Since I bought my car, I've had problems with acceleration and deceleration be very erratic. It seems to shift down and up at the wrong times. It's very inconsistent as I travel the same route each day to work, I never know what it's going to do. Sometimes it lurches ahead and the RPM's are all over the place, and downshifts when it really shouldn't. I've taken it in for repair, they put the…
2009 Chevrolet Traverse cruise control problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
When does it fail?
Of the 13 cruise control complaints filed for the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2009 Traverse has multiple documented acceleration and power-loss issues—some occur during braking, some with cruise control engaged, others with Stabilitrak faults—and dealers often cannot diagnose or fix them permanently. Buy with caution and demand a pre-purchase inspection focused on throttle response, transmission feel, and any Stabilitrak history.
Owners of the 2009 Traverse report five distinct failure patterns tied to engine power and transmission control. The most alarming: unintended acceleration with cruise control on. One owner had the vehicle jump from 65 to 110 mph with no pedal input. Another experienced full-throttle acceleration to 80 mph with failed braking for two miles—only neutraling the transmission stopped it. Dealers could not diagnose either case.
Engine hesitation and erratic shift behavior plague multiple cars. Owners describe sputtering acceleration, RPM spikes, lurching, and transmission downshifts at the wrong moments—all inconsistent, making the same commute unpredictable. One garage called it a "common trait" in the Traverse computer but refused to acknowledge it as defective.
Sudden power loss is endemic. Vehicles drop from highway speed (70 mph) to 30–40 mph without warning, Stabilitrak and traction control lights firing. This recurs for years despite throttle body replacement, connector swaps, and alleged computer updates. One owner documented three years of recurring failures.
A transmission-specific failure appears: the vehicle won't move forward or reverse after stopping, traced to the 35R wave plate. GM issued an extended warranty on that part.
Finally, some cars enter limp mode—restricted to 10–20 mph, no throttle response, stalling. Transmission shift cable and ABS sensors have been mentioned. No permanent fixes reported.
Same Chevrolet Traverse cruise control reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration with cruise control
Vehicle accelerates without driver input while cruise control is engaged. One owner reported the vehicle accelerated from 65 mph to 110 mph with cruise control on and accelerator untouched. Another reported unintended acceleration to 80 mph with loss of braking response.
When: Approximately 99,000 miles in one documented case; variable in others
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid acceleration without pedal input while cruise control engaged; Loss of speed control; Loss of or ineffective brakes during acceleration event; No warning lights in one case
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle was shifted to neutral to regain control; dealer unable to diagnose in multiple cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in these complaints
Engine hesitation and erratic acceleration/deceleration
Owners report sputtering hesitation in acceleration and unpredictable acceleration and deceleration. Transmission shifts at wrong times, lurches, and RPM spikes occur inconsistently. One owner noted the issue occurs during straight acceleration and turns.
When: Present from ownership; one case had latest computer chip installed as attempted fix
Symptoms owners cite: Engine sputters during acceleration; Erratic acceleration and deceleration; Lurching ahead; RPMs spike inconsistently; Transmission downshifts at wrong times; Inconsistent behavior on same route
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had computer chip updated with minimal improvement; another garage offered computer refresh with reported 2 mpg loss as side effect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Garage cited issue as 'common trait' in Traverse computer but not a defect; promised corporate contact with multi-day delay
Sudden power loss with Stabilitrak/traction control warning
Vehicle loses engine power suddenly, often accompanied by Stabilitrak and traction control warning lights. Power loss occurs at highway speeds with dramatic deceleration (70 mph to 30-40 mph). Issue is recurring and service visits have not permanently resolved it.
When: Recurring over 3+ years; variable mileage (104,000 miles documented in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power; Stabilitrak warning light illuminates; Traction control warning light illuminates; Dramatic speed reduction at highway speeds; Vehicle nearly hit by following traffic; Service engine soon light in some cases
Codes mentioned: Stabilitrak fault, Traction control system fault
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple service visits; throttle body replaced, TMC (throttle motor control) replaced, connector replaced; problem recurs within months; vehicle not repaired in some cases
Loss of forward/reverse motion at traffic light
Vehicle fails to move in forward or reverse gear after stopping at a red light. Suspected root cause is the 35R wave plate within the transmission. GM issued extended warranty on this component.
When: Occurred while stopped at red light
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not move forward; Vehicle will not move reverse; No motion after light turns green
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in reported case; 35R wave plate identified as probable cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued extended warranty on 35R wave plate
Limp mode with severe power restriction and stalling
Vehicle enters limp mode with speed limited to 10-20 mph, no throttle response, and tendency to stall. Transmission shift cable implicated in one report. Vehicle provides no power when attempting acceleration.
When: Early December in one documented case
Symptoms owners cite: Speed restricted to 10-20 mph; No throttle response; Vehicle stalls or wants to shut down; Transmission shift cable issue noted; Slows down in traffic; Check engine light illuminated; Stabilitrak/traction control warning; ABS sensor warning
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Stabilitrak warning, Traction control warning, ABS sensor fault
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission shift cable mentioned as potential cause
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2009 Chevrolet Traverse?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 24,536 and 121,000 miles, with the median around 99,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,536; a quarter make it past 121,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Chevrolet/Traverse.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.