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9.3

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,200
Average Mileage:
117,350 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (2 reports)
  2. replace timing chain (1 reports)
2009 Chevrolet Traverse engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Chevrolet Traverse Owner Comments

problem #3

Apr 062016

Traverse LT 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine light came on, activated Onstar and was unable to determine the cause. Took it to Advantage Chevy and was told it was a timing chain issue. To my horror i was told in order to replace the timing chain the engine had to be taken out! After consulting with the service guy i was told the cost to repair would be around $3000, however GM would be willing to extend the warranty and pick up approximately $1800 of the cost. How generous of them right? This tells me that they were fully aware of the Traverse timing issue and wanted to avoid a recall.

Update from Feb 11, 2018: Engine light came on, activated Onstar and was sold there was a issue with the O2 sensor. After doing some research i found Traverses have a Throttle Position Sensor Issue. I took it to Advantage Chevy and was told i had a prematurely worn timing chain. To my horror i was was told in order to replace the chain the whole engine had to be taken out! The estimate for repair was over $3000. I was then told that GM would be willing to extend my warranty and pick up approximately $1800 of the cost. So nice of them right?This only tells me that they knew about this issue with Traverses and also GMC 3.6 engine premature timing chain wear.

- Clifton S., Bolingbrook, US

problem #2

Feb 012016

Traverse LT2 V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 130,000 miles

I bought this car new in 2009. I have had the timing chain recalled and replaced twice, numerous coils and injectors replaced for misfire problems. I have also had the steering rack go bad twice and the throttle body replaced. The transmission also failed at 50k miles. Now the timing chain is gone again and Im told that the valves hav extreme carbon buildup. I was told that the carbon builup was caused by cheap gas and oil. I guess using nothing but Mobil 1 synthetic oil and premium quality gas since I bought the car wasnt good enough ! To make matters worse I brought the car to Paul Conte Chevrolet in Freeport, NY where I purchased this car and my last 3 chevy's. They said there would be a $400 dollar dignostic fee. 1 week later they called and said the repair would be over $4,000. I told them to put it back together and I would continue driving with the check engine light on. I was then told the car will never run properly unless I had the repair done. Sounds like extortion to me ! After weeks of complaining, and Chevy not offering to do anything, I agreed to pay $1200 to put the car back together the way it was when I brought it in. Picked the car up and the engine ceased 1 hour later. I will never buy another GM car again and I also warn everyone DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM PAUL CONTE CHEVROLET.

- avgregg, East Meadow, NY, US

problem #1

Apr 172014

Traverse LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

The check engine light came on Thursday after the vehicle shut down without warning. I took the vehicle in on Friday morning at 7:30am for a diagnostic test. At 4:30pm on Friday I received a call from the service department at Sir Walter in Raleigh. The (new) guy said he had bad news for me. The timing chain had leaked gas into the converters and it would cost $3550 +tax to repair. I asked about warranty. He said the truck was out of warranty. Another service guy (Shawn) stated that my truck had a recall in 2011 for the timing chain. I had that recall completed in Feb. 2011. However, when I questioned the fact that the timing chain had already been worked on and it still caused new issues, he became somewhat hostile.

The problem that I have with this all is as follow: Sir Walter Chevrolet was no help and borderline rude. They didn't know the product nor did they bother to pull up the history of my vehicle. I placed a call to Hendricks Chevrolet in Cary and they were very familiar with the product (2009 Traverse problems). They were very informative. I reached out to corporate who stated they would put some numbers in a calculator to see if they would cover any of the expense.

NOT one time did anyone acknowledge that there is a problem with certain models (Traverse/Enclave/Arcadia). Clearly there is a problem because it is all over the internet. The service department at Hendricks acknowledged the problem by stating that the warranty had been extended from 10 years/100k to 10 years/120k. My vehicle is out of warranty by 5k. In addition, why should I have to pay for 2 converters when the timing chain (that they repaired) has caused the leak to damage them. It is an unjust that I intend not to pay $4000 for. GM meet me halfway. I would like to remain a loyal GM customer.

- Dalfanee K., Raleigh, NC, US

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