TURNING CORNERS AT LOW RATE OF SPEED, STEERING LOCKS UP AND THEN CAN FINALLY TURN THE WHEEL, BUT WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. *JS
2009 Chevrolet Traverse steering problems
moderate 231 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
231
Recalls
0
Crashes
5
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE, BOUGHT BRAND NEW. WHEN BACKING OUT AND TURNING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, MY STEERING WAS BEYOND STIFF. I HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN AND THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I DID. THIS STEERING PROBLEM OCCURRED AT LOWER SPEEDS UP TO ABOUT 20 MPH OR SO. IT OCCURRED WHETHER I WAS TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT, MOVING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. WHEN TURNING LEFT AND/OR RIGHT, (NO…
DURING 15MPH TURN POWER STEERING FAILED AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THE TURN. I NARROWLY AVOIDED HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS WAITING TO ENTER THE INTERSECTION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON 11/5/13 WHO REPLACED THE WATER PUMP BECAUSE THE COOLANT LEAKING ON BELT CAUSED THE BELT TO SLIP, WHICH IS TURN CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. 12/27/13 BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE IN…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT INDICATED THE DEFECT WAS ONLY PRESENT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
I'VE BEEN READING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY GM HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE STEERING ISSUES. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I TRY TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT WHERE THE STEERING STARTS TO STIFFEN UP MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN. OR IF I'M PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, TRYING TO TURN IS AN ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS FATALI…
STEERING WAS MAKING A WHINING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. THIS HAPPENED WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, CHEVY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM. 2 YEARS LATER AFTER THE "FIX" THE STEERING IS AGAIN MAKING THE WHINING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVEN'T YET HAD CHEVY LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AGAIN, BUT JUDGING BY THE OTHER CO…
IT'S VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. WHEN TRYING TO TURN IN OR BACK UP IT'S EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 231 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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