117 complaints reported

2011 Chevrolet Traverse Steering

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

Reports
117
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2021

I'VE OWNED MY TRAVERSE FOR SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN 1 YEAR. I CAN HEAR A WHINY SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA AND IT IS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO TURN THE WHEEL WHILE I'M GOING SLOW...AS IN I CAN'T GET IT INTO OR OUT OF TIGHT AREAS SUCH AS PARKING SPOTS. PUT IN HALF BOTTLE OF FLUID....DIDN'T HELP. IS THERE A RECALL?

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

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING WHEN I DRIVE AT A SLOW SPEED. WHEN I GO TO TURN THE WHEEL YOU HAVE TO USE A LOT OF FORCE TO TURN, IF NOT YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE GAS TO GET THE STEERING TO WORK. I HATE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I HAVE ALMOST WREAKED IT A FEW TIMES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON. WHEN IT STARTED HAPPENING LAST MONTH I GOT MY POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AND THEN A WEEK AFTER I GOT IT PUT IN, IT'S NOT WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HOPE THIS ISSUE GETS FIXED. I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP ONE MORE TIME IF IT DOES IT AGAIN.

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

THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLITON ON THIS VEHICLE SB-10056456-3388 IT HAS TO DO WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND SOME RACK AND PINON STEERING PARTS. IT IS HARD TO TURN WHEN YOU ARE FIRST STARTING OUT GETS EASIER AS YOU ARE DRIVING THOUGH BUT IS STILL A MAJOR CONCERN AND PROBLEM AS IT COULD HAPPEN TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT SOME POINT WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROBLEM GET A RECALL ON IT

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

ON REPEATED OCCASIONS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WHEN TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, DURING A TURN, THE STEERING WILL FREEZE. VEHICLE WILL BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND CAR EMITS HIGH LOUD SOUNDS. IF CAR IS STOPPED AND ENGINE TURNED OFF, WHEN RESTARTED IT WILL OFTEN CONTINUE TO EMIT THE SOUND AND CONTINUE TO BE NON-RESPONSIVE.

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

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS 20 MPH OR LESS THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED WE CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND MADE SURE IT WAS FULL. THEN IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND IT IS VERY HARD TO MUSCLE THE WHEEL IT BECOMES SO STIFF. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS THESE ARE TYPICALLY FAMILY VEHICLES CARRYING CHILDREN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE IT APPEARS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF TRAVERSE OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

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

THE STEERING ON MY TRAVERSE INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING, THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY PATTERN AND WHEN IT STOPS WORKING THE CAR IS PRACTICALLY UNDRIVEABLE AND I'VE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO ACCIDENTS THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. MOST OF THE TIME IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING, HOWEVER, WHEN STOPPED IT HAPPENS AS WELL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2019
May 2019

**POWER STEERING RECALL*** I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND IN THE MIST OF DRIVING MY VEHICLE STEERING BECAME HARD. AS I WENT TO MAKE A TURN MY STEERING LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT MAKE A TURN WITHOUT THE USE OF FORCE. WHEN I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT AND POWER STEERING RACKET PINON NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2018
Jan 2019

POWER STEERING SEEMS TO FAIL AT LOW SPEEDS AFFECTING TURNING, AS INTO PARKING SPOTS, GARAGE, ETC. WHEEL ALMOST SEEMS TO FREEZE IN PLACE BECOMING ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. NOT NOTICABLE AT DRIVING SPEEDS. HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF FOR OVER A YEAR. MY LOCAL MECHANIC MENTIONED A RECALL BUT MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT COME UP ON THE LIST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2019
Dec 2018

LOSING POWER STEERING FLUID AT THE RACK AND PINION , HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TRAVERSE AND BUICK ENCLAVE. I THINK GM SHOULD REPAIR OR PAY FOR REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM.

