2011 Chevrolet Traverse Problems, Recalls & Reliability
945 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 85,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2021–2022.
Avoid
Where 2011 sits among all Traverse years
What owners report
“While driving the car is just died and everything locked up and almost rain into a curb with kids in the car. Check engine light was on and had the code p008 and car diagonosed with timing chain issues and needs to be replaced.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Traverse
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Traverse
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Traverse
“My engine went out on my 2011 chevy traverse and this is part of of the recall the dealer didn't do nothing about it and now i am without a car”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Traverse
“Takate recall after turning car on it driving the gages go dead not working and ac buttons will not work, then after a few seconds it will go back to working. And it tells me to service air bag, service awd.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Traverse
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Traverse
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 742 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 74,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 50,208 and 104,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The…
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008,…
Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner…
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN,…
Fix: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM NUTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 21V245.
Technical service bulletins
1,460 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2011 Traverse TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse drew 945 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).
What are the most common 2011 Chevrolet Traverse problems?
The top reported problems for the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse are engine (213 complaints), steering (165), and other (160).
At what mileage do 2011 Chevrolet Traverse problems show up?
Owners most often report 2011 Chevrolet Traverse problems around 74,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 50,208 and 104,000 miles.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.