2011 Chevrolet Traverse problems: recalls, complaints and whether this is a year to avoid

The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse has 608 owner complaints on record with NHTSA. 5 recall entries cover this year.

Which recalls cover the 2011?

Air Bags 2011 · 21V246000

The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.

Free remedy: 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.

Seat Belts 2011 · 14V266000

Free remedy: 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.

Structure 2011 · 15V415000

Free remedy: 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.

Take the campaign number to any franchised Chevrolet dealer. Recall repairs are free with no mileage or ownership limit, and they follow the car rather than the owner, so a used 2011 with an unrepaired campaign is a free repair you can claim. How recalls work.

Recall text is abridged from the NHTSA record. Search the campaign number at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the full notice and affected VIN ranges.

What do owners report on the Chevrolet Traverse?

Across every Chevrolet Traverse year, not the 2011 alone — NHTSA does not split component totals by model year.

  • Steering — 165 reports
  • Engine — 98 reports
  • Power Train — 70 reports
  • Electrical System — 48 reports

If your 2011 is doing something now, these are the guides for that system — each opens with whether it is safe to keep driving:

Which other Chevrolet Traverse years should you compare?

All Chevrolet Traverse years

If you are deciding between years, the Chevrolet Traverse page carries the full run with the component breakdown. Before money changes hands, run the VIN for open recalls and read the inspection checklist — ten minutes in the seller’s driveway finds most of what matters.

Advertisement

Check a 2011 before you commit

Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.

Diagnostics~$25

ANCEL AD310 Classic OBD2 Scanner

The glovebox tool. Wired, no app, no pairing, no batteries — plug it in and it reads and clears engine codes. This is the one that saves you a diagnostic fee the first time the check engine light comes on. Its limits are honest: engine codes only, no ABS or airbag, no live graphing.

Best for: Anyone who just wants to know what the light means

Check price on Amazon
Diagnostics~$100

BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBD2 Scanner

Pairs with your phone and reads far more than engine codes — ABS, airbag, transmission and HVAC on most vehicles — plus live data. The real feature is the repair reports, which map a code to the fixes that most often resolved it on your specific year, make, model and engine. No subscription.

Best for: Owners keeping a car past warranty, or checking used cars

Check price on Amazon
Roadside~$100

NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter

A lithium pack the size of a paperback that starts a car with no second vehicle and no stranger required, and charges a phone besides. It is the single most useful thing in a car emergency kit, and the reason jumper cables have become optional. Recharge it every few months.

Best for: Every car, every climate

Check price on Amazon
Advertisement