2011 Chevrolet Traverse: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 26, 2018 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · TX

Bought car certified used in 4/2014 from dealer who performed recall 13079 (water pump shaft leak). While driving on highway at 68 MPH, car lost power, overheated with smoke coming from hood. Wife was driving with kids in back - could have gotten into an accident or car could have caught fire. Local shop says water pump leaked and failed causing coolant leak. Called gm reg. Defective recall work and for reimbursement for repair costs - they refused saying its not a safety issue and that the original work wasn't a recall but a customer satisfaction program. I disagree - car could have gotten into accident due to lost power and could have caught on fire. Gm should issue recall and reimburse costs for defective worksmanship.

Filed Nov 4, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 130,000 miles · CO · fire

The headlight on the passenger side caught on fire where it connects to the wiring system. The vehicle was parked but running in a driveway. This caused about 2000 in damages to the vehichle.

Filed Dec 16, 2015 · Engine, Steering · 10 miles · NC

December 2015 drove the 2011 traverse to the grocery store. After parking the cooling fan was on after engine turned off. Very loud fan noise had me concerned. After driving home I notice no fan noise so I felt it was an isolated incident considering it is cool winter weather outside. Next a.m. We went to church approx 7 mile trip and fan was running when we turned off car again and saw puff of steam or smoke coming out from front of hood. Reasoned it was morning fog? Or evaporating water! On the way to do errands 2 days later engine was running about 260* on gauge on dash. Fan came on when I parked and ran very loudly. I went straight to dealership which is across the street and met chevy service rep. He said it was just the car reacting to run the defrost mode on the AC system and sent me on my way. Before I reached our home the temp gauge was at 260* or higher because it was on the highest point on gauge. Returned the next day to dealership as car had now overheated again, no fan coming on at all, and service writer said turn it off before it does damage. Wow! Left car and was called the next a.m, with diagnosis as bad water pump covered by recall. Work was done and then I was informed the rack amd pinion assembly was leaking and needs to be replaced and the engine mount is broken. I am sure the leak on the rack and pinion is due to overheating and extra pressure on the gaskets. No leaks ever noticed before this visit during multipoint inspection performed by dealer on 9/10/15. Area of fluid is fresh on rack area. Estimate at $1745.00. I'm sure this recall will be happening soon. I just received the november 2015 recall on faulty throttle position sensor repair. I can only hope the recall for the steering system leak and failures will come soon. . Fyi we have owned 30 chevrolet cars and we have never had anything like this happen or the amount of recalls occur

Filed Jun 30, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 22,170 miles · TN · fire

My wife returned from the dealership after receiving an oil change and tire rotation. She parked the car in the driveway at the house and exited the vehicle. After about 10 minutes my family got in the vehicle. I smelled a burning odor while walking to the vehicle. My wife cranked the vehicle and immediately there was white smoke coming from under the hood. I opened the hood and there was a fire burning in the engine compartment. We got the family out of the car and I grabbed a water hose and put the flames out. After about 15 minutes I noticed that smoke was again coming from the engine compartment. I disconnected the cable from the positive terminal in the engine compartment and the smoked stopped. I was told by the dealership that the battery cable caught fire because it was not sufficient enough to handle the electrical load of the vehicle and that the replacement cable was much thicker and more insulated. These cables need to be replaced immediately before there is a loss of life.

Filed Jun 12, 2013 · Brakes · 32,758 miles · IL

My wife had just dropped the kids off at school and was about 10 minutes away from home. After about five minutes of driving a series of chimes emitted from the car and the dash flashed a light indicating a problem with the ABS system, followed by another series of dings and a burning smell. She then pulled over, turned off the car, and waited approximately a minute. Upon turning on the car she heard another ding and the service lights remained on. She was able to slowly drive home but the car emitted a "grinding noise" and the heat gauge was slightly higher than normal. Upon getting home she checked under the car but did not see any fluids under the car. We have scheduled a mechanic to look at the car tomorrow.

Filed Jul 8, 2011 · Fuel system · VA · fire · 2 injuries

Vehicle was traveling east on I-64 in norfolk, va. Occupants smelt fuel and pulled over. Witnesses advised that immediately pulling over the vehicle was on fire in the engine compartment and within 60 seconds the fire was observed in the front driver passenger seat area. The driver and passenger had moved to the back seat area to try and free a 4 year old child from the car seat. The female passenger then exited the rear driver window suffering critical burns in the fire. The male driver expired in the back seat of the vehicle. Bystanders removed the child.