Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Chevrolet Traverse owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
A year a go the steering at low speed would act like the power steering just stop working, very hard to turn. but not all the time, but now it more often. when a kid ran out between two parked cars I went to turn and hit the brakes the steering went out. Luckily he stop in time, but after that I needed it repaired. Went to GM web site and was amazed of all the people with this, called chevy dealer about repairs and was told its my problem and it would be $ 2100.00 to replace a faulty power steering pump, how is this not a safety problem. Try turning in a parking space and the wheel locks up its hard not to hit the car beside you. WITH NO WARNING
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving 5 MPH, the driver side air bag deployed without warning and struck the contact. As a result, the contact crashed into a light pole. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the right eye and suffered nausea and dizziness, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the crash. The failure mileage was 117,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that various warning indicators illuminated. In addition, the warning indicators for the air bags, service engine, and low beam headlights shorted several times. The contact smelled a burning odor near the front of the vehicle several times. The vehicle was repaired several times by the dealer, but the failure recurred. While driving at an unknown speed, a deer crossed the vehicle's path and crashed into the front of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The driver sustained minor bruising, but did not require medical treatment. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer provided no solution and the vehicle was traded in for a 2013 Chevrolet Traverse. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.
"service air bag" dic message and dashboard air bag warning icon came on intermittently. Then it came on and stayed on for a while - long enough to log a code. This occurred intermittently while driving around town and on the highway. The dealer said it needed an air bag harness. They told me the connection points of the wiring loosen up over time and give a different circuit resistance reading that the computer reads as a fault. That will cost 3 hours of labor and many dollars for the replacement harness. I am waiting for the harness to come on now. But this vehicle exhibits the same symptoms that were covered in a 2014 recall program. The 2014 repair was done, and now the same thing has happened. Something is wrong here. I was told it is okay to drive but be aware that if the warning light is lit, the air bags will not deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving 35 MPH, the check engine and service air bag warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the timing chain and crankshaft failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred multiple times. O'reilly Chevrolet (6160 e broadway blvd, tucson, az 85711, [phone]) was contacted, but was unable to duplicate the failures. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 09V073000 (power train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, crashed into a highway barrier while attempting to avoid crashing into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. The police reported to the scene and a report was filed. The contact was transported to the hospital via ambulance for treatment of injuries to the back. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.
Tl contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact applied the brakes while driving 35 MPH and the vehicle crash into the rear end of the vehicle in front. The air bag did not deploy. The contact suffered a fractured sternum by hitting the steering wheel. The contact stated that the seat belt did not lock during the crash. The contact was taken to the hospital. The manufacturer stated that they will perform an investigation regarding the seat belt. The failure mileage was 30,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front driver's side and none of the air bags deployed. The contact sustained a concussion and medical attention was required. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a savage facility. A police report was filed of the incident. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. When the vehicle was started, the service air bag and seat belt indicators illuminated and remained lit. Team Chevrolet in valparaiso, in (219- 210-4755) was called and recommended diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
Air bags light keeps turning on , my front suspension keeps rattling keep fixing it and can't find the problem , my seat belts keep breaking, we have a elictrical problem sometimes things work and sometimes it don't , and tail gate jerks sometimes when closing.
Related recalls
Air bags › Side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014.
Airbag complaints in other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, 6% of the model year's 448 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Traverse airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-118 (side/window, Mar 17, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Chevrolet Traverse airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 1 fire and 10 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.