Problems · by component

2009 Chevrolet Traverse power train problems

58 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse cite power train, 13% of all 448 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
58
13% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that when she started her vehicle and shifted into drive (D) and depressed the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that she attempted to drive the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle nearby her residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2023Power trainODI 11540277
“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
“I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE AND CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS LOST. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR AND I WAS NEVER TOLD OF ANY ISSUES OR RECALLS WITH THE CAR AS IT SHOULD HAVE WENT THROUGH A SAFETY INSPECTION. EVEN WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE THE VEHICLE WAS CLEARED FOR RECALL REPAIRS. NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS ALERTED ME OF ANY PROBLEMS. THIS HAPPENED INSTANTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION BACKING INTO A CITY STREET.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2021Power trainODI 11397542
“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
“2009 TRAVERSE FWD AT 75000MI, TRANSMISSION WAVE PLATE FAILURE. UPON DIAGNOSIS, FOUND PRESSURE PLATE BUTTONS DETERIORATED, AND WAVE PLATE BROKEN. HAD DEALER INSPECT VEHICLE WEEKS PRIOR TO FAILURE. FAILURE INCLUDED CODES PERTAINING WAVE PLATE, SLIPPAGE, AND PERFORMANCE ISSUES WITH FAILURE TO SHIFT AND ACCELLERATE. CALL TO GM TO VERIFY EXTENDED COVERAGE UNDER #14404B: SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT - TRANSMISSION CLUTCH WAVE PLATE (AUG 12, 2016) WAS TOLD THAT THE VIN NUMBER DID NOT CORRESPOND TO THE AFFECTED COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT. VIN NUMBER AND PRODUCTION DATE AVAILABLE AS NEEDED. INVOICES AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. REPLACED WITH GENUINE GM RE MANUFACTURED UNIT AND WARRANTY DENIED.I OWN AND OPERATE AN AC DELCO SERVICE CENTER SINCE 1964.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2020Power trainODI 11310633
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, MAKING A RIGHT TURNED THE VEHICLE GEAR FAILED TO SHIFT TO THIRD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY PROGRESS TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MYERS GARAGE 522 W 2ND ST, LIZTON, IN 46149 (317) 994-5436 WHERE A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS TAKEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 17, 2020Power trainODI 11300184

Showing 6 of 58 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

Power train: column shift

Free remedy

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".

Power trainReported Mar 6, 2009NHTSA 09V073000
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.