Problems · by component

2009 Chevrolet Traverse electrical system problems

36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse cite electrical system, 8% of all 448 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
36
8% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I bought the car in August of last year and drove it for about 3 days before it started giving me problems. First incident I was driving my children home from the hairdresser and the car completely went out us on the highway, after repeated attempts for a half hour or so I was able to start it and drive it back home very slowly..this happened twice I went to get it diagnosed and codes came up for crank shaft sensor and o2 sensor, before I could even get that fixed more problems came up, the steering wheel began to become stiff and almost impossible to turn, while picking my son up from school I was trying to pull away from the curb in the drop off spot and almost hit another car and a child because the steering wheel stiffened up on me!!! I was told I would need an entire steering rack!!! ...also the key has gotten stuck in the ignition and wouldn't start and I had to have it towed to a mechanic for that as well. Driving up hill one day I lost power that made it seem like it was stuck in low, then we lost reverse altogether as well as the ability to climb hills. I got the transmission repaired, barely made it home before it started doing the exact same thing,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2023Steering, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11518764
“WARNING CHIMES / SPEAKERS NOT WORKING DUE TO WATER SHORTING THE PLUGS FOR THE DOOR ATTACHMENTS. BACKUP SAFETY CHIMES AND ALL CHIMES ARE INSTALL WITH PURPOSE AND SAFETY IN MIND.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2020Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11362381
“I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE WITH VIBRATION PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING IN AROUND 3GEAR AND AROUND 5 GEAR. DRIVING CITY AND HIGHWAY VIBRATION COME AND GO AWAY FOR COUPLE SECOND. I RAPLACED WHEEL HUB BEARING BOTH SIDE, LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BUSHING, DRIVELINE SHAFT, CV BOOT AXLE. VIBRATION IS REALLY ROUGH, FEEL IT FROM FRONT AND BACK OF VEHICLE. WHEN START UP DRIVING AROUND OK, ABOUT 10 MIN OF DRIVING VIBRAATION STARTS. I HAVE READ MANY FORUM ONLINE TRAVERSE, ACADIA AND SATURN HAVING SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALL AND ISN'T SAFE FOR ME OR OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. SECOND PROBLEM IS RADIO SYSTEM NOT WORKING, FROM GETTING INSIDE WIRE CONNECTOR ON SIDE DOOR, CAUSING A SHORT TO AMPLIFIER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2020Power train, Electrical systemODI 11342412
“I KEEP GETTING MULTIPLE RANDOM ENGINE MISFIRES THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO SOLUTION TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. RUNS FOR A WHILE AND STARTS ACTING UP AGAIN. STALLS OUT WHEN ATTEMPT TO TAKE OFF AFTER COMING TO A STOP OR JUST STARTS TO MOVE AND GOES REAL SLOW, ALSO HAS TROUBLE GETTING UP HILLS DUE TO LOSS OF POWER. KEEP GETTING TOLD IT'S CATILOC CONVERTERS AND HAVE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN LAST YEAR. HAVE ALSO REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND COIL OVERS AS WELL AS FUEL PUMP, MAS AIRFLOW SENSOR, MAP SENSOR, OXYGEN SENSORS, AND A FEW OTHER THINGS. SEEMS THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES BUT NO FIX....”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2020Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11340934
“ALL OF MY SPEAKERS EXCEPT THE TWEETERS DON'T WORK. TWO OF THEM CUT IN AND OUT AND ARE EXTREMELY LONG WHEN DO COME BACK ON. ALSO WATER ARE IN THE DOOR POWER/SPEAKER CONNECTORS CAUSING CORROSION TO SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2019Electrical systemODI 11243402
“PURCHASED FROM HONDA OF SLIDELL, LOUISIANA AROUND 1 1/2 YEAR AGO. HAS HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL AND AC PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASED. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS CRAP! AC SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2019Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11219721

Showing 6 of 36 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system

Free remedy

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Electrical systemReported Jun 4, 2010NHTSA 10V240000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.