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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

Structure complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2026
Structure

I work full time in an auto body repair shop and a fire chief. I am coming across more and more white GM vehicles where the paint is not stuck where the windshield is glued in. A couple real hard pushes and the windshield will about come completely out.

NHTSA ODI #11749614

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

78,000 miles · Aug 20, 2024
Structure

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a rattling sound coming from under the front passenger’s side seat. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a detached exhaust pipe bracket. The contact was informed that …

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The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a rattling sound coming from under the front passenger’s side seat. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a detached exhaust pipe bracket. The contact was informed that the bracket needed to be welded back onto the front of the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under an unknown special coverage adjustment program. The contact was advised to contact the NHTTA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ODI #11609645

15,000 miles · Feb 15, 2023
Structure

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that after an independent mechanic performed an oil change, the vehicle made abnormal sounds while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the subframe was corroded and the fuel line bracket had fractured due to corrosion. …

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The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that after an independent mechanic performed an oil change, the vehicle made abnormal sounds while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the subframe was corroded and the fuel line bracket had fractured due to corrosion. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an upcoming appointment. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #11507373

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2023
Exterior LightingStructure

The tail light is collecting moisture out of nowhere. Went to the dealer to get the item looked at, was told that it was not covered under the warranty. The price to repair will be almost 1300 to replace, this is crazy. GM needs to do something about this. The moisture in the light is a potential for all the electrical wires to …

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The tail light is collecting moisture out of nowhere. Went to the dealer to get the item looked at, was told that it was not covered under the warranty. The price to repair will be almost 1300 to replace, this is crazy. GM needs to do something about this. The moisture in the light is a potential for all the electrical wires to burnout.

NHTSA ODI #11501086

6,000 miles · Apr 6, 2021
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructureUnknown Or Other

DASHBOARD PAD STUFFING CAME APART FROM WINDSHIELD. REPAIRED AND NOW THIS IS THIRD TIME IT'S REPLACED. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT EXTENDED WARRENTY DOESN'T PAY FOR IT. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS WARRENTY . REPAIR DEFECTIVE 3RD TIME. EVERYTIME IT COMES OUT THEY HAVE TO CHARGE TO REMOVE DASH BOARD AND REPLACE. SAFETY HAZARD WINDSHIELD LOOSEN,…

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DASHBOARD PAD STUFFING CAME APART FROM WINDSHIELD. REPAIRED AND NOW THIS IS THIRD TIME IT'S REPLACED. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT EXTENDED WARRENTY DOESN'T PAY FOR IT. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS WARRENTY . REPAIR DEFECTIVE 3RD TIME. EVERYTIME IT COMES OUT THEY HAVE TO CHARGE TO REMOVE DASH BOARD AND REPLACE. SAFETY HAZARD WINDSHIELD LOOSEN, CAN CRACK, LEAK, ANNOYING RATTLE. CONTACT GMC TO PUT RECALL SAFETY IN. SOFTWARE UPDATE IF YOU CALL DEALER NO RECALL WAS ISSUED AS REQUIRED. FAILED AGAIN. PANDEMIC KEEPS PEOPLE FROM DRIVING SO DIDN'T KNOW PROBLEM AND NOW WARRENTY UP .. 10,000 MILES ON 2018. JAN 2021 3 YEARS. REPAIRED THIRD TIME NOW. COST OF APPROX 500.00. DEALER STATED RECALL ON SOFTWARE AND GMC ISSUED IT. JUST SAID NO RECALL ISSUED AWARE OF. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVER. WINDSHIELD LOOSEN, CAN CRACK, SHATTER EASIER ON IMPACT, ANNOYING RATTLE, AND COST FOR EACH REPAIRED NEW DASHBOARD REQUIRED. 395.00 AND TAX AND LABOR. TOTAL 500.00.

NHTSA ODI #11406677

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2020
Structure

DUAL SUNROOF/MOONROOF DEFECT WITH A LEAK TO THE HEADLINER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11327110

21,000 miles · Apr 18, 2020
Structure

THIS IS NOT TO REPORT AN INCIDENT BUT MORE OF A CONCERN WITH THE ROOF STRUCTURE OF MY 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE PREMIUM. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE WASHING THE ROOF OF MY SUV I NOTICED THE SHEET METAL FLEXING ACROSS THE CENTER MIDLINE OF THE ROOF FROM THE LIFTGATE ALL THE WAY TO THE WINDSHIELD. LUCKILY, I DO NOT HAVE A SUNROOF …

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THIS IS NOT TO REPORT AN INCIDENT BUT MORE OF A CONCERN WITH THE ROOF STRUCTURE OF MY 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE PREMIUM. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE WASHING THE ROOF OF MY SUV I NOTICED THE SHEET METAL FLEXING ACROSS THE CENTER MIDLINE OF THE ROOF FROM THE LIFTGATE ALL THE WAY TO THE WINDSHIELD. LUCKILY, I DO NOT HAVE A SUNROOF ON MY VEHICLE. THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE I EXERT WHILE SCRUBBING THE ROOF OF THE CAR IS LESS THAT 20 LBS PER SQUARE INCH. I TRIED CAPTURING THIS ON CAMERA BUT THE IMAGES KEEP COMING UP BLURRY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11321484

4,752 miles · Dec 10, 2018
StructureSuspension

OVER TWO DOZEN AREAS ON THE POWDER COATED SUB FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE RUSTY WELD BEADS WITH FLAKING PAINT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND FILED A CLAIM WITH CHEVROLET. CHEVROLET SAID THE RUST IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" AND NO REPAIR WOULD BE COMPLETED. THE AREAS ARE INCREASING TO RUST AND I BELIEVE THIS MA…

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OVER TWO DOZEN AREAS ON THE POWDER COATED SUB FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE RUSTY WELD BEADS WITH FLAKING PAINT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND FILED A CLAIM WITH CHEVROLET. CHEVROLET SAID THE RUST IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" AND NO REPAIR WOULD BE COMPLETED. THE AREAS ARE INCREASING TO RUST AND I BELIEVE THIS MAY LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRAME AND STEERING COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ODI #11160605

7,000 miles · Aug 14, 2018
StructureUnknown Or Other

MAIN SUNROOF (THE ONE THAT TILTS AND OPENS) SHATTERED. IT WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, ALL WINDOWS WERE CLOSED, DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A GOOD, SMOOTH HIGHWAY AT 74 MPH, IN GOOD WEATHER

NHTSA ODI #11119810

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.