2009 Chevrolet Traverse Reliability
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse has 448 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Traverse model years (2009–2011), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Traverse's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
448
NHTSA owner complaints
8
Recall campaigns
17
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2009 Chevrolet Traverse complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 model year, filed between 2009 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 231 | 52% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 58 | 13% |
| Engine | 50 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 36 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 35 | 8% |
| Air bags | 26 | 6% |
| Stability control | 21 | 5% |
| Speed control / throttle | 18 | 4% |
2009 Chevrolet Traverse recalls
8 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2009 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08V615000 | Nov 24, 2008 | Seat belts — rear/other / buckle assembly | 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 assemblies.' these vehicles may have been built… |
| 09V073000 | Mar 6, 2009 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / column shift | 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. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102,… |
| 09V153000 | May 6, 2009 | Parking brake | 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 cable link (connector) that is not to… |
| 10V240000 | Jun 4, 2010 | Electrical system | 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 avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc… |
| 10V375000 | Aug 12, 2010 | Seat belts | General motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Traverse, buick enclave, gmc acadia, and saturn outlook vehicles. The second row seat side trim shield restricts the upward rotation of the safety belt buckle when the seat back is returned to… |
| 14V118000 | Mar 17, 2014 | Air bags — side/window | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side… |
| 14V266000 | May 20, 2014 | 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,… |
| 15V415000 | Jun 30, 2015 | Body 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… |
How the 2009 compares with nearby Traverse years
Verdicts compare these Traverse model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 (this page) | 448 | 8 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2010 | 669 | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2011 | 608 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 8 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2009 Chevrolet Traverse can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2009 Chevrolet Traverse reliability FAQ
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse has 448 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Traverse model years (2009–2011), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Traverse's typical year.
What are the most common 2009 Chevrolet Traverse problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse are steering (231), powertrain / transmission (58), engine (50), electrical system (36). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse have recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, including 08V615000 (seat belts — rear/other / buckle assembly) and 09V073000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / column shift). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse compare with the 2008 and 2010 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2010 has 669 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid). The 2009 has 448 complaints and 8 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2009 Chevrolet Traverse?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Traverse research
Other Chevrolet Traverse model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2009 Traverse, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.