Chevrolet Traverse problems
608 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. No active recalls — patterns come from the complaint record.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Electrical system: 48 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 60,000–130,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
About 2yrs after purchase, steering rack and power steering pump had to be replaced, which was done prior to warranty expiration. Now at this time dec. 2015 with 68,906 mi on the od, I am experiencing the same problem again. Difficult to steer and turn the steering wheel,…
Power steering whine diagnosed today with whine present while turning or accelerating after a turn. They are saying we need a new steering gear (rack) and that will only set me back $1700. It is a safety issue as the power steering can go out at any point. I have only had…
I was driving home from work one evening. I just came off of the highway, then there was chimes coming from the 2011 Chevy traverse. Then on the dash read traction control off stability control off service traction control service stability control engine power reduced. I went…
I purchased this 2011 traverse used in 2013 with approximately 28,000 miles on it in aurora, co. It now has about 118,000 miles. I have had warning lights on the ABS and stability control systems come on, along with error messages indicating stability control and AWD are…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 608 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse?
The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 48 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 60,000–130,000 mi; Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 165 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 70,911 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 70,911 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Chevrolet Traverse has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 608 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.