general problems of the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse - part 1

My timing and my energy is going bad. . I don’t know the problem. Im new on having my own car. . And when I got it everything was great at first but two trips going too chicago it started going bad.

Unknown.

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 45 mph, the rpm became elevated, and the check engine warning light illuminated before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 125,000.

Components related to timing chain failed, and vehicle is currently available with plans to sell to a salvage yard by 10/25/24. My 9 year old and I were at risk of collision when the vehicle failed. I was driving approximately 70-75 mph when we started to lose power. At 65 mph, I managed to cross 2 lanes of highway traffic and stopped on the shoulder. I turned off my vehicle and waited several minutes, hoping it would help reset or cool off a component or something. I had to try a couple of times before it started, and I attempted to drive as safely as I could, made it to 60 mph before it stopped running completely. I had to pull hard on the steering wheel to get to the shoulder again, only this time, the shoulder was pinched off in front of us and around a small blind spot behind us. I had my daughter move to the side closer to the cement barrier while waiting for a tow truck. She became very nervous about how close some of the other vehicles got. Afterwards, the error codes indicated several components pointing to a timing chain problem. I had the timing chain repaired around April or may of 2023 by a certified mechanic. I watched the oil life percentage and oil temperature gauge consistently. Everything indicated as normal, but I had difficulty pulling out the dipstick to check the oil level. Since it was hard to get a good reading, I tried to add some oil and recheck. The oil cap was nearly impossible to open, so I decided to wait for an oil tech to do it. Around 40-50% oil life, I had planned to have the oil changed. In spite of my efforts to maintain proper oil quality, the oil cap had to be opened with a wrench. Smoke rose out and dried out oil residue lined the inner walls. It was about a quart low. I don’t drive hard on it and it had only been around 3,000 miles between oil changes. It had been one year since the timing chain was replaced. Error codes remain and the vehicle runs rough if it stays on long enough after much effort to start it.

12/24/2022 while driving the car made a popping sound then started to slow down while I was driving. I went to make a left turn and the car stalled in mid turn. No warning or anything. Had it towed to a shop and was told that the motor had no oil in it. Which wasn’t true, when they pulled the dip stick it read that it was full. However when they opened the motor up, it appeared to be bone dry.

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact noticed that the air conditioning system was blowing warm air. The vehicle was taken to an autozone for diagnostic testing. The contact was informed that the timing chain was out of position. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

Engine failed at 182,000 miles. No warning. No indicator lights. Speed was 45+ miles per hour on 2-lane highway. Loss of engine power resulted in loss of steering control. Very hard to maneuver as vehicle coasted to stop at side of road. Put all occupants in a dangerous situation due to significantly reduced vehicle control. Vehicle would not re-start (or attempt to turn over) after failure. Towed to local shop. Local, trusted auto service center reported engine had “locked up” potentially due to low oil pressure. Again, no indication lights and routine, full oil service completed just 2500 miles prior. Engine was replaced after cost-benefit analysis of current car market prices and availability and the well-maintained condition of the vehicle overall. Concerns: loss of control. Disappointments: one of many reliability issues with this vehicle that was purchased new in January 2011.

Vehicle stalls due to transmission issue at 40 mph, yes it is available for inspection. When vehicle stalls at 40 mph at that point you have no steering support and the vehicle is just coasting until you can stop. You could crash with no steering support at 40 mph into stationary object, another vehicle or pedestrians. I have had it inspected by gm dealership no warning lamps or messages or other symptoms and it is repeatable started to appear on June 9, 2021.

Vehicle stalls at 40mph when slowing down and you have no power steering or any other engine running support. This is very dangerous it is hard to steer and stop, you coast till you you hopefully can find a safe area to stop and restart vehicle and drives normal until the next time you are above 40mph. No codes or mil lights. Repeatable every time. Everyone in the vehicles safety is at risk and so is anyone else driving in our area, can't stop or steer fast with no engine support. Has not been diagnosed by dealer yet. We are trying to get it in for diagnosis.

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud banging sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The front of the vehicle started shaking and vibrating before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine was damaged and needed to be replaced, due to a faulty oil pump seal which caused the engine rod to malfunction. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,000.

The contact's wife owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, an abnormal knocking noise would emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they replaced the idler pulley however, the vehicle was not repaired, and the vehicle would not start. The contact called his son and towed the vehicle to his home. The contact then called the dealer where he arranged to have the vehicle towed to a local dealer. The dealer informed him that the failure was due to a defective timing chain; however, while repairing the vehicle, the dealer informed him that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact also mentioned that the middle rear seat belt would become stuck and would not unlatch as needed. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was referred to NHTSA for further assistance. The contact replaced the engine himself. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.

It has happened a few times where the stabilitrack goes haywire while driving and locks the vehicle up allowing to only travel a few miles per hour super unsafe when on highway. Have had a chevy dealership replace the throttle body snd less than 10,000 miles later same problem. In researching online seems this is a very common problem on all chevys that is extremely unsafe when it happens and your driving.

The whole vehicle shakes while driving it seems like the battery is going dead or it doesn't want o to go anywhere. Timing change the gas guage not reading right it horrible gas mileage.

My engine went out on my 2011 chevy Traverse and this is part of of the recall the dealer didn't do nothing about it and now I am without a car.

Purchased the vehicle at the end of July and a couple of weeks after started noticing power fluctuation while driving and a knocking on the top part of the engine while driving, specially on the highway and decided to park it and wait for our shop to take a look at it. Apparently the timing chain needs replaced again despite of "issues already being corrected by the manufacturer'. This vehicle is around 98k-99k miles range and it might need the hole engine block replaced due to a sloppy recall repair. Spending 5k on a new engine that doesn't have even 100k seems ridiculous, but having people driving with the chance of malfunction a high speeds is very concerning.

Timing chain can come off at random and cause an accident. They are supposed to last years, but don�t.

My auto mechanic told me my power chain is loose & that it's common in my car & I should report it. My car feels like it's dragging when I try to accelerate.

A mechanic told me my power train chain is loose and that this is common in 2011 6 engines and to report it cause it should be a recall issue. This is a common problem and needs to be addressed. My car will barely make it up a hill and the fuel mileage has gone down.

Driving at highway speed of 75 mph, the motor siezed without any warning. The motor locked and the technician said the engine needs to be replaced. He commented something wrong with the engineering of the engine specific to oil. He is concern that changing the engine may result in the same situation given the motor's design.

The engine time chain is bad. If the time chain finishes braking it will kill off all the engine making the repair over $5,000 it seems like is a very common problem on these cars with the 3. 6 vvt v6 engine, as I have seen people go thru this also online many people were talking about how unrelaible these cars are on that way. I have different quotes from different mechanic shops the lowest been $2,500.

Sitting in the parking lot waiting for my daughter to get out of school all of a sudden it smells hot then start to drive off and traction control lights and abs go wild then I pull over turn off the engine open the hood and there's smoke letting it cool the key won't reverse out of the ignition and there's no power at all.

2011 Chevrolet Traverse: while driving all the lights start flashing and the vehicle turns off and on, not letting you accelerate and slowing the car down rapidly. Then the traction control turns off and vehicle idols rough. If I step on the accelerator there is no repose from the vehicle. We do not treat the vehicle hash or drive wild. I dont have the money for a lot of repairs. I change the oil when it's time and make sure its running smoothly. I have looked online and have seen many other complaints about the same issue and gm has not done anything about it. This is a major safety issue especially for someone driving at a high speed. Death is a major possibility if this were to happen in front of another vehicle. This has happened once before today.

Driving 75 on freeway with cruise on. Car acted like gas pedal was floored shut cruise off seemed fine 10 miles later hear a flapping and engine dies. This was very scary and could have caused major accident but my husband managed to steer us to shoulder. Had car towed home as would not start. Had mechanic look at it and need new engine $6,300 dollars to fix only 114,000 miles on it and still owe.

At just over 100,000 miles I had to change the timing chains cost me 3500 dollars. And 3 weeks later the motor seized up . I think this should be a recall as I was told it is a bad design on these engines. Pay for a car that just sits there as I cant afford another engine for it.

Tl- the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer that advised that the timing chaing failed. The contact also took the to a local mechanic to have a diagnostic performed. The mechanic advised that the engine timing chain needed to be replaced. The contact also stated that the mechanic provided failure codes p0017 and p0008 the contact stated that the failure codes are related to the crank shaft and the exaust system failed. The vehicle was not repared. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 88,000. Li.

In Jan 2017 timing chain had to be replaced, some work covered by warranty but still cost me 4000 on June 24 while driving home noticed a knocking type sound coming from engine, parked it, next day took it to the mechanic, sound was very loud now, and told the motor needed to be replaced, rod broke, can not afford to fix, and is now a paper weight in my driveway, just finished paying it off, chevy dealer here was useless.

Service stabilitrak/traction control off light keeps coming on when driving at normal speed.

The timing chain when out on my 2011 chevy Traverse. There are known issues with these vehicles not much older than mine and I am hearing about a lot of issues with the 2011 models as well. I think that this should be looked into. The timing chain went out when I was driving on the highway with my family and that could have turned into a deadly situation. My vehicle was purchased used but has been well maintained. With just over 100k miles and known issues with the timing chains in these vehicles I really think that it should be looked into.

Coming home in driveway, the vehicle just died. Local mechanic thought it was a cam shaft sensor, but after looking further it's the timing chain & I need a new engine on 2011 Traverse with 93,000 miles. Chevy corp said chevy needs to diagnose at $100 an hour. They would have to do a complete engine tear down which could be 10 hours plus the cost of a new engine & they won't guarantee cost assistance. The work has to be done by chevy. The vehicle is sitting in my driveway since March 2019. I'd like for chevy to own up to this problem & fix my vehicle at no cost.

2nd owner. At 91k miles whole electrical system blew out. Cost $600 to fix. At $111k miles engine light came on. Went to dealership and timing chain needed to be replaced. Parked the vehicle as dealership said it keeps happening for 2011 Traverse and they are waiting for recall. 6 months later decided to take car back to dealership to get fixed quoted $3800. On way to dealership (20 minutes away) going 40 miles an hour car started making machine guns noises and slowing down. Pulled into a neighborhood and parked car. Called a tow company and had them tow it back to the house. Luckily, our neighbor works at a mechanic shop and came over. He turned the car on and it shut right off. After his examination he said my engine had seized and would need to replace it. Already having to reset the electrical system now I need to replace a timing chain and replace an engine?? seems after reading all of the complaints the 2011 Traverse has major issues and this needs to be addressed!.

Tl the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving, the vehicle lost power and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle safely to his residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not provide assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.

Reduced power on vechile with dash lights indicating check stabile track. See a lot of complaints on this. Happened 3 times finally had to replace throttle body and harness for $550. No recalls? 110,000 miles. Very dangerous to have car slow down on highway during winter conditions.

At 116,000 miles the timing chain is breaking/stretching which will cause the engine to stop operating while in motion.

Bad timing chain and had to get it repaired at just over 100,000 when warantee expired.

Tl the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. Without warning, the timing chain fractured and the vehicle was unable to be driven. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The dealer (garber Buick GMC, 5255 us-1, fort pierce, FL 34982, (772) 467-0835) was notified of the failure and stated that there was no recall or diagnostic trouble code to provide a remedy. The vehicle was excluded from the timing chain extended warranty campaign. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.