Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
NHTSA data on file today
The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 608 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V246000 Side Curtain Air Bags May be Unsecured NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V415000 Liftgate Struts may Fail and Liftgate may Fall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V266000 Flexible Steel Cable for Seat Belt may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V118000 Side Impact Air Bags Wiring Connections NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V151000 WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM NUTS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 204 complaints
- Steering 165 complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 103 complaints
- Power Train 79 complaints
- Electrical System 67 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 58 complaints
Of the 608 complaints on file, 16 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 608 complaints, owners report 30 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
With 608 owner complaints and five NHTSA recall campaigns, the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse presents a concerning reliability picture. The engine and steering systems have attracted a high volume of complaints, indicating potential widespread issues. Although the number of recalls is moderate, the prevalence of severe complaints suggests a below-average reliability outlook. Some repair estimates and failure data are speculative due to the limited specifics in complaints.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$4,000 | very common |
| Steering system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,600 | common |
| Electronic stability control | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| Power train | 90,000–120,000 miles | $1,200–$3,000 | occasional |
| Electrical system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $200–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid service
- Coolant flush and refill
- Timing chain inspection
- Air filter and cabin filter
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfiring or knocking
- Steering wheel vibration
- ESC warning light on
- Delayed transmission shifts
- Electrical shorts or failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.