2011 Chevrolet Traverse: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Feb 13, 2019 · Electrical · MN

This is toward chevrolet and any other vehicle makers that require excessive use of dealerships for minor maintenance. I have commuted 40 miles daily for 18 years, I have previously owned ford vehicles and had no issues with doing minor repairs myself. With my chevy vehicle I have to take it into the dealership or repair shop to change a simple headlight because of the greedy design of the vehicle. They did this on purpose so they could make more money at the dealership after sales. In the past when I drove fords if my headlight went home I would stop a couple blocks from my work and pop one in. I stopped on exit ramps and added a new one many timed, keeping a extra in my glove box like a prepared driver. With my traverse I have go in and have the tire taken off and the wheel wheel plastic off to change the headlight. This is completely unsafe and ridiculous. I've complained to chevy without a response. This needs to change to save lives. It is very dangerous for long commuters. Imagine being on vacation and having to spend a day of it at a dealership getting your headlight changed for $125.00. We live in mn and frequently have to change bulbs due to --60 degree wind chills. It's impossible to keep up with, and should be illegal. When you spend $30k-50k on a vehicle it should be safe and easy to maintain safety. Don't even get me started on having to pull out the flooring of the 2nd row to change a battery.

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 Oct 27, 2017 · Engine, Lights · 44,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet traverse. While driving 80 MPH, the headlights and all the instrument panel lighting turned off without warning. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and was able to drive back home only with the high beam lights. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (rydell chevrolet, 18600 devonshire st, northridge, ca 91324) where it was diagnosed that the headlights needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated that when driving on a rainy day at 15 MPH, the headlights turned off and all the instrument panel lights turned off without warning. The failure caused the contact to crash into another vehicle that was parked on the side of the road. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer where it was diagnosed that the headlights needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred several other times even after the vehicle was repaired. Also, while driving 30 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the same dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic (ultimate connections, 9517 1/2 sepulveda blvd, north hills, ca 91343) where it was diagnosed that the crankshaft, oil pump, and engine mounts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted at 800‑222‑1020 and stated that they would replace the vehicle; however, the contact did not hear back. Case number: 8-3184289974 was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.

Filed Jan 24, 2016 · Lights, Visibility · 44,472 miles · VA

The windshield wipers are inconsistent at turning on when not in the off position. If they turned on, they would stay on until the vehicle was turned off. The only way to ensure the windshield wipers came on (and stayed on) at any requested wiper speed was to have your high beams on. If you turned your high beams on, the dashboard light would come on. If you turned your wipers on, the high beam dashboard light would go out (yet the high beams would still remain on).

Filed Jun 17, 2015 · Body, Lights · 25,000 miles · NY

2011 chevrolet traverse- I bought the truck in 2013 certified, pre-owned for roughly $35k all in from robert chevrolet. Have had several electrical and mechanical issues with it over the past 2 years. Windows have stopped working numerous times, mirrors as well. Left tail light has gone out 3 times, headlights have had issues as well. Most recently my passenger side step rail snapped off as my 13 year old 115 lb daughter stepped on it. I have 4 children, my youngest is one and a half years old and one concern I have is that the other side rail snaps off and as my wife is putting my son in car they fall on concrete if that rail should snap as well. In general, I do not trust this car or feel safe in it at all. The electrical problems scare me the most, god forbid there should be some kind of short and steering or something worse goes out and my wife crashes with one or all of my 4 children in the car.. My sales rep at robert chevrolet has been contacted on several occasions, for a year has been telling us to come in after several complaints. Finally I took off of work and told him he needed to take a look at this unsafe vehicle and it needed to be addressed. They assured me they would take care of it, even suggested he would take me out of the car and eat the bulk of the loss. Needless to say they did none of that, indicated everything that's wrong with the car is wear and tear. I bought an extended policy on the vehicle as well, basically nothing is covered. And to boot, they suggested I pay 1200-1500 to fix the vehicle. Again I stress, the money isn't the biggest issue, I'm concerned about the safety of this vehicle.