Engine. Review the 115 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Steering complaints

62 reports

Clear category filter

138,000 miles · Nov 19, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT,TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT,AND SERVICE STABITRACK CAME BRAKES STARTED ACTING FUNNY AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PUTTERED AND FINALLY SETTLED OUT SHUT OFF AT HOUSE AND THE TRUCK STARTED UP AND DID THE SAME THING

NHTSA ODI #11281228

130,000 miles · Apr 15, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

Read full complaint

THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ONCE WITH OUR KIDS IN THE CAR ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE AIRPORT AND ONCE TO MY WIFE ON HER WAY HOME FROM WORK. BOTH ON THE FREEWAY AT 65+ MPH. DRIVING FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN VIOLENT SHAKING, AND LOSS OF POWER. CANNOT STEER AT 65 MPH THAT IS LITERALLY DEADLY. SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT COMES ON, TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT COMES ON, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND HAD A 6,4,AND 2 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE. THE FACT THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED AS A RECALL IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. I WENT THROUGH 16 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ON A CHEVROLET FORUM ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOW MANY DOES IT TAKE BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED? DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE? FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT MAY NOT BE WORTH TAKING INTO A MECHANIC AS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO NAIL DOWN THE ISSUE AND I DON'T HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO POUR INTO A PROBLEM THAT DOESNT HAVE A SURE CURE. ABAOLUTELY RIDICULOUS TO BE DOING FREEWAY SPEEDS AND THEN NOT BE ABLE TO STEER. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11196573

70,000 miles · Nov 23, 2018

Steering

Read full complaint

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. A HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN TURNING. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FLUID AND THE THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. THE RACK AND PINION HAD TOTAL FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 70,000 MILES. WE HAD THE PUMP REPLACED ONCE BEFORE AT AROUND 40,000 MILES. ON THE 2ND REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER CHANGED THE PUMP NUMBER TO THE 'UPGRADED PART' THEY ALSO SAID, 'GM KNOWS ABOUT THE FAULTY PUMPS AND ARE REPLACING THEM WITH THIS NEWER PART.' THE DEALER REPORTED TO US THAT THE PUMP NEEDED REPLACED BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T, THE PUMP WOULD GO OUT DUE TO THE DAMAGE IT SUSTAINED. SO, WE DID THAT WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FROM GM AS WELL IN A PHONE CALL.

NHTSA ODI #11153411

3 miles · Oct 22, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

I WAS DRIVING ON A FLAT ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, SHORTLY AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED. I PULLED OVER, SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED. NO LIGHTS. WHEN I BRAKE CAR, SEEMS TO TAKE LONGER AND THEN JERKS TO ENGAGE BRAK…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #11141737

120,000 miles · Sep 21, 2018

Steering

Read full complaint

POWER STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES (NOW MAY HAVE TO BE A FOURTH), ONCE PRIOR TO MY OWNERSHIP (WAS DEEMED CERTIFIED BY A CHEVY DEALER AT TIME OF PURCHASE HOWEVER I BELIEVE THIS WAS FRAUDULENT). MECHANIC SAID (AT FIRST REPLACEMENT) POWER STEERING FROM MY PURCHASE WAS AFTER MANUFACTURERED PARTS. THIS MEANS WHEN I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 27,000 MILES IN 2012, POWER STEERING PUMP HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT ON I-70 ONCE GO 75 MPH. THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISES WHEN TURNING. NOW AGAIN, LEAKING STEERING FLUID AND ENGINE FLUID. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL, ETC... I CALLED GM AND THEY CLAIM THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING HOWEVER IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAVING POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND PINION COMPLAINTS. I HAD ALSO BEEN TOLD BY A LEXUS DEALER/SERVICE IN 2014 THAT IT NEEDED A RACK AND PINION OR POWER STEERING PUMP. GM DEALERSHIP LATER DETERMINED IT WAS POWER STEERING PUMP. HOW MANY POWER STEERING PUMPS DO I HAVE TO PUT ON THIS CAR? I CONTACTED GM, THEY CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY DESPITE OTHER VINS/YEARS HAVING THESE EXACT ISSUES. CLEARLY, THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE IN THESE SUBS THAT WOULD CAUSE SO MANY POWER STEERING PUMPS TO FAIL. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE ANYONE TAKES THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND DEFECTIVE CAR SERIOUS?

NHTSA ODI #11130656

75,000 miles · Sep 14, 2018

Steering

WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS DURING A TURN, I EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING THAT IS REGAINED WITHIN MOMENTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AS OF YET. IN MAY OF 2017 I HAD MY POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH INCONSISTENT POWER STEERING PRESSURE DU…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #11129451

88,000 miles · Aug 29, 2018

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000.

NHTSA ODI #11123194

92,000 miles · Aug 22, 2018

EngineService BrakesSteeringCrashInjury

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AND FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BUS TERMINAL WALL. ADDITIONALLY, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT, PASSENGER, AND REAR PASSENGER OCCUPANT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. **TR *TR

NHTSA ODI #11121743

96,723 miles · Aug 8, 2018

Steering

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2012 CHEVY TRAVERSE THAT I PURCHASED USED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE IT STARTED TO DEVELOP A WHINING NOISE AND THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHEN TRYING TO PARK DUE TO THE STEERING SEIZING UP. I'VE ALSO HAD A FEW TIMES THAT I WAS VERY CLOSE TO GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT WHILE MAKING A U-TURN DUE TO THE STEERING BEING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND HAVING TO PRESS HEAVILY ON THE ACCELERATOR IN ORDER FOR THE STEERING PUMP TO PROVIDE ENOUGH POWER TO COMPLETE THE TURN. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT WAS THIS UNSAFE BEFORE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A FEW DIFFERENT MECHANICS FOR AN INSPECTION AND THEY ALL TOLD ME THE SAME THING, THE STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE AND EVERYTHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY QUOTES WERE ANYWHERE FROM $2550 TO $3200. SO I BROUGHT IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE HOPING THAT THEY WOULD COVER SOME OF THE CHARGES TO REPLACE THE STEERING MECHANISM. THEY COMPLETED THE WORK, BUT GM REFUSED TO COVER ANY OF THE NEARLY $2700 IN CHARGES.

