NHTSA Complaint #10682380 — 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

WHEN DRIVING MY TRAVERSE AT LOW SPEEDS AROUND 5 MPH WHILE TRYING TO PARK, MY STEERING GETS VERY TIGHT AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. IN ADDITION THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A WHINING NOISE. WE CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT IS AT THE CORRECT LEVELS. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR MAN AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I THEN CONTACTED MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER MY MANUFACTURES WARRANTY AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED AND THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES WHICH EVER COME FIRST. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN RELEASED IN DECEMBER 2014. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $1000-$1500 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. MY LOCAL REPAIR MAN HAD QUOTED ME AROUND $750. THEREFORE, I PAID HIM TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY AVAILABLE FOR THE DEALER TO DO THE REPAIR AND WAS VERY CONCERNED WITH DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP MY CAR I FOUND OUT THAT THE RACK & PINION IS LEAKING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED ALSO! THESE ISSUES SEEM TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I BELIEVE IT POSES A BIG ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF I AM DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND MY STEERING GOES OUT. GMC NEEDS TO GET ON THE BALL AND RECALL THIS BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE!!! *TR