2009 Chevrolet Traverse: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse: 8 recalls, 448 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #08V615000 · 2008 · 16,667 vehicles
What's wrong: 209, 'seat belt assemblies.' these vehicles May have been built with a safety belt buckle in the second or third row that is missing a rivet.
Why it matters: In a vehicle crash, if the rivet is missing, the buckle May separate from the mounting strap, increasing the risk of injury to the passenger.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the safety belt buckles in the second and third rows, and replace them if necessary. The recall began on November 26, 2008.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #09V073000 · 2009 · 276,729 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: The driver May not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before March 24, 2009.
Parking brake Vehicle recall #09V153000 · 2009 · 15,393 vehicles
What's wrong: 135, "passenger car brake systems." these vehicles May have a park brake cable link (connector) that is not to specification. This connector May fracture when the park brake pedal is depressed.
Why it matters: If the transmission shift lever is in the park position, there will be no unintended vehicle movement. However, if the keys are left in the ignition, the transmission shift lever is in any position other than park, and the vehicle is parked on a sufficient slope, it could result in unintended…
The fix: Dealers are to replace the park brake cable link (connector) free of charge. Gm anticipates that the dealer bulletin will be sent May 5, 2009 and owner letters will be mailed in June 2009.
Electrical Vehicle recall #10V240000 · 2010 · 1,365,070 vehicles
What's wrong: A recall was implemented in 2008 to add a fuse to the control circuit harness to address the potential consequences of a printed circuit board (pcb) electrical short. However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on hwfs modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. The significance varies from minor…
Why it matters: It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire May occur.
The fix: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently disabled and removed from the vehicle. The safety recall began on June 11, 2010.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #10V375000 · 2010 · 207,210 vehicles
What's wrong: The second row seat side trim shield restricts the upward rotation of the safety belt buckle when the seat back is returned to a seating position after being folded flat. If the buckle contacts the seat frame, additional effort is required to return the seat to a seating position. If sufficient force is applied, the buckle cover could be pushed down the strap, exposing and partially depressing the red release button.
Why it matters: The safety belt May not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
The fix: Dealers will modify the second row seat side trim shields. If a safety belt buckle is damaged, dealers will replace it free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2010.
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V118000 · 2014 · 1,176,407 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick
Seat belts Vehicle recall #14V266000 · 2014 · 1,339,355 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions May fatigue and separate over time.
Why it matters: If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt May not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
The fix: General motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available.…
Body & structure Vehicle recall #15V415000 · 2015 · 691,144 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts May prematurely wear and the open liftgate May suddenly fall.
Why it matters: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it May strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 16 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Steering (231): the most common themes are steering problems (215), noise or vibration (36), leaks (29).
- Transmission & drivetrain (58): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (23), warning light on (10), stalls / loses power (8).
- Engine (50): the most common themes are warning light on (23), stalls / loses power (15), electrical failure (7).
- Electrical (36): the most common themes are electrical failure (16), warning light on (9), stalls / loses power (8).
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse has 448 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 18 Traverse model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 305). Complaints peaked in 2014 (130 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 80,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (669 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse.
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FAQ
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2009 Chevrolet Traverse problems?
Owners have filed 448 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are steering (231), transmission & drivetrain (58), engine (50).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (3.6 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.