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2018 Chevrolet Traverse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 302.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

186 reports with mileage · 274 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 194 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

Forward Collision Avoidance complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2026
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidancePower Train

the vehicle will not register that it is in park, when the engine is turned off a beeping noise reads shift to park - you have to start the engine and shut it off multiple times, or slam the shifter into place to get it register in park. this happens constantly and is starting to get old, and annoying. it is listed as a known pr…

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the vehicle will not register that it is in park, when the engine is turned off a beeping noise reads shift to park - you have to start the engine and shut it off multiple times, or slam the shifter into place to get it register in park. this happens constantly and is starting to get old, and annoying. it is listed as a known problem on the forum group. when the notice to shift into Park is stuck on, the beeping will not stop... Also there is a shudder while driving no matter the speed. They did a transmission service and messed with torque converters but has not done anything. Also will be driving down the road with cruise control and the cruise control with randomly jerk and shut off for no reason. Has happened on the interstate.

NHTSA ODI #11762436

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2024
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceStructure

Had my traverse for two years, second owner. When I received the car, it had to immediately go into the shop as they couldn’t figure out why all sorts of dash lights where coming on. My car was at the dealership for three weeks and ultimately they replaced the chip, stating that was the issue. Two months down the road, I get the…

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Had my traverse for two years, second owner. When I received the car, it had to immediately go into the shop as they couldn’t figure out why all sorts of dash lights where coming on. My car was at the dealership for three weeks and ultimately they replaced the chip, stating that was the issue. Two months down the road, I get the shift to park error message starting. Fast forward to 4 months ago when the stability error message starts to intermittently come on and off. 30 days ago I got the first of the service charging system message and the battery saver mode. My car shut itself down while I was doing 55 miles per hour on a back country road. Every lthing locked up and I had to force a turn to get out of traffic. It was determined my battery was good but alternator was bad. Checked fuses just to be safe all were good. Replaced the alternator with a new one. As of today, I am not able to drive my vehicle because of this same issue. This time I went ahead and replaced the battery and nothing has changed. They are saying it’s my alternator AGAIN. How is this possible that all of us 2018 traverse drivers are experiencing the exact same malfunctions in order and now we have to repeatedly replace the alternator? There is no way 1000s more of traverse owners are all buying “bad” alternators. Something is going on with this and these vehicles are not safe to drive. I can’t even trade mine in because my credit is shot. I pay way too much for this car to not be able to reliably and safely transport my kids to and from school.

NHTSA ODI #11618260

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2024
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

The parking brake came on as I was driving and would not allow me to turn it off. It caused my brakes to smoke and they were radiating heat. It is currently at the shop Kelley Buick GMC Bartow, FL

NHTSA ODI #11586220

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceLane Departure

When driving on a right hand curve with traffic in the opposite direction lane, the forward collision warning system flashed a large red warning flash on the instrument panel near the speedometer. This was alarming and caused me to put on the brakes immediately, although there was no impending crash. This cause the cars behind…

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When driving on a right hand curve with traffic in the opposite direction lane, the forward collision warning system flashed a large red warning flash on the instrument panel near the speedometer. This was alarming and caused me to put on the brakes immediately, although there was no impending crash. This cause the cars behind me to take evasive action and apply their brakes in an emergency fashion and almost cause several collisions. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11443922

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2021
EngineForward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

DUE TO THE EMS RECALL IT HAS CAUSED THE ABS TO MALFUNCTION WENT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS MORE THAN FOUR TIMES WAS TOLD TO PAY IN ORDER TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED DUE TO EMS RECALL SERVICE PROVIDER: DUE TO THE EMS RECALL IT HAS CAUSED THE ABS TO MALFUNCTION PER EMS RECALL THIS CAN BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. I AM BEING DENIED BY BOTH KILLEEN…

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DUE TO THE EMS RECALL IT HAS CAUSED THE ABS TO MALFUNCTION WENT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS MORE THAN FOUR TIMES WAS TOLD TO PAY IN ORDER TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED DUE TO EMS RECALL SERVICE PROVIDER: DUE TO THE EMS RECALL IT HAS CAUSED THE ABS TO MALFUNCTION PER EMS RECALL THIS CAN BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. I AM BEING DENIED BY BOTH KILLEEN AND TEMPLE CHEVY DEALERSHIPS.

NHTSA ODI #11434525

46,900 miles · Dec 7, 2020
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE GEARS ARE GRINDING AND THE CAR IS BREAKING HARDER THAN I AM APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND I CAN FEEL THE VEHICLE SHUTTERING AND GRINDING TO A STOP THROUGH THE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE DOES STOP, BUT A WARNING THEN DISPLAYS ON THE DASH "BRAKE ASSIST ACTIVATED". THIS WARNING DI…

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WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE GEARS ARE GRINDING AND THE CAR IS BREAKING HARDER THAN I AM APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND I CAN FEEL THE VEHICLE SHUTTERING AND GRINDING TO A STOP THROUGH THE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE DOES STOP, BUT A WARNING THEN DISPLAYS ON THE DASH "BRAKE ASSIST ACTIVATED". THIS WARNING DISPLAYS EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE USED. ONLY HAVE DISABLING THE FORWARD COLLISION BREAK ASSIST DOES THE VEHICLE THEN DRIVE NORMAL. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED TWICE NOW ONCE IN TOWN DRIVING 30-40 MILES AN HOUR AND ANOTHER STOPPING COMING UP TO A LIGHT AT INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ODI #11378239

4,000 miles · Sep 24, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Forward Collision Avoidance

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FORWARD ALERT SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE AND FAILED TO BEEP WHEN A VEHICLE WAS IN VIEW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MORAN CHEVROLET CLINTON TWP (35500 GRATIOT AVE, CLINTON TWP, MI 48035, (866) 774-3206) WHO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FORWARD ALERT SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE AND FAILED TO BEEP WHEN A VEHICLE WAS IN VIEW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MORAN CHEVROLET CLINTON TWP (35500 GRATIOT AVE, CLINTON TWP, MI 48035, (866) 774-3206) WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED AND THE FEATURE WOULD BE ACTIVATED BY SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.*PM*JB

NHTSA ODI #11257807

Official recalls

2

21V246000 · Air Bags:critical Fasteners

Apr 8, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

20V668000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 29, 2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.