAVE SAW MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TIMING CHAINS IN THESE VEHICLES BEING DEFECTED. PLEASE MAKE THIS RIGHT!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2020
May 2020

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING HIT. VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT START. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2017
Apr 2020

AT JUST OVER 100,000 MILES I HAD TO CHANGE THE TIMING CHAINS COST ME 3500 DOLLARS.AND 3 WEEKS LATER THE MOTOR SEIZED UP . I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS I WAS TOLD IT IS A BAD DESIGN ON THESE ENGINES. PAY FOR A CAR THAT JUST SITS THERE AS I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER ENGINE FOR IT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2019
Jan 2020

MY AUTO MECHANIC TOLD ME MY POWER CHAIN IS LOOSE & THAT IT'S COMMON IN MY CAR & I SHOULD REPORT IT. MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S DRAGGING WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2020
Jan 2020

TIMING CHAIN CAN COME OFF AT RANDOM AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST YEARS, BUT DON'T.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2020
Dec 2019

A MECHANIC TOLD ME MY POWER TRAIN CHAIN IS LOOSE AND THAT THIS IS COMMON IN 2011 6 ENGINES AND TO REPORT IT CAUSE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. MY CAR WILL BARELY MAKE IT UP A HILL AND THE FUEL MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2019
Nov 2019

I DROVE DOWN TO MY DAUGHTERS ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 1ST 2019 WHICH IS IN FREASTERVILLE PA AND WE LIVE IN MECHANICSBURG PA. SO I DRIVE THE TURNPIKE AND I HAVE DONE THIS TRIP A LOT, HAVING NO ISSUES AT ALL WITH MY TRAVERSE 2011. ON MONDAY WE BOTH GOT INTO MY CAR AS ND DROVE BACK TO MECHANICSBURG BECAUSE SHE HAD TO PICK UP HER VEHICLE FOR WORK THE NEXT DAY, WE GET HOME MONDAY NIGHT 12/2/2019 NO PROBLEMS STILL PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND EVERYTHING IS GOOD . NEXT MORNING 12/3/2019 I GO TO TAKE HER TO GET HER WORK CAR WE GET IN MY SUV STILL IN MY DRIVEWAY AND IT MADE THIS GOD AWFUL NOISE AND I TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY AND YELLED TO MY HUSBAND SOMETHING IS WRONG. HE GOES TO TRY IT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO START AND NOTHING IT WON'T. WE HAVE IT FLAT BEDDED TO CRALLS GARAGE IN HARRISBURG AND HE CALLED SAID THAT WE NEED A NEW ENGINE HE SAID IT WAS MAKING A NOISE IN THE LOWER BACK END OF MOTOR AND WE NEED A NEW MOTOR. WE OWE 13000.00 ON THIS CAR AND I LOVE IT HIW CAN THIS HAPPEN. HE SAID IT WILL COST 5000.00 FOR A NEW MOTOR AND I CAN NOT AFFORD IT. .I HAVE READ SO MANY REVIEWS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO 2011 TRAVERSES HOW CAN THE MANUFACTURER NOT FIX THIS . I HAD NO WARNINGS AT ALL NO ENGINE LIGHTS NOTHING. PLEASE HELP

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2019
Oct 2019

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS GOING ON AND OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO LOSE SOME POWER WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. CODE P0008 APPEARS TO BE WORN TIMING CHAINING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AS WELL AS A CHEVY DEALERSHIP - ALL HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. A GOOGLE SEARCH INFORMED ME THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE CHEVY TRAVERSE. IN FACT, EARLY MODELS RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS WARRANTY NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO OTHER YEARS AS WELL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2019
Sep 2019

BAD TIMING CHAIN AND HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED AT JUST OVER 100,000 WHEN WARANTEE EXPIRED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2018

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Quick Summary

The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse has 97 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.