The Lemon Index2009 Chevrolet Traverse.
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse is better than average by owner complaints: 53 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 66, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 8 recalls, and it gets 19 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Traverse year is 2013.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2009–2017 Chevy Traverse, 9.9M views. The 2009 is the same generation.
- Infotainment, battery & electrical1.3M views
How To Replace Starter 2009-17 Chevy TraverseTRQ · 349K views · 12 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring976K views
How To Replace Chevrolet Traverse Headlight Low Beam Replace 2009-2014 | Save Money Fix It YOURSELF!Fentertainment · 479K views · 7 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door687K views
A/C ReCharge Chevy Traverse 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017Dirt Road Auto Repair · 283K views · 5 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors380K views
2010-2017 Chevy Traverse - Replace ECT Sensor (Engine Coolant Temperature) - Girlie GarageGirlie Garage · 171K views · 4 videos
Show 4 more
- No-start: theft light, key & ignition380K views
2011 Chevy Traverse - No Start Diag & Repair!Advanced Level Diagnostics · 130K views · 4 videos - Timing chain & engine245K views
How To Replace Engine Knock Sensor 2009-17 Chevy TraverseTRQ · 109K views · 3 videos - Cooling system242K views
2008 - 2012 TRAVERSE /ENCLAVE OVERHEATING COMMON FIXJoeTheAutoGuy · 79K views · 4 videos - Brakes & ABS206K views
2014 Chevy Traverse Brake Light Problem - Quick Fix!!!Joe Flo · 125K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Chevy Traverse SUV 1st Generation 2009-171A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 616K views
TOP 5 Problems With The Chevy Traverse SUV (1st Generation 2009-2017)Alex The Car Doctor · 215K views
2013 Dodge Durango vs Chevy Traverse Muddy Off-Road Mashup Review (Part 2)The Fast Lane Car · 228K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 448 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Chevrolet Traverse year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 58K to 102K miles on the car (394 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 58K–97K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 64K–112K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 92K–139K miles
Recalls 8
- body structure 2015
The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open.
- seat belts 2014
In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.
- airbags 2014
In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash…
Show all 8 recalls
- seat belts 2010
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES.
- electrical 2010
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 AVALAN…
- parking brake 2009
GM IS RECALLING 15,393 MY 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A PARK BRAKE…
- transmission & drivetrain 2009
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.
- seat belts 2008
GM IS RECALLING 16,667 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLI…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 1217 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Saturn/chevrolet/gmc/buick/pontiac: ses light and/or no reverse; a slip/flare or harsh shifts…
- Saturn/gmc/chevrolet/buick: hesitation when accelerating during a right hand turn around 15mph
- Gmc/chevrolet/saturn/buick: click or clunk noise from the steering column when turning
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedOutboard front seat belt anchor cable failure2020–2024
- ClosedSeat belt anchor cable failure2019–2020
- ClosedFleet vehicle recall completion audit2010–2015
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Vehicle makes noise when turning sometimes vibrates. Dealer says its the steering rack.
2009 Chevrolet Traverse owner · NHTSA complaint 10384189
More owner reports
Steering wheel makes strange noise when turning the steering wheel. Pulsating and a little stiffer turning in a parking lot or going slow.
NHTSA complaint 10320807
Steering wheel whining noise when turning. Pulsating and a stiff turning in a parking lot or when going slow. Dealer is now going to replace the steering rack.
NHTSA complaint 10339888
Quick answers
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 66; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Traverse year by this measure is 2013.
What are the most common 2009 Chevrolet Traverse problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (32%), speed control (13%) and transmission & drivetrain (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse have?
8 safety recalls (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse get?
19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2009 Chevrolet Traverse problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 58,900 and 102,000 miles. The middle report was at 80,000 miles, from 394 complaints.
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse have?
3.6L 6-cyl.
What Chevrolet Traverse year is better than the 2009?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2013, 2021 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works