2011 Chevrolet Traverse Steering
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
AT 120,000 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGIN EXHIBITING THE ISSUES AS DESCRIBED IN SPECIAL WARRANTY 14329. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THAT WHILE THE SAME TWO PARTS LISTED IN THE WARRANTY HAD FAILED THEY DID NOT FAIL IN THE MANNER THAT IS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I FIND IT VERY CONVENIENT THAT THESE TWO PARTS WHICH DO NOT FAIL ROUTINELY IN VEHICLES FAILED WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD BUT IT WAS NOT CAUSED BUT THE WARRANTY ISSUE. UNLESS I RECEIVE THE $2000 THIS REPAIR COSTS BACK OR IT IS PROVEN TO ME EMPIRICALLY THAT THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE WARRANTY I WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE REPAYMENT OF THE MONEY OWED TO ME. I WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT NO ONE WITHIN MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS PURCHASES ANOTHER GM VEHICLE UNTIL THIS MATTER IS HANDLED. I HAVE SUBMITTED A CASE TO CHEVY WITH NUMBER 8-2782147523
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AS AN ABNORMAL SQUEALING SOUND EMITTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
POWER STEERING RACK FOUND LEAKING DURING NYSI. I FEEL RACK SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS PRICE TO PAY FOR A VEHICLE THAT WAS JUST IN FOR AN INSPECTION WITH NOTHING ELSE WRONG.
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR POWER STEERING ISSUE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE POWER STEERING ISSUE AND WAS COVERED UNDER A "SPECIAL POLICY". WHEN I PICK UP MY VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALER AND WE TOOK THE CAR BACK. THEY ALIGNED THE VEHICLE. STILL SAME ISSUE. AFTER OVER A WEEK THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE "GEAR" OR "WRACK". THERE IS A SPECIAL AMENDMENT TO THE SPECIAL POLICY BUT, APPARENTLY MY CAR DIDN'T QUALIFY. NOT SURE WHY? MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF. THIS IS A NONE ISSUE WITH GM AND WE ARE CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH THEM THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE GEAR. GM WRITES SPECIAL POLICIES FOR THE CHEAP REPAIRS BUT, WHEN IT COMES TO A MAJOR ISSUE THAT WAS NO FAULT OF MINE THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AN ARM AND A LEG. I FIND IT RIDICULOUS THAT CONSUMERS CAN BE TREATED IN THIS WAY. I HAVE STARTED WRITING MY COMPLAINTS SINCE TRYING TO DEAL WITH GM HAS BECOME UNREASONABLE. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! [XXX] P.S. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN THE SPECIAL POLICY NUMBER AND AMENDMENT PLEASE CONTACT ME. I HAVE NUMBERS TO CALL ALSO. :) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A LOUD SOUND EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF UPDATED 08/30/16.*JB
AFTER NOTICING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED, CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP STATES THE POWER STEERING IS LEAKING FLUID INTERNALLY AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $1,700.00, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE. WHILE REVIEWING COMPLAINTS RELATED TO CHEVROLET TRAVERSE STEERING IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IF YOU CHECK "CARCOMPLAINTS.COM" UNDER 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE STEERING PROBLEMS YOU WILL SEE THAT THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS ARE THE SAME AS OURS. GIVEN THAT LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY CONCERN, COUPLED WITH THE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, I WAS HOPING NHTSA COULD LOOK INTO IT (IF THEY WEREN'T ALREADY). SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINTS I READ WERE REGARDING VEHICLES WITH UNDER 40,000 MILES. IT SEEMS THIS MAY WELL BE A DEFECTIVE OR POORLY DESIGNED STEERING SYSTEM.
WHILE DRIVING APPROX 20 MPH OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND TURNING LEFT, I HEARD A LOUD WHINING SOUND AND FELT A "THUMP" WITH SOME VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CAR CONTINUES TO MAKE THE SAME SOUND WHEN MAKING SHARPER TURNS, LIKE GOING INTO A PARKING SPACE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE A POWER STEERING LEAK AND NEED A NEW STEERING RACK TO THE TUNE OF $1300-1600 REPAIR! THIS CAR ONLY HAS 33,146 MILES. *TR
AT 76,000 MILES I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I TURN LEFT WITH MY STEERING WHEEL THAT IT MAKES A REVVED UP WHINING NOISE. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT 54,961 FROM 1 1/2 YEARS AGO, I HAVE FIXED THE HEATING SYSTEM (800), WHEELING BEARING (290) AND NOW A STEERING PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED A CHEVROLETS FOR A LONG TIME BUT THIS IS A PIECE OF JUNK. I AM SICKENED TO THINK THAT AN AMERICAN COMPANY SUCH AS CHEVROLET HAS NO INTENTIONS TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT IS VERY PREVALENT IN THESE CARS. MAYBE A COUPLE OF DEATHS AND SOME LAWSUITS WILL WAKE YOU UP! I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE A CHEVY/GMC PRODUCT BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE. $1500 TO FIX SOMETHING I STILL OWE MONEY ON>>>BULL CRAP >>BTW I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM>> THANKS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
(TAKATA)2011 CHEVY TRAVERSE WHEN I DRIVE IN THE RAIN I LOSE ALL STEERING IN THE RAIN ALSO I HAVE A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING I CAN TURN THE WHEEL WITH ONE FINGER AND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE CAR DRIFTS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY MY FAMILY IS VERY SCARED TO GET IN THIS CAR AND ALL THESE PROBLEMS HAPPEN WHEN I'M IN MOTION ON I-95 HIGHWAY
GM DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND "WHINING" NOISE CAUSED BY POWER STEERING LEAK. REPLACED POWER STEERING GEAR AT A COST OF $1781. A "SERVICE BULLETIN" WAS ISSUED BY GM REGARDING THIS ISSUE IN 2014. IT PROMISED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS REPAIR FOR 10 YEARS FROM DATE CAR WAS PLACED INTO SERVICE, BUT ONLY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2015. CLEARLY, THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE TRAVERSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK LEAKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO, I KEPT ON HEARING A HUMMING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE STEERING SEEM TO BE VERY STIFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDS A NEW POWER STEERING RACK AND PUMP. THE CAR JUST ROLLED 62,000 MILES WHICH IS TOO EARLY FOR THOSE TYPE OF ISSUES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING FAILURE IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING IT LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND NOTIFIED THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THAT CAMPAIGN WITHOUT DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 05/18/16*LJ CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ISSUE WOULD ONLY BE COVERED IF IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT NOT THE REST OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. POWER STEERING IS FIXED. UPDATED 6/618*JB
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FLUID LEAK....LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT SPARATIC TIMES VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY ON ICY ROADS. THIS COMPLAINT IS THE SAME AS HUNDREDS OF TRAVERSE OWNERS. I HAVE OWNED NOTHING BUT CHEVY MY WHOLE LIFE AND WOULD EXPECT THAT THEY WILL STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PULLEY WAS FOUND IN THE DRIVEWAY ON THE GROUND BY HIS VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IDLE PULLEY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,183.
MY VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING FAILED, GM HAS A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE STEERING PUMP LEAKING BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE AS PER THE RECALL. THEY SAID MY RACK AND PINION STEER HAS ALSO IS LEAKING. I FEEL THIS IS A WAY TO GET YOU TO SPEND MORE ON REPAIRS. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS ON A STATE ROAD AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL BECAUSE THE PS ASSIST FAILED.
POWER STEERING WHINE DIAGNOSED TODAY WITH WHINE PRESENT WHILE TURNING OR ACCELERATING AFTER A TURN. THEY ARE SAYING WE NEED A NEW STEERING GEAR (RACK) AND THAT WILL ONLY SET ME BACK $1700. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE POWER STEERING CAN GO OUT AT ANY POINT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS AND THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY THINGS NEEDING ATTENTION. THERE IS A WHINE WITH THE A/C WHEN ONE OF THE BOLSTERS<?> ARE TO SHUT FOR A CHANGE IN TEMP.
ABOUT 2YRS AFTER PURCHASE, STEERING RACK AND POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS DONE PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION. NOW AT THIS TIME DEC. 2015 WITH 68,906 MI ON THE OD, I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. DIFFICULT TO STEER AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, CLUNKING SENSATION/FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND A PUMP WHINE SOUND. HARD TO TURN WHEEL FROM A STARTING POINT OR STOP. WHEN ACCELERATING STEERING WHEELS IS EASIER TO TURN. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE STEERING IS LOOSE. THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATING FACTORS TO THE START OF THIS PROBLEM YESTERDAY, I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM AFTER ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN AT A SS ON MY WAY HOME. I COULD HARDLY MAKE THE LEFT TURN, THEN I STARTED TO HEAR THE WHINE NOISE. FLUIDS ARE ALL GOOD IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. HOW IN THE WORLD CAN THIS BE AGAIN? THERE MUST BE AN INTERNAL FLAW. TO HAVE THIS OCCUR TWICE NOT ONCE ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT IS VERY TROUBLING AT BEST.
A WEIRD NOISE STARTED TO HAPPEN WHEN I TURNED AND PROGRESSED TO A CONSTANT WHINING NOISE THAT WORSENS WHILE TURNING. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS A LEAK IN THE STEERING RACK AND WOULD BE AN $1800 REPAIR. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW RPMS.
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE AT HAROLD CHEVROLET DEALER IN ANGOLA, INDIANA IN JULY 2015. WAS TOLD THAT THE "POWER STEERING BOX" WAS LEAKING AND GIVEN A PRICE QUOTE OF OVER $1800 FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MULTIPLE OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE BUT GM IS DOING NOTHING. TOOK IT TO LOCAL SHOP WHO REPLACED RACK AND PINIONS, PLUS ALIGNMENT COSTING $1025. DURING RESEARCH ONLINE, HUNDREDS OF 2009-2011 TRAVERSE OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. AS OF NOVEMBER 15, 2015 IT BECAME HARD TO TURN WHEEL RANDOMLY AT LOW SPEEDS UNLESS APPLYING ACCELERATION. APPEARS IT MAY BE THE PUMP THAT THEY ISSUED A "CONCERN" FOR. I FEEL THE WHOLE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACED, AT GM'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF, FAMILY, AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. A VEHICLE ONLY 4-6YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE ISSUES-- IT IS OBVIOUSLY FAULTY PARTS AND/OR PRODUCTION.
STEERING GOES OUT WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN , CHEV.DEALER CHARGED 1400.00 TO REPAIR STEERING SYSTEM , STATING A PION GEAR AND BOOTS WAS WORN AND LEAKING , 105,000 MILES , REPLACED PUMP AS WELL AS GEAR AND NEW BOOTS , SEE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL , NEED THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED , CAME VERY CLOSE TO A WRECK MYSELF , WHILE TURNING OFF A BUSY HIGHWAY ,CONSUMERS BEING CHARGED TO FIX FAULTY GM PRODUCTS , NOT FAIR
THE IS A RUBBING/GROANING SOUND WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP IT IS THE STEERING GEARBOX NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $1400. I FOUND MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS THAT REFER TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL. TSB: PI-0029B, PI-0029B, SBC-14329, SB-13-02-32-001, SB-10-02-32-002A
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The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse has 117 Steering complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.