NHTSA ODI #11118509

60,000 miles · Jul 23, 2018

Steering

Read full complaint

MY TRAVERSE SUDDENLY STARTED HAVING ISSUES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS AND AT STOP SIGNS MAKES ME SO NERVOUS. MY TRAVERSE HESITATES WHEN TURNING CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE SLOWER. IT IS ALSO MAKING NOISES OUT OF NOWHERE. I MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD NO ISSUES WITH IT UNTIL NOW. WHEN I DROPPED MY CHILDREN OFF AT DAYCARE AND CAME BACK OUT TO THE CAR I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. THIS WAS VERY UNEXPECTED AND SO DANGEROUS! I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE IN A VEHICLE THAT HAS ANY MAJOR ISSUES ESPECIALLY THIS. I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING DOES NOT INCLUDE MY YEAR! THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE AND THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS FOR MY YEAR FOR THIS. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS!

NHTSA ODI #11112983

Official recalls

21V246000 · Air Bags:critical Fasteners

Apr 8, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

15V415000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Jun 30, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

14V266000 · Seat Belts

May 20, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

14V118000 · Air Bags:side/window

Mar 17, 2014

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 impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

12V151000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

Apr 9, 2012

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SNOW OR ICE BUILDUP ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPER MAY RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, CAUSING THE WIPER ARM TO LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE WIPER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM NUTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA20002 · Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure

Opened Aug 31, 2020 · Closed Aug 30, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts; Seat Belts:front; Seat Belts:front:anchorage

On August 31, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) EA20002, as an upgrade of Recall Query (RQ) RQ19003. This investigation, related to recall 14V-266, was opened to investigate instances of detachment of the flexible steel seat belt anchor cable attached to the outboard side of the front seats in vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The subject vehicles included model year (MY) 2009 through 2014 GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, and Chevrolet Traverse SUVs as well as MY 2009 through 2010 Saturn Outlook SUVs. These vehicles were previously repaired for this defect under recall 14V-266. The subject vehicle population is approximately 1.3 million vehicles. Special Coverage N192219480, issued in June 2019, addressed the subject defect in vehicles that previously received the recall remedy repair for subject recall 14V-266. The Special Coverage allows for component replacement for 12 years or 180,000 miles from the initial sale date, whichever comes first. Special Coverage N192219480 instructed service technicians to inspect the driver’s seat belt anchor cable for any damage to the protective sleeve and if damage was observed, the cable was replaced with a new sleeve as well as a new closeout piece that relocated the cable to mitigate the subject condition. In view of the Special Coverage conducted by General Motors, the high detectability of the subject failure, and the low rate of occurrence, this Engineering Analysis is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov. Please see the attached document “EA20-002 Detailed Closing Summary” for more a detailed closing resume summary.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Seat Belts:front

Seat Belts

RQ19003 · Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure

Opened May 28, 2019 · Closed Aug 31, 2020

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front; Seat Belts:front:anchorage; Seat Belts:pretensioner

On May 19, 2014, General Motors LLC (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct Safety Recall 14V266 to address fatigue and separation of the flexible steel cable that connects the front outboard seat belts to the seat-mounted belt pre-tensioner in 1.4 million model year (MY) 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook, 2009-2014 Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse (Lambda Platform) vehicles.The remedy was to inspect for signs of damage and replace pre-tensioner anchor cables as needed. Re-work was conducted to relocate the pre-tensioner anchor cable out of the occupant entry path. ODI has subsequently received four (4) Vehicle Owners Questionnaires (VOQ) reporting anchor cable separations with no apparent warning in covered vehicles after the Recall 14V266 remedy had been applied.ODI opened RQ19-003 to assess the effectiveness of the actions GM took in Recall 14V266 and review the full warranty and complaint data related to seat belt anchor cable separations and replacements. ODI continues to receive occasional cable failure complaints both for the subject vehicles and other GM models and model years that have also been previously recalled addressing this condition.Although the cable separation complaint rate is very low, over the past three years ODI has received two (2) additional VOQ?s citing belt cable separations for Lambda platform vehicles outside the scope of recall 14V266, (11217092, 11118075) and complaints for other GM models covered in a number of similar Safety Recalls:* 15V269, 2011-12 Chevrolet Malibu (11181115, 11288168); * 16V209, 2014-15 Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500 (11254364, 10935183, 10953851, 11025376, 11282043, 11288701, 11309884); and * 16V518 2014-16 Caprice Police Pursuit, SS (10905644, 10990669, 11340893).ODI's review of GM's data confirms the low potential failure rate for the vehicles covered by recall 14V266. However, ODI believes that complainants may not recognize accumulating cable fatigue damage from the visual cues available in routine vehicle use.ODI is upgrading RQ19-003 to an Engineering Analysis to more closely assess seat belt conditions and strength levels in the field. This work will include the collection of seat belt samples from a wider range of recalled and peer vehicles for detailed analysis and testing.The ODI reports (VOQs) associated with this RQ19-003 can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following reference numbers: 11144704, 11076704, 11185619, 11151922, 11164011, 10967518, 11113486, 11115648

Additional source detail variants (3)

Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Seat Belts:front

Seat Belts:pretensioner