2009 Chevrolet Traverse Steering

THE STEERING GEAR IN MY 2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE HAS FAILED PREMATURELY FOR A SECOND TIME. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE ORIGINAL STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED AT 46,000 MILES IN 2011 AND MY VEHICLE REQUIRES A NEW UNIT APPROXIMATELY 43,000 MILES LATER. FAILURE TO REPLACE THE COMPONANT WILL RESULT IN STEERING DIFFICULTY THAT CAN LEAD TO A CRASH. TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, I AM REPLACING THE STEERING GEAR AT THE SAME FREQUENCY ONE WOULD NORMALLY BUY NEW TIRES FOR VEHICLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL INDICATIONS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH GENERAL MOTORS' LAMDA PLATFORM. VIA A 2012 SERVICE BULLETIN, GM MODIFIED THE STEERING GEAR PART NUMBER AND MADE CHANGES TO THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS TO PREVENT STEERING GEAR SEAL FAILURES. SECONDLY, A SERVICE MANAGER AT AN INDEPENDANT CHEVY DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT HE HAS SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN STEERING GEAR FAILURES AT HIS FACILILTY. LASTLY, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA SITE AND CHEVY INTERNET FORUMS DESCRIBING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. DESPITE THE EVIDENCE ABOVE, GM WILL NOT REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR AND COVER THE COST 100%. THE CORPORATION IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR CHEVY PRODUCT BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I BELIEVE THEIR COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCESSES ARE MASKING A CLEAR QUALITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. I HOPE THE NHTSA CAN EFFECT SOME CHANGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE REVERSING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 11/18/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FOUND THAT BOTH OF THE FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND HAVE THE VEHICLE ALIGNMENT DONE. THE TRAVERSE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP. UPDATED 2/3/2016 *JS *CN

ON SATURDAY AUGUST 1, 2015 AROUND 7 PM I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM A FAMILY THEME PARK WITH MY 5 CHILDREN. I HAD TO DRIVE 2 HOURS TO GET BACK HOME. I COULDN'T EVEN GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL IT WAS VERY HARD BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT. I GOT SCARED BECAUSE I AM PREGNANT AND I WANTED TO GET BACK HOME SAFELY. I MANAGE TO GET OUT BUT ON OUR WAY HOME EVERY TIME I STOPPED AND HAD TO MAKE A TURN IT GOT REALLY HARD AND HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON BECAUSE I HAD TO MAKE SLOWER AND WIDE TURNS AND SOMETIMES BACK UP AND TRY AGAIN TO TURN. I MANAGE TO GET HOME AROUND 10 PM. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR, I JUST BOUGHT IT 8 MONTHS AGO AND STILL HAVE 3 MORE YEARS TO PAY IT OFF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT DOES THIS. WHEN I FIRST GOT IT OUT OF THE DEALER I TOOK IT BACK THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE IT WAS DOING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT ONLY WHEN TURNING TO ONE SIDE NOT BOTH. THEY FIXED IT BUT IT IS NOT EVEN A YEAR AND I HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN BUT WORST BECAUSE I CANT' TURN EITHER WAY. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL WHY HAVEN'T YOU RECALL IT? IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE LIKE THIS. I JUST FIXED A FEW MONTHS AGO SOME TRANSMISSION PARTS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. I KNOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A ISSUE IN THIS CAR ALSO. THESE ARE SERIOUSLY SAFETY ISSUES. PLEASE HELP ME OUT.

AT LOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHILE BRAKING, THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL CLOSE ACCIDENTS. THE LOSS OF STEERING ONLY OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS; FOR EXAMPLE WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY, DRIVING A STORE PARKING LOT, OR MAKING A TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.

BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE, TECH NOTED STEERING GEAR WAS LEAKING FLUID AND QUOTED $2000 TO REPLACE. AFTER READING THE TSB, SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE AND THESE COMPLAINTS IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT RACK FAILURE IS COMMON PLACE ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR

CHEVY TRAVERSE HAS HAD A FUNNY NOISE WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS SINCE PURCHASE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID POWER STEERING FLUID LOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR 5 YEARS. FINALLY WHEN OUT OF MANUFACTURER WARRANTY I AM TOLD IT NEEDS NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. I FOUND RECALL TO GET IT PAID FOR, BUT POWER STEERING FLUID STILL LEAKING. THEY NOW SAY I NEED NEW RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. COST OF AT LEAST $1200 FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. WHY WILL CHEVROLET FIX PART OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NOT ALL OF IT. WHAT HAPPENS IF I WAIT TO FIX AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND SOMEONE GETS HURT? SOUNDS LIKE A QUICK LAWSUIT FOR CHEVROLET. I THINK ITS TIME TO PAY FOR YOUR MISTAKE!!!! *TR

