NHTSA Complaint #10726775 — 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LOW GROWLING NOISE THAT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AS I TURNED CORNERS. IN APRIL 2015, I WAS HAVING THE DEALERSHIP PERFORM THE 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE STEERING GEAR WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID THAT IT COULD CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL TO WORK IN WHICH CASE I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STEER AND IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR--ABOUT $850 FOR LABOR AND $700 FOR THE PART AND THEY DID HAVE THE PART IN STOCK. THE TRAVERSE HAD 31,110 MILES ON IT. BUT, WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD BOUGHT IT IN SEPT. 2010. I DECIDED TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT 31,000 MILES. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I DIDN'T HAVE IT REPAIRED. I CALLED THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL AND A CASE WAS FILED WITH THEM. A SENIOR ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT SHE WOULD CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT. BUT, THAT THE WARRANTY TIME HAD PASSED AND THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER IT. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE PART IN STOCK IMPLIES THEY SEE THESE FAILURES OFTEN. THE LABOR WAS 8.6 HOURS IMPLIES A POOR DESIGN. SHE SAID THE DEALERSHIP WOULD CALL ME. THEY DID FINALLY CALL TO REITERATE THAT IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE SENIOR ADVISOR I SPOKE WITH AT GM SAID SHE WISHED I HAD CALLED HER BEFORE I HAD THE REPAIR MADE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT. DID SHE MEAN THEY WOULD HAVE COVERED PART OF THE COST? DID SHE MEAN THAT I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND HAD OR CAUSED AN ACCIDENT? I DON'T KNOW. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE PURCHASED MANY GM VEHICLES SINCE 1969 AS SHE NOTED. AS I REVIEWED THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THEM WERE ABOUT STEERING GEAR FAILURES. IT'S TIME GM DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. ...UPDATED08/20/15 *BF UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN