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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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,039 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 1 of 3)

problem #57

Dec 082020

Traverse

  • 968,000 miles

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

While driving down highway at 55 mph suddenly hear a beep and see a warning that traction control is off, then service stabilitrak warning kept flashing and car in skid image is on constantly. Also after these warnings started flashing the speed control could not be set. Luckily I did't lose power this time as so many others have reported. After arriving home and restarting the car later all the warning lights were off. For several weeks now when resuming speed after stopping the car lunges while getting back up to speed. This could have been very dangerous had I lost or had reduced power like has happened to so many. GM really needs to issue a recall and fix this problem before someone is killed.

- Letts, IA, USA

problem #56

Aug 042019

Traverse

  • 86,000 miles
2011 Chevrolet Traverse: While driving all the lights start flashing and the vehicle turns off and on, not letting you accelerate and slowing the car down rapidly. Then the traction control turns off and vehicle idols rough. If I step on the accelerator there is no repose from the vehicle. We do not treat the vehicle hash or drive wild. I dont have the money for a lot of repairs. I change the oil when it's time and make sure its running smoothly. I have looked online and have seen many other complaints about the same issue and GM has not done anything about it. This is a major safety issue especially for someone driving at a high speed. Death is a major possibility if this were to happen in front of another vehicle. This has happened once before today.

- New Braunfels, TX, USA

problem #55

Jun 122019

Traverse

  • 120,000 miles
Driving my car on the street and heard 3 beeps go off and car wouldn't accelerate. Stabilitrak warning, traction control and ABS lights. Tried pushing on pedal to go and car couldn't pick up speed. Turn car off let sit tried again 30 seconds later same. Had the throttle switch worked couple days and now its happen again

- Eagan, MN, USA

problem #54

Mar 112019

Traverse

  • 100,000 miles

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

Traverse traction control light and brake light come on and off all the time. Making think that car is not safe to drive. All of the time that the lights come on when we arr driving in a straight line on a flat surface.

- Woodbridge, CA, USA

problem #53

Feb 102019

Traverse

  • 110,000 miles
Reduced power on vechile with dash lights indicating check stabile track. See a lot of complaints on this. Happened 3 times finally had to replace throttle body and harness for $550. No recalls? 110,000 miles. Very dangerous to have car slow down on highway during winter conditions.

- West Bend, WI, USA

problem #52

Jan 202019

Traverse

  • 101,000 miles
While driving normally on a freeway where speed limits are 65+ the car suddenly lost engine power and its impossible to reach speeds above 15 mph. Several codes appear "service traction control" "reduced engine power" "traction control off". the cause is a faulty throttle body, which is not a serviceable part it just randomly fails. Online forums show reports of this problem 100S and 100S of times dating back to at least 2014, on low mileage vehicles no less. Dealers deny knowing of a problem. Chevy has been notified many times by many customers yet no recalls have been issued and dealerships aren't aware of the problem in order to fix it. A loss of engine power like this could be fatal. If your fortunate enough to be near a dealership you might find a repair. Otherwise your stuck trying to limp it to a shop, find the part and reset the idle codes. This is turning into a very expensive repair.

- Longmont, CO, USA

problem #51

Dec 082018

Traverse

  • 60 miles

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

Stability traction control system problems. I have a 2011 Chevy Traverse. Problems erupted after I finished paying it off. I had this car for 7 years now and 100K miles now. For the past year the traction control system has failed multiple times. At first I took it to the dealer and spent over $3500 to fix it. A few months after the problem came back. The dealer was asking for almost $4000 stating that it was something else not fixed before. Even a mechanic from the dealership told me to get rid of it because lots of people were complaining with same issues. At first the "traction control system off" comes on the screen every time I drive for a long period of time. Followed by "service stability traction control system". now as soon as I turn the car on the same messages appear. Just a week ago I was in the highway and "power loss warning" came out in the screen. I couldn't accelerate, thank god I was near an exit and was able to get out in time before it stopped completely. Turned off the car and waited a few mnts. Turned on again and drove off on the service road. I was not able to go faster than 10 mph. Now the car is in my driveway and I'm getting ready to get rid of it asap! but just noticed that I'm not the only one with such a problem. We need a recall fast. I bought this car for 47K thinking that it was going to last just like the old Chevy. But this new tech is killing it! we need a recall on this fast!

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #50

Dec 092018

Traverse

  • 81,000 miles
Traction control went haywire while going about 25 miles an hour, it started shaking uncontrollably, "traction control" light came on and went off almost immediately. Rpms revved up to 5K. It has done it 4 time within a 24 hour period. Mechanic hooked it up to the computer and it detected nothing. Only thing that showed up was that it lost connection to the transmission. When the engine revved it, it seemed like it went out of gear while the rpms went high, it felt as if I put it in neutral while going around 25 mph.

