2009–2012 Chevrolet Traverse: Check engine light with P0008 or P0017, rough running (3.6L timing chain)
Likely causes, ranked
- Stretched timing chainsShop
- Long oil change intervals or low oilDIY
Real-owner fix counts will appear here as reports come in.
DIY or shop: See DIY or shop section
Parts to check
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Symptom: A check-engine light with P0008 or P0017, rough idle, hesitation, low power or erratic shifting.
Likely causes
- Stretched chains. Traverse Forum owners describe P0008/P0017 followed by a dealer-confirmed chain replacement, in one case at 45,000 miles even after the oil life update.
- Oil changes. GM tied the wear to oil age and driving conditions and reprogrammed the oil life monitor so it calls for oil changes sooner.
DIY or shop?
Shop. Ask the dealer about the 2009 special coverage.
Useful steps
- Read the codes.
- Keep the oil full and change it about every 5,000 miles.
- Have chain stretch confirmed with a scan tool before replacing parts.
Vehicle focus: 2009–2012 Chevrolet Traverse.
Safety / mechanic note
A badly stretched chain can jump and wreck the engine. Verify with a mechanic or dealer.
Related trouble codes
Recalls & service bulletins
Technical service bulletins
- 11340C Special coverage for 10 years/120,000 miles on timing chain wear for 2009 Traverse (and other GM 3.6L models), plus an engine computer update to shorten oil change intervals. Details
NHTSA complaints: 228 keyword-matched complaints for Chevrolet TRAVERSE 2009–2012 (of 2,077 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-15).
Always check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Sources
What actually fixed it?
Had this problem? Tell other owners what the real fix was. Reports are counted above; we never show made-up numbers.