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

BOUGHT THE SUV USED & I LOVE IT UNTILL A COUPLE WKS AGO TRYED TURNING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE & NOTICED MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TURN! IF I CAN PUSH ON THE GAS BE PEDAL AT ALL THE POWER STEERING WILL FREE UP & I CAN TURN! BUT IT GOES IN AND OUT WITHOUT ANY KNOWING! REALLY DISAPPOINTED! IT'S DIFFICULT TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT OR SOMETIMES TO MAKE A SHARP TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET OR INTO PARKING LOTS WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC, I HAVE TO ALWAYS PREPARE MYSELF FOR IT TO GO OUT!!!

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

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AS I STARTED A TURN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER LEAVING ME STRANDED IN TRAFFIC. HAD TO STOP, TURN OFF CAR, RESTART AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME FUNCTIONAL.

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

INTERMITTENTLY LOSING POWER STEERING ASSIST. COMES AND GOES UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSING YOU TO NOT BE ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE.

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

THE STEERING IS WHINING WHILE TURNING, I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF STEERING FAILURE. MOVING AND STATIONARY.

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

WHEN I WAS TURNING INTO THE GAS STATION MY WHEELS LOCKED UP MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL AT ALL TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT . I PUT MY CAR IN PARK WENT AROUND THE CAR TO LOOK AND SEE IF ANYTHING WAS WRONG AROUND THE TIRES NOTHING LOOKED UNUSUAL GOT BACK IN MY CAR PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK VERY SCARY NOT HAVING CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE . WHEN THIS OCCURRED MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING INTO THE GAS STATION COMING TOWARD THE PUMP WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP.

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

IT WAS A RAINY DAY AND HEADING DOWN A LOCAL STREET AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING FOR A PERIOD OF 5 SECONDS. I'M 190 LB MALE, AND I COULDN'T BUDGE THE WHEEL HEADING FOR A TREE. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE COLLISION BUT I CAN GUARANTEE THAT IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, SHOULD WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL. IT HAPPENED TO ME TWO MORE TIMES THAT DAY BUT FOR SMALLER INTERVALS OF TIME. LUCKILY MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR BUT I AM NOW FEAR THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. I WON'T LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT, AND I HAVE TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL READY TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH. THIS CARE CAN NOT BE CASUALLY DRIVEN. THIS HAS SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY CONCERNS.

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

STEERING LOCKS UP, THERE IS POWER STEERING FLUID IN IT, BUT HAVING A MAJOR PROBLEM STEERING AND MAKING TURNS. STEERING LOCKS OR FREEZES UP AND IT WON'T MOVE WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS NOTHING LEAKING ANYWHERE. WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE?

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

EARLY DECEMBER I HEARD SOUND INDICATING STEERING ISSUE, SUPPORTED BY LOCAL MECHANIC WHEN GETTING OIL CHANGE. RESEARCHED CAUSES AND PRICES ONLINE AND FOUND SERVICE BULLETIN #14329A FROM GM. I ADHERED TO BULLETIN AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY CONFIRMED SB APPLIED TO MY VEHICLE. LATER RECEIVED A CALL THAT THE STEERING GEAR WAS ALSO AT ISSUE BUT NOT COVERED BY BULLETIN TO THE TUNE OF~ $1200.00 FOR "NECESSARY" REPLACEMENT.. I TRIED TO GET LOCAL DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND AGENTS FOR GM CARES TO EXPLAIN HOW EITHER ORIGINAL PART WAS NOT POORLY DESIGNED OR MANUFACTURED OR THE FLUID WAS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE STEERING ASSEMBLY TO HAVE NOT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING GM IS AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY FOR. WHILE NOT HAPPY ABOUT BEING OUT $1200 FOR ASSOCIATED REPAIR ON A GM SERVICE BULLETIN, I AM MORE CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY OF THE VEHICLE IS FAULTY AND PLACES MY GRANDCHILDREN AT RISK. ONLY ON THE LAST DAY BEFORE DROPPING OFF AT DEALER WAS THERE ANY ISSUE WITH DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY OF THE STEERING. I REQUESTED THE STEERING GEAR THEY REMOVED AND HAVE IT IN MY POSSESSION. I HAVE AN EMAILED SUMMARY STATEMENT FROM GM CARES ON MY COMPLAINT AND A COPY OF THE INVOICE ON THE REPAIR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2017
Sep 2017

THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT/HAD PROBLEMS TWICE IN 67,000 MILES. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY AND ALL THE OTHERS THAT ARE DRIVING THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING IS A SAFETY CONCERN. CHEVROLET PROVIDED ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR A PROBLEM THEY IDENTIFIED WITH THE POWER STEERING, HOWEVER IT DOESN'T COVER ALL OF THE REPEATED PROBLEMS OWNERS CONTINUE TO HAVE. THERE NEEDS TO BE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE SO THAT OWNERS CAN GET THE PROBLEM FIXED AND SAFELY DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2017
Aug 2017

I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHY THE POWER STEERING RACK IS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH OF A PART ON A VEHICLE TO INSURE A SAFE RIDE? THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ON THE TRAVERSE ABOUT THIS PART GIVING OUT. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND THEY WANT $2000.00 TO FIX IT? WHAT? IT SHOULD BE ON A RECALL LIST AND TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE A NUMBER OF DEATHS HAPPEN. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM HAS MANEUVERED AROUND FIXING THIS IMPORTANT PART OF A VEHICLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2016
Aug 2017

I PURCHASE THE BRAND NEW CHEVY TRAVERSE IN AUG 2011, ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO I WAS MAKING A U-TURN AND THE VEHICLE STUCK ON THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT TURN, CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID TURN OFF THE CAR AND RE START IN 2 MINUTES. I HAD AROUND 20,000 MILES AT TIME. CURRENTLY I HAVE ABOUT 27K MILES AND 6 MONTHS AGO I MENTION THAT WE HAVE SOME NOISE COMING OUT WHEN WE TURN THE STEERING, DEALER CHECKED DURING MY OIL CHANGE VISIT AND SAID ITS ALL NORMAL. THE NOISE WAS GETTING WORST SO TOOK THE CAR AGAIN AT 25K MILES AND THEY CHECKED IN DETAIL AND SAID RACK AND PINION IS GONE BAD, I WAS SHOCKED THAT AT 25K MILES HOW THIS CAN BE POSSIBLE? THEY SAID ITS VEHICLE AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN, THEY CHARGING ME $1861.00 TO REPLACE AS IT IS NOT IN WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT AT 25K-27K MILES, GM MEASURE COMPONENT BREAK DOWNS AND THERE IS NO RECALL, I FEEL ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER ON THE ROAD DRIVING THE UNSAFE VEHICLE FROM GM/CHEVY

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2017
Aug 2017

POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS IN PROCESS OF FAILING. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE CENTER THAT THE TEETH WERE GRINDING DOWN AND WOULD SHORTLY HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER VEHICLE. ONLY INDICATION WAS THE WHINE OF THE STEERING PUMP AS IT FAILED DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF A SEAL LEAK AND CONTAMINANTS IN FLUID FROM THE METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE STEERING GEAR. UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO ASK FOR THE PARTS OR TAKE PICTURES OF THE FAILED PARTS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2016
Jul 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2017
Jun 2017

I OWN A 2011 CHEVY TRAVERSE WITH JUST OVER 80,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE STREET AND STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND AGAINST TRAFFIC, AS I MOVED MY POWER STEERING LOCKED. I MANAGED TO COMPLETE THE TURN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED AND THAT THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK IN THE STEERING RACK. THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AS IT WAS A KNOWN FAULT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER WHO SAID THAT AS THERE WAS A LEAK IT WAS NOT COVERED BY GENERAL MOTORS AS THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE STEERING PUMP BY THE DEALER. IF IT IS A KNOWN FAULT GM AND DEALERS SHOULD DO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2017
Mar 2017

CAR IS MAKING KNOCKING NOISIES WHEN TURNING EITHER WAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE TELLING ME IT US GOING TO COST $1,800 TO FIX. THE PART ONLY COST LIKE $250.00.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2017
Mar 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT, THE STEERING COLUMN MADE AN ABNORMAL WHINING SOUND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TURN WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD TO EXECUTE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,522.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2016

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse has 117 Steering complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.