- Norristown, PA, USA

problem #49

Nov 272018

Traverse

  • 93,705 miles
Bought a 2011 Traverse a month ago with 93705 miles on it. On the drive home the lights of the dash came on and said traction control off, service stabilitrak, reduced engine power. It wouldn't go past 20 mph (mind you I'm on a busy street with my four kids). Was able to get it home and called the dealership I got it from and am waiting for a call back.

- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

problem #48

Dec 292017

Traverse

  • 94,000 miles
Service stabletrak....lose in engine power while driving on the highway and back roads. The problem occured more often while driing slower and or stopping at lights.

- Hanover, PA, USA

problem #47

Jul 012017

Traverse

  • 149,000 miles

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

The steering is hard at low speeds. Trying to pull into a parking spot the car doesn't want to turn easily. At other times it works fine.

- Naselle, WA, USA

problem #46

Dec 152016

Traverse

  • 106,000 miles
While driving in town (no more than 30 mph), a beep occurs and an error - no traction control - service stabilitrack - engine power reduced. I am then unable to go over 10 mph. The check engine light also comes on at the end of this. I have to pull over, stop my car and restart in order to assume regular speed, however, it did happen twice in a drive that was only 10 miles long.

- Verona, WI, USA

problem #45

Nov 012016

Traverse 6-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
2011 Chevy Traverse. Sporadically decelerates while driving, flashes traction control off and service stabiltrak, check engine light. Pull over and let it "rest" for 15 minutes, it will resume driving. Have already had this issue "repaired" from Chevy store10 months ago. Mostly occurs while in motion, once while driving 70mph on hwy decelerated to 35 mph and almost caused accident. Now dealership is suggesting I make another expensive fix, which may or may not fix the issue. This car is a lemon!!!! today we are blocking traffic in a parking deck because it has decided to happen again, no drive, but reverse works fine.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #44

Oct 092016

Traverse

  • 57,000 miles
I accelerated from onramp to highway. I released pedal but engine revs rapidly increased and vehicle surged forward toward vehicle in front of me. Brakes did not stop my vehicle. I down shifted to low gear pulled onto shoulder to avoid collision. I applied brakes again.I slowed and shifted to neutral and park. Revs returned to normal and I shut off engine. Vehicle towed to dealer.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #43

Dec 022015

Traverse

  • 85,000 miles
While driving errors pop up for stabiltrak/traction control/engine power reduced then you get about then you lose about 20% to 60% of power. It can happen anywhere at anytime while driving.

- Blossburg, PA, USA

problem #42

Feb 012016

Traverse

  • 31,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at 4 mph, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The brakes failed and the vehicle had to shift to neutral. The vehicle crashed into a tree. The contact received leg and ankle injuries which medical attention was needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle remains at the scene. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

- Purvis, MS, USA

problem #41

Dec 192015

Traverse

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle stopped accelerating while the accelerator pedal was being depressed. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was able to be pulled over. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.

- Russellville, KY, USA

problem #40

Jan 072015

Traverse

  • 44,750 miles
My wife driving to work on busy highway..all of a sudden the speed goes from about 60 mph to like 25mph...stabilitrak light comes on. Cars honking, yelling, almost hitting her because her speed reduced to fast. She got to work when she left for the day the car seemed ok. Thought maybe she hit the stabilitrak button by mistake. A few days later same thing happened. After this incident it happened even more. I've been reading blogs re this and E mailed Chevy, said it wasn't a recall..I don't know why. This problem could kill someone. I had it fixed at the Chevy dealer costing over $400. From what I've read I think this problem occurred in some earlier Traverses. It's like you put your foot on the gas and the car doesn't go anywhere. They replaced the throttle body assy. This should not be happening!! they will wind up with lawsuits if this isn't taken care of. After E mailing Chevy I was told someone from the dealer I had the repairs done at would call to discuss. That never happened. I did call the dealer many times to no avail.

- West Orange, NJ, USA

problem #39

Mar 142015

Traverse

  • miles
Car became very sluggish speed dropped down to 40mph the check engine light came on followed by two messages "traction control off" and "service stabilitrak" car barely moved after that. I pulled onto the shoulder of the road turned the car off, attempted to turn it back on the car wouldn't start after 3 mins the car started and I was able to make it home however the check engine light is still on and the error messages are still being displayed. I googled the problem apparently it's very common and a recall need to be issued.

- Edgewood, MD, USA

problem #38

Feb 152015

Traverse

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while attempting to merge on a highway, the service stabilitrak and the reduced engine power was displayed across the message board. In addition, the contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle body sensor and the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired by the contact. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Fairmont, WV, USA

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