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CarComplaints.com Notes: There are a fair-number of power steering related complaints which is a continuation of problems from the previous model year. Considering the problem tends to happen beyond the standard warranty (73k+) it's best to avoid this vehicle or at least be prepared for the $1,300+ repair.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,238 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Chevrolet Traverse engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Chevrolet Traverse Owner Comments (Page 6 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #102

Jun 242017

Traverse

  • 112,000 miles

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

June 24, 2017 driving at 70mph on 2 lane highway with outside temperature around 85 degrees and suddenly lost power, speed dropped quickly, engine light came on and stopped car on side of road. Narrowly avoided accident from sudden deceleration. Turned off engine and waited about 15 seconds and restarted engine. Drove ok after that. Had similar loss of power with warning lights of "power reduced" and engine light came on February 2017 in grocery store parking lot. Left engine off for about one hour and then restarted ok but acceleration sluggish. Took car to auto mechanic and they could find nothing wrong.

- Mcgregor, TX, USA

problem #101

Jun 192017

Traverse

  • 64,472 miles
Check engine light came on with code P008, took to dealer & found 3 timing chains needed replaced which means the engine must come out and an open estimate of at least $2350. Found on cartruckinfo.com and NHTSA.gov this is a common complaint and needs corrected by General Motors and Chevrolet. Unacceptable for a 2011 vehicle with 64,000 miles.

- Chesapeake, OH, USA

problem #100

Mar 012017

Traverse

  • 110,000 miles
Code P0008 and P0017 was pulled. Looked online and found this - looks like this is a major common issue. Looks like Chevy has had it since 2008 on that same model and they extended the warranty on 2008-2009 models but nothing since, just the issue still remains. It is a timing chain issue that has occurred in many many cases. www.cartruckinfo.com/mechanic/Traverse-timing-chains/

- Orland Park, IL, USA

problem #99

May 102017

Traverse

  • 96,411 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel shook and the rpms increased and decreased rapidly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,411.

- Bellflower, CA, USA

problem #98

Sep 012016

Traverse

  • 91,050 miles
Timing chains worn out

- Maple Grove, MN, USA

problem #97

Feb 172017

Traverse

  • 120,000 miles
Timing chain, heads, valves quit running the timing chair jumped and my car won't run now. The chev dealer said that it is a reoccurring issue in 2011 chev Traverse.

- Lake Village, IN, USA

problem #96

Feb 092017

Traverse

  • 104,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving approximately 25 mph uphill, the vehicle lost traction control and acceleration. The service stabilitrack and engine power reduced warning indicators illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle home. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

- Sothwick, MA, USA

problem #95

Jan 272017

Traverse

  • 110,000 miles
A beep occurs and an error - no traction control off - service stabilitrack - engine power reduced; the vehicle has 110K miles and this have never happend before. These errors have accured when the vehicle is in motion and also right as you start it up. Dealership has offed to "try to fix" the issue for the tune of $5000 however they do not know if it will actully fix the issue. So Chevy what are you going to do about this?

- Brunswick, ME, USA

problem #94

Jan 272017

Traverse 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
The first incident happened Dec 2015. Driving out of town on the highway and vehicle shut completely off barley missed and oncoming 18 wheeler. Took it to the dealership they informed me that Chevrolet is aware of the problem. They patched the problem. Today 1/27/2017 a year later the same problem. Driving to work and the vehicle shuts off while driving. Called the Chevrolet corporate number when I was telling them what about the vehicle shutting off. Chevrolet corporate customer services male was telling me what the problem may be the engine and telling what the vehicle was doing when the vehicle shut off, how the powertran lock. But they refuse to repair the vehicle telling me that I would have to pay out of pocket. Why, should I have to pay out of pocket when Chevrolet is aware of the problem and the dealership also informed me that Chevrolet is aware of the problem put does not want to do recall on the vehicle. I was explaining the Chevrolet corporate that each time this could have been a fatal car accident. But Chevrolet response was sorry to hear but here is nothing we can do.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #93

Jan 252017

Traverse

  • 41,632 miles
The check engine light came on when driving on a city street going approximately 45 mph. The next day the temp gage spike to 260 in same conditions and as soon as pulling into the driveway coolant spilled into the driveway. The fan continued to run even after vehicle was turned off. Added coolant to get to dealership that is 4 miles a way. Halfway there engine started smoking, pulled over & coolant leaked everywhere again. Needs a new water pump, thermostat, coolant fluid exchange due to leak, & transmission fluid exchange.

