NHTSA Complaint #10781558 — 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING STEERING ISSUES FOR A COUPLE YEARS - LOUD MECHANICAL NOISES AND POPPING. I HAVE TOPPED OF STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR SEVERAL TIMES AND THAT QUIETED THE NOISE, BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK ON MY GARAGE FLOOR UNTIL OCTOBER 2015 (AFTER SERVICE EXPLAINED BELOW). THE POPPING BECAME A NUISANCE AGAIN AND I TOOK INTO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO INSPECT. THEY FOUND SEVERAL ISSUES IN THE FRONT END THAT NEED REPLACED: RACK AND PINION (LEAKING), POWER STEERING PUMP, END LINKS, BUSHINGS, TRANSMISSION MOUNT, STRUTS (LEAKING). STEERING COMPONENT FAILURE IS A POSSIBILITY IN THESE ISSUES AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE. LOSS OF POWER STEERING WOULD LIKELY END UP IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO INABILITY TO TURN VEHICLE AS INTENDED. GM SHOULD ISSUE A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT AND STRUT LEAKS AS THESE ARE VERY WELL KNOW SAFETY/DESIGN FLAWS. GM HAS ALREADY ISSUED SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP.