← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

460 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND GO TO SHIFT IT OFF THE CAR DOESN'T SENSES THAT IT'S PARKED. WILL NOT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND CAN'T LOCK OR ARM CAR. RESTARTED CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL SIGNALS THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11319356

33,000 miles · Mar 16, 2020
Power Train

WHEN PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK THE CARS COMPUTER SAYS IT IS NOT IN PARK (SHIFT TO PARK) COMES ON THE SCREEN AND ALL THE CARS SYSTEMS STAY ON. THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY BUT STILL HAS A PROBLEM AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT.

NHTSA ODI #11318259

24,000 miles · Mar 15, 2020
Power Train

MY CAR WOULD ONLY STOP RUNNING WHEN AT RED LIGHTS I'D HAVE TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART.. JERKING TRANSMISSION ALL THE TIME THEN WHILE DRIVING EXPRESSWAY THE TRANSMISSION CAR STOPPED