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #92

Jan 112017

Traverse

  • 115,000 miles

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

I had contacted Chevy corporate on the steering issue on my car while it was still under warranty. Needless to say there were no help. I went to the dealership many times because of the steering alone. Since then I have other issues with my 2011 Traverse. Now the car shuts while driving. It sounds like a lot of GM owners of different vehicles are having the same issue. I guess there will not be a recall until someone dies over this. Some of the issues included all 4 struts were bad under 100,000 miles, rack and pinion going up, steering issues, leaking from the steering column, 3 times the ac actuator has gone up, issues with the lift gate failing, life gate one time injured my father-in-law, timing chain failing prematurely, and now the stabilitrak and traction control is going off. The vehicle shuts up while driving! my wife got stuck on a bridge and was put in danger due to this. Now the Traverse sits in the driveway. My wife said a warning was displayed about reducing engine power. The Traverse went down to 20mpg and then shut off on a bridge. This is very unsafe and needs to be investigated.

- Phoenix, MD, USA

problem #91

May 012016

Traverse

  • 108 miles
My car had started making a noise in the front before I could get it to the shop that I take it to I was going to get my daughter had my son neice and nephew was going down the road and the dash flashed low engine power lost the breaks and could not steer the car. I later found out that it was the timing chains. After research and talking with Chevy they refused to do anything although there has been multiple complaints putting people in danger and they will not do anything. They said with me going to a 3rd party to have the car worked on that they wouldn't touch mine. My car has been well maintained I had just had this car over a year when it started this. I owe 17K still on this car and not able to drive it. This is a major problem in several models and Chevy is not wanting to pay for their mistake, I have also had this looked at by Chevy they tried saying that there was no oil in the car but it was changed and had been sitting for about 4 months. A single mom paying 400 a month on a vehicle that is not my fault that it is messed up. I will never have another Chevy again.

- Hayesville, NC, USA

problem #90

Nov 122016

Traverse

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving approximately 10 mph, the engine warning indicator illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the engine warning indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

- Cos Cob, CT, USA

problem #89

Nov 032016

Traverse 6-cyl

  • 74,875 miles
Takata recall I have a 2011 Chevy Traverse ltz with just under 75K miles. I had the throttle body replaced in October 2014 before there was a recall. Today, I got out of class, picked up my children from school and went to the grocery store. This is a 2 mile trip round-trip. I was driving past the kids school straight ahead on city streets doing about 15 mph, just a few blocks from our house, the warning lights began to beep and the dic had several messages. "engine hot A/C off" "engine power is reduced" and "engine overheated idle engine". it became very difficult to handle the truck. The high in Chicago today was 60 degrees and I only made the one trip mentioned above. I plan on taking it to the dealer tomorrow but I want to know if this is a problem people are having.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #88

May 302016

Traverse 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving various speeds, "engine power low" illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle stalled. The failure occurred on two occasions and was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the timing link on the inside of the motor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000. The VIN was not available...updated 10/26/16

- Hayesville, NC, USA

problem #87

Mar 012016

Traverse

  • 95,000 miles
My check engine light came on at 95000 miles code pooo8. I took the car to the dealer and they said it needed trimming chains. My guys told me it might be covered but after checking my bin it was not covered. He told me it was a problem with with these motors but my VIN was not included in the recall and it would be 2500 dollars to fix a four year old car. GM would not do anything to help me.

- Southgate, MI, USA

problem #86

Aug 232016

Traverse

  • 93,000 miles
2011 Chevrolet Traverse rack and pinion leak and timing belt light came on. Car is well maintained, driven easy and has only 93000 miles on it. GM says it is not covered...

- Charles City, VA, USA

problem #85

Aug 262016

Traverse

  • miles
Engine light came on and had (3) different codes as sensors that has gone bad. Took to dealer were they said it was my timing chain has stretch after 90,000 miles. If their chains are stretching at 90,000 miles is an issue. I'm lucking the vehicle was idle and the chains did not snap.

- Owings Mills, MD, USA

problem #84

Jul 132016

Traverse

  • 39,500 miles
My 2011 Chevy Traverse had the check engine light go on at just under 40,000 miles on error P0017. A cam shaft sensor was replaced only to have the light emit again 2 weeks later. Now the car is reading 2 codes. One is still the P0017 and now a P0008. The timing chain is a well known issue with this engine and GM still hasn't issued a recall. There are people with complaints that are over 2 years old. The cars run extremely rough while driving, use excessive gas and have been known to completely shut off while driving. This needs to be recalled on these engines.

- Alsip, IL, USA

problem #83

Aug 072016

Traverse

  • 115,000 miles
My SUV simply cut off in the middle of the street. The engine light came on and I heard a loud noise, then it cut off. It had to be pushed off the street and towed. Had this happened 1 hour earlier when I was on I 85 going about 75 mph, it is very possible that I would not be here right now.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

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