YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet Traverse Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 253 engine-related complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse, 42% of all 608 complaints filed for that year. Owners report stalling, misfiring, and sudden power loss, with a median failure mileage of 80,000. No related recall is listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
253
42% of 608
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
80,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden stalling or loss of power at various speeds, followed by delayed acceleration.
  • Multiple owners report the engine shaking and vibrating at idle before coming to a complete halt while stopped at signs or lights.
  • Dealers diagnosed several cylinders misfiring in vehicles with very low mileage, in some cases under a year old.
  • Owners report intermittent difficulty starting along with unexplained stalling that dealers could not diagnose despite repeated visits.
  • Some owners noted the vehicle rolling backward on inclines instead of holding position, requiring extra acceleration to move forward.
  • One owner flagged that coolant lines near the front wheel are exposed to road debris and could rupture, causing coolant loss.

When 2011 Chevrolet Traverse engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 17, 2011, latest Oct 8, 2024.

2011 Chevrolet Traverse engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter342011 Q12013 Q22014 Q42016 Q22017 Q42019 Q22020 Q42022 Q3
253 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2024 Q4; peak 2015 Q1 (34).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Traverse model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010211 (32%)
  2. 2011253 (42%)
  3. 2012144 (41%)
  4. 201357 (35%)
  5. 2014149 (27%)
  6. 201554 (17%)
  7. 201643 (15%)
  8. 201733 (9%)
  9. 2018105 (23%)
  10. 201968 (17%)
  11. 202095 (42%)
  12. 202118 (20%)
  13. 202218 (18%)
  14. 202320 (22%)
  15. 202436 (26%)
  16. 202520 (11%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse have?
NHTSA lists 253 engine-related complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse, which is 42% of the 608 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse engine problems?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaints reported on the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse.
At what mileage do 2011 Traverse engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints on the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse is 80,000 miles.
What kind of engine problems do 2011 Traverse owners report?
Owners describe stalling, misfiring, rough vibration at idle, difficulty starting, and the vehicle rolling backward on inclines.
How does the 2011 Traverse compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2011 model year has the highest share of engine complaints among the years listed, at 42% of total complaints, tied with 2020.

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.