This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Chevrolet Traverse steering problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse have filed 27 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 50,199 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Traverse | 331 |
| 2011 Traverse | 165 |
| 2012 Traverse | 62 |
| 2013 Traverse | 18 |
| 2014 Traverse (this page) | 27 |
| 2015 Traverse | 27 |
| 2016 Traverse | 24 |
| 2017 Traverse | 11 |
| 2018 Traverse | 14 |
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 27 steering complaints filed for the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Owners have filed 27 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides a procedure to flush and bleed power steering system to correct a power steering noise or fluid leak concern that is caused during extremely low temperatures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a procedure inspecting for excess grease or Sealant on the Exterior of the steering gear due to seeing grease or sealant on certain locations on the gear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint is a random loss of engine power paired with severe steering difficulty. Owners driving at any speed—highway or local—report the vehicle abruptly triggering Service StabiliTrak, Traction Control Off, and Check Engine Light messages, then limping down to 10–20 mph with an almost non-existent power steering. These episodes last 5–20 minutes; turning the engine off and restarting clears the fault until it happens again. Two owners nearly collided with a semi truck and school bus. Dealers have struggled to diagnose the issue because diagnostic scanners aren't capturing codes consistently (though one P1682 code surfaced). Multiple owners replaced ECMs, wire harnesses, ignition switches, and batteries without resolving it.
Separate but equally serious: several owners report power steering failure entirely independent of engine limp mode—the pump leaks fluid mysteriously, the rack goes dry with no visible leak, or the wheel simply seizes mid-turn. Chevy denied one owner's claim because the 2014 fell outside an earlier 2009–2011 recall window. Owners also report steering gear noise, intermittent airbag warning lights with odd rattling sounds, and rare but terrifying instances of sudden steering loss causing collisions. One owner noted the vehicle slipped out of Park and rolled backward uncontrollably.
Same Chevrolet Traverse steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Engine power loss with limp mode and hard steering
Vehicle enters limp mode (reduced to 10–20 mph) with simultaneous loss of power steering responsiveness. Service StabiliTrak, Traction Control Off, Check Engine Light, and Engine Power Reduced messages appear. Episodes are random and non-patterned, last 5–20 minutes when vehicle is shut off, then clear until the next occurrence. Owners report nearly catastrophic highway incidents, including near-collisions with semi trucks and almost hitting a school bus.
When: Random; occurs while accelerating, decelerating, turning, or driving straight at any speed (0–70+ mph); some owners note onset after 30 minutes of driving or during heavy traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Engine power reduced message; Service StabiliTrak warning; Traction Control Off message; Check Engine Light; Vehicle speed restricted to 10–20 mph; Extremely hard steering wheel; Engine stalling or dying completely; Battery gauge drops below average; Engine idling roughly before stall; Temporary power return after restart
Codes mentioned: P1682
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacing parts per dealer/code-reader recommendations, ECM replacement, all wire harnesses inspected, fuse box inspection and retightening, ignition switch replacement, battery replacement, throttle cleaning, and fuse/relay checks—problem persists in multiple cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers often rely on diagnostic code reader with limited or no codes being recorded; some dealers claim inability to diagnose without a live incident; no TSB or recall identified by owners for this specific cluster of failures
Power steering failure or loss of responsiveness
Power steering becomes inoperable or extremely difficult to engage. Some cases involve complete loss of steering control mid-turn; others involve hard steering wheel during limp-mode events. One owner found the steering rack completely dry with no visible leaks. Chevy denied coverage under power-steering warranty because owner's 2014 was outside the 2009–2011 recall scope.
When: Varies from low mileage (brand new vehicle) to 82,000 miles; some occur during limp-mode events, others occur abruptly without engine power loss
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering stops working abruptly; Steering wheel becomes extremely hard to turn; No power steering assist during turns or parking; Steering wheel seizes without warning; Whining noise from steering when turning; Steering rack completely dry with no visible leak
Repairs/costs cited: One owner's steering rack found bone-dry; quoted $2,400 repair for power steering leak (per Service Bulletin SB-10052379-9767, though dealer claimed owner's VIN not covered); pump-related repairs mentioned but not detailed in most narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevy claimed power steering defects only apply to 2009–2011 models; owner's 2014 not covered under special warranty. Some owners reference Service Bulletin SB-10052379-9767 but dealers deny coverage based on VIN. No recall mentioned for 2014 power steering in these narratives.
Air bag warning light and deployment concerns
Air bag warning light illuminates intermittently or stays on. One owner reported abnormal rattling sound (moving change) when turning steering wheel with air bag light on. Another owner heard popping sound from airbag when light turns on/off. One narrative references NHTSA Campaign 23V334000 (Air Bags) with parts unavailable and excessive repair delays.
When: Intermittent; one case at 113,727 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Air bag warning light on/off intermittently; Abnormal rattling or popping sound from airbag area; Vehicle self-resets while driving when airbag light cycles
Repairs/costs cited: NHTSA Campaign 23V334000 parts not available for extended period; one owner waited beyond reasonable time for recall repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V334000 (Air Bags) applies to 2014 Traverse; parts availability delayed or unavailable
Steering gear defect with abnormal noise
Steering column produces abnormal noise when steering wheel is turned. Dealer diagnosis confirmed defective steering gear requiring replacement.
When: 40,485 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from steering column when turning wheel; Occurs without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Steering gear replaced per dealer diagnosis
Vehicle rolling backward while in Park or shifting out of gear
Vehicle slips out of Park or rolls backward unexpectedly while stationary. In one case, vehicle rolled backward into a swamp with brakes and steering unresponsive, though engine was running.
When: As early as 7,800 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward while in Park; Vehicle slips out of gear without driver input; Brakes unresponsive during rollback; Steering unresponsive during rollback; Vehicle continues rolling despite being in Park
Sudden loss of steering control (jerking or veering without driver input)
Vehicle suddenly jerks or veers sharply (to the left in one documented case) without warning, causing loss of driver control over steering input. One owner was forced head-on into an oak tree; airbags deployed and likely prevented fatalities.
When: At 35 mph in one case; vehicle noted as built in Virginia
Symptoms owners cite: Car lurches suddenly to one side; Complete loss of steering control; Steering input has zero effect on vehicle direction
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes GM was sued in a class action in 2012 for the same issue on other Traverse models; issue remains unresolved
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet traverse. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Car lost power on highway due to service stabilizer message. Then the dealership informed me that my power steering was leaking and needs a 2400 repair which I see is covered by service bulletin sb-10052379-9767 but they say my VIN number isn't covered. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2014 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 steering problem on the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse?
It's a meaningful issue. 27 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 25,000 and 61,000 miles, with the median around 50,199. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 61,000. 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 $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.
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/2014/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.