2009 Chevrolet Traverse: steering wheel locks up

Filed Jun 2, 2016 · Steering · 100,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet traverse. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized. The steering wheel required excessive force. When making a left or right turn, there was an abnormal noise coming from the steering wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated at the time of the failure. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. The manufacturer was notified and no repair was performed. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Mar 18, 2016 · Steering · 70,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet traverse. While turning right at 5 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure recurred numerous times while turning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering pump failed, which caused the rack and pinion to fail. The power steering pump was repaired under a customer satisfaction campaign, but the rack and pinion was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Aug 3, 2015 · Steering · 120,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet traverse. While reversing, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. Updated 11/18/15*lj the consumer stated the dealer found that both of the front struts needed to be replaced and have the vehicle alignment done. The traverse could not be driven after the replacement of the failed power steering pump. Updated 2/3/2016 *js

Filed Dec 31, 2014 · Steering · 108,000 miles · UT

Turning corners at low rate of speed, steering locks up and then can finally turn the wheel, but with great difficulty. Huge safety concern.

Filed Sep 5, 2014 · Steering · 141,000 miles · KY

Power steering locked up when turning right into a parking space making it very difficult to turn then it freed up almost causing me to hit the car next to me. Steering seems a little jerky now. Does not feel safe at all and was very scary. This is not the first time it has done this and it seems to be getting worse.

Filed Jun 18, 2014 · Steering · 71,000 miles · NC

Towards the end of 2013 my wife and I started noticing the steering being really difficult and locking up on some occasions pulling into parking spaces and parallel parking. We experienced some near misses where the steering locked and felt like we were going to collide with the vehicle in the next parking space. We took our car to the dealership in june 2014 to have the air bag recall done and a state inspection. We also told the dealer that the coolant level was consistently staying low and the steering almost locks up at times. The dealer said the steering gear (or rack and pinion) was bad. The dealer would not pass the inspection. State inspections are performed to ensure safe vehicle conditions. If a gm dealer is not willing to perform a state inspection they are admitting this is a safety issue. The dealer performed the air bag fix, and replaced the water pump (from the coolant level complaint, prior tsb). They said the steering gear fix would have to be scheduled the following week. After two days the check engine light came on (c1100 and p00008). We scheduled the appointment to have the steering gear replaced because we were unsure if the steering would lock up on a normal turn while driving. The dealer said the c1100 was a loose cable at the control board and the p00008 was a bad timing chain (replaced under a prior tsb). The steering gear was replaced and the cost was $1,552. After reading similar complaints from other owners of chevy traverse vehicles this is a systemic issue due to a poor design steering gear. Gm should make the right decision and stand behind their quality in a proactive way and issue a recall to have these steering gears replaced before someone gets injured.

Filed May 29, 2014 · Steering · 122,500 miles · LA

I own a 2009 chevrolet traverse ltz.. I have been experiencing steering problems with this vehicle at low speeds when parking in parking slots and when turning at intersections. When turning or parking the power steering will not work and the vehicle is very difficult to steer. I have check the power steering fluid and the fluid levels are fine. I have spent over $1,200.00 on trying to repair the problem and the vehicle is still having problems steering. I have taken the vehicle to a local dealership and the dealership advised me that there are no recalls for this vehicle. My wife is the primary driver of this vehicle and I am afraid if the steering locks up what may happen to her while she is driving the vehicle. I am to a point that I want to sell or trade the vehicle but I do not want to put the burden of this vehicle on anyone else. I hope that gm has a recall soon on this vehicle because I am afraid what may happen if this problem is not addressed.

Filed May 5, 2014 · Steering · 94,000 miles · OH

Turning down a street when steering locked on me. Almost hit a car and almost lost control. I had to stop and try to not go up over the curb all the while another car was coming as I was crossing. It continues to do this locking while steering into parking places as well. Very scary that this happened while my children were in the car. Thank you for your time in looking into this.

Filed Apr 4, 2014 · Steering · 36,000 miles · HI

The steering wheel locked as we were parking car. It was still on drive. Took it to dealer. No recall on this even though I've researched a lot of complaints about the steering on this car 2009 traverse. It makes me feel unsafe driving this car especially if it happens again as I am driving down the highway.

Filed Mar 21, 2014 · Steering · 100,000 miles · WI

I have been having the following problems: steering wheel whining and grinding steering froze/stuck while turning steering wheel shaking this is scary considering I'm driving this vehicle everyday with 3 small kids in the car. After doing an online search it's not hard to find that everyone with the same vehicle is having the same problems.

Filed Mar 5, 2013 · Steering · 60,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet traverse. The contact stated that the power steering assist malfunctioned and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised him that the power steering pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. The current mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Sep 20, 2012 · Steering, Suspension · 41,700 miles · IL · crash

I was in the process of making a left hand turn when my steering wheel locked when I finally got the steering wheel to loosen and move back into place I heard a loud popping sound. Then my car on the front passenger side dropped to the ground due to the front tire axle braking which caused me to hit the back of a park vehicle. The brake of the axle appeared to clean as though the axle was never apart of my car. The incident scared me a lot and it could have been a lot worse. I do not understand how this could have happened on 3 year old car and I did not have any real warning signs prior to this. I would like to get this issue resolved as I am now without my car and I have to face repairing someone else's vehicle.