TURNING CORNERS AT LOW RATE OF SPEED, STEERING LOCKS UP AND THEN CAN FINALLY TURN THE WHEEL, BUT WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. *JS

POWER STEERING OCCASIONALLY STOPS RESPONDING. TYPICALLY OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS AND PARKING LOT SITUATIONS. THE ISSUE IS RANDOM, BUT OCCURRING ON A MUCH MORE FREQUENT BASIS. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED AS MY SON IS JUST BEGINNING TO DRIVE. IF A FAILURE WERE TO OCCUR WITH HIM IT VERY WELL COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *JS

I ORIGINALLY TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN. WHEN I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK THE POWER STEERING WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER SAID THE POWER STEERING WAS FINE. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER I TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR RECALLS AND LEAKING COOLANT. POWER STEERING STILL LOUD. TECH FOUND LEAK FROM RACK AND PINION. I AM GLAD THAT MY STEERING DID NOT FAIL LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS. I WAS LUCKY THAT MY VEHICLE HAD A COOLANT LEAK AND THE TECH FOUND THE LEAKING RACK AND PINION WHILE FIXING THE COOLANT LEAK. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE EACH DAY WITH MY 3 KIDS AND HAVING THE STEERING FAIL WHILE IN TRAFFIC COULD HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE. IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS AN ISSUE IN THE 2009 TRAVERSE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE DOES NOT WORK AT LOW SPEEDS (15 MPH OR LESS). PULLING INTO PARKING SPACES IS A MAJOR ISSUE AS IT REVERTS TO MANUAL STEERING OR NO STEERING. IT BECAME AN ISSUE IN JANUARY, BUT WAS NOT AS REPRODUCIBLE. NOW ANY TIME AT LOW SPEEDS THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. GM WANT TO CHARGE 1300 TO FIX, BUT BASED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS, THE WORK THEY WANT DOES NOT SOLVE THEIR ISSUE. WITH GM'S TRACK RECORD OF HIDING THE TRUTH AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE, THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I UNDERSTAND GM'S STANCE THAT IT IS ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE WHEN PARKING, BUT I WOULD LIKE ASSURANCES THAT IT WON'T START TO FAIL AT 20MPH OR HIGHER. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM IS WORSE AND OCCURS MOST WHEN TRYING TO PARK. YOU CAN BE HALFWAY THROUGH YOUR TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN POWER STEERING GOES OUT. HAVE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL PARKED CARS JUST PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. ALSO HAPPENS WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS ON THE ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING. SO FAR IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS AND HOPING IT NEVER DOES. *TR

POWER STEERING LOSS AT LOW SPEEDS. WHILE TURNING CORNERS AT LOW SPEED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST CUTS OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT AND THE TURN IS NOT AS TIGHT AS NEEDED. ON MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE ALMOST COLLIDED INTO OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

POWER STEERING LOSS AT LOW SPEEDS. WHILE TURNING CORNERS AT LOW SPEED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST CUTS OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT AND THE TURN IS NOT AS TIGHT AS NEEDED. ON MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE ALMOST COLLIDED INTO OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

AT LOW SPEED STEERING WHEEL IS VERY,VERY HARD TO TURN,,,,, *TR

2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE STEERING WILL LOCK UP AT LOW SPEEDS ESPECIALLY IN PARKING LOTS AND TURNING IN TOWN. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND SAID IT WOULD NEED A POWER STEERING PUMP AT A COST OF 1200.00. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE AND I THINK GM SHOULD PAY FOR SOME OF THIS REPAIR. NOT VERY IMPRESSED WITH HOW THEY ARE AVOIDING NOT TO SHARE IN SOME OF THE COST OF THIS COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

WE HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE IN OUR 2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE FOR OVER TWO YEARS. WE BROUGHT IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT WHEN IT FIRST BECAME AN ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAD 60K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THE DEALER CHARGED US A FEE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT WASN'T ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY SINCE. WE'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A NUMBER OF REPAIR CENTERS, INCLUDING THE CHEVY DEALER AGAIN AND IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE THE POWER STEERING GEAR THAT HAS FAILED OR ALSO KNOWN AS THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION. WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $1200 TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR AND PUMP THAT HAS ALSO NOW FAILED AS A RESULT OF THE GEAR FAILURE. WE FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CHEVROLET SHOULD BE ADDRESSING A RECALL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY HAD ALREADY IDENTIFIED THIS ISSUE WITH PUBLISHED WARRANTY SERVICE BULLETIN. SINCE THEY CONSIDER POWER STEERING AN OPTIONAL ITEM, IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. HAVING YOUR POWER STEERING FAIL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ON A HIGHWAY CLOVERLEAF EXIT RAMP IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITHOUT COST TO THE CONSUMER WHO SPENT THOUSANDS ON A VEHICLE NHTSA HAS GIVEN A HIGH SAFETY RATING. *TR

WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE STEERING SEEMS TO LOCKUP LIKE THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING AND YOU HAVE TO TRY TO MUSCLE THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE THE TURN. *TR

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT I BELIEVE THE TRAVERSE 2009 MODEL IS A SAFETY RISK. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY POWER STEERING HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT SEEMS THAT AT LOW SPEEDS - I.E PARKING OR CHANGING DIRECTION AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEELS TO CHANGE DIRECTION - I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER IT IS A STEERING PUMP FAULT THAT NEEDS REPLACING AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS CAN POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS IF I NEEDED TO CHANGE DIRECTION QUICKLY - I.E MOVING OUT OF THE WAY OF CARS OR CHILDREN. PLEASE RAISE THIS AS A MAJOR CONCERN. *TR

NOTICED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO HARD TIME TURNING THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING INTO PARKING SPOTS. HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME NOW IT'S HARD TO TURN WHEN MAKING A U TURN. EVEN ONCE TURNING AT A LIGHT IT WENT OUT. ALSO WHEN BACKING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY IT GETS STIFF BUT AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN PARK THE WHEEL TURNS FINE.. I HAVE SEEN THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS. *TR

MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE MORE THAN I DO. SHE FIRST MENTIONED THE ISSUE AND I WAS THINKING SHE WAS OVER REACTING. WHEN I DROVE THE TRAVERSE, I WENT TO BACK IT INTO THE GARAGE AND THE WHEEL NEARLY FROZE UP. I HAD TO CRANK THE WHEEL TO GET IT TO TURN AND THERE WAS A VEHICLE COMING UP ON ME. I FINALLY GOT IT STRAIGHT AND BACKED INTO THE GARAGE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE PARK NOW OR NAVIGATING PARKING LOTS AT SLOW SPEEDS. I BEGAN RESEARCHING ONLINE IN FORUMS AND FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING SO MUCH TO HAVE PARTS REPLACED AND NOT BE THE ISSUE THAT I AM HESITANT TO TAKE MY VEHICLE INTO A DEALER. IF CHEVROLET KNOWS ABOUT THIS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I CAN'T AFFORD $3000 OR MORE TO FIX THIS VEHICLE THAT IS BREAKING WAY BEFORE IT SHOULD BE. *TR

FIRST NOTICED THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT IN LOW SPEEDS. ESPECIALLY IN PARKING LOTS. WE HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT IT BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS STILL HAPPENING AND IS GETTING WORSE. IT IS NOW TO THE POINT IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE LOW SPEED TURNS ON THE STREETS AND CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. LOOKING ONLINE IT IS CLEAR THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE MODELS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR OTHER GM CARS. I THINK THE DEALER JUST PUT US OFF SO WE WILL HAVE TO PAY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY ONCE OUR WARRANTY IS OVER INSTEAD OF MAKING REPAIRS WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. GM NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND INCLUDE THIS IN A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING UNDER 30 MPH MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE HE ATTEMPTED A TURN. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

AT LOW SPEEDS, IN BOTH DRIVE MODE @ 20 MPH OR LESS AND IN REVERSE, STEERING LOSES POWER. THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE CAME @60K MILES WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT AND GRADUALLY AFFECTED TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND DON'T EVEN TRY TO PARALLEL PARK. IT IS SO HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL I BREAK OUT IN A SWEAT FROM HAVING TO CRANK IT SO HARD. IT HAS NOW BEEN GOING ON FOR 10 MONTHS. MY DAUGHTER WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HER DRIVING TEST BUT CAN'T BECAUSE OF THE STEERING ISSUE. I HAVE TO RENT A CAR SO SHE CAN GET HER LICENSE. REPORTED IT TO MY LOCAL CHEVY TECHNICIAN BACK IN DECEMBER 2013 WHEN I WAS IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. CAR PORT SAID HE NOTICED IT AS WELL WHEN BRINGING CAR AROUND FRONT AFTER MY APPOINTMENT. HAVE HAD THREE SEPARATE TECHNICIANS LOOK AT THE ISSUE, OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS, TWO DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALERSHIPS AND NTB, AND THEY HAD ONLY GUESSES AS TO WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM OR HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

IN OCTOBER 2013 I NOTICED THAT I WAS LOSING POWER STEERING WHENEVER I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND DID NOT OCCUR WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. IT CONTINUES WHEN TURNING LEFT AND NOW ALSO OCCURS WHEN TURNING RIGHT FROM A STOP. IN ADDITION WHEN I AM TRYING TO BACK OUT, IT LOCKS UP COMPLETELY THEN RELEASES ONCE I START MOVING. I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED THIS AT LOW SPEED 20-30 MPH AND HOPE I NEVER HAVE TO FIND OUT THAT IT HAPPENS AT HIGH SPEED TOO. *TR