YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet Traverse Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 16 Traverse years

The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse has 608 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 93, and ranks 2nd worst of 16 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Engine problems dominate at 42% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 80,000 miles.

Complaints
608
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
16 / 4
Injuries / deaths
30 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
19
16.5 city / 23.5 hwy

Top 2011 Chevrolet Traverse problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine253 (42%)
  2. Steering165 (27%)
  3. Brakes138 (23%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain79 (13%)
  5. Electrical System73 (12%)
  6. Airbags43 (7%)
  7. Other36 (6%)
  8. Fuel System26 (4%)
  9. Structure & Body25 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report engine compartment fires with white and black smoke appearing shortly after starting or during low-speed maneuvers.
  • Some drivers describe an electrical burning odor and smoke from under the hood minutes after parking, even after routine service.
  • Multiple owners report airbags failing to deploy in moderate-speed crashes, including side-impact and rear-end collisions.
  • Some reports describe seat belts failing to properly restrain occupants during crashes where airbags also did not deploy.
  • One owner reported a fuel system fire that spread from the engine bay into the passenger compartment while driving on the highway.
2011 Chevrolet Traverse complaints: complaints filed per quarter922010 Q32012 Q32014 Q22016 Q12017 Q42019 Q32021 Q22023 Q2
904 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q3 to 2025 Q4; peak 2015 Q1 (92).

2011 Chevrolet Traverse recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V246000Apr 8, 2021Airbags108 vehicles

    Air bags:critical fasteners

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.

    Risk: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

  2. NHTSA 15V415000Jun 30, 2015Structure & Body691,144 vehicles

    Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. 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.

    Risk: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

    Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.

  3. NHTSA 14V266000May 20, 2014Seat Belts1,339,355 vehicles

    Seat belts

    General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.

See all 5 recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse →

2011 Chevrolet Traverse fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
23.5 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Traverse years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid87669519
2011Avoid93608519
2012Good47354519
2013Best7162419

All Chevrolet Traverse years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
Compared to other Traverse model years, the 2011 ranks poorly. It has a Complaint Index of 93 and ranks 2nd worst of 16 model years, earning an Avoid verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse?
Engine complaints make up 42% of all reports (253 complaints), followed by steering at 27% and brakes at 23%. Engine issues showed a median failure mileage of 80,000 miles.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2011 Traverse, covering airbags, seat belts, structure/body liftgate software, and wiper arm nuts. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2011 Traverse compare to other years?
The 2011 model has a Complaint Index of 93, higher than 2012 (47), 2013 (7), and most other years, making it one of the worse years for this model alongside 2010 (87) and 2025 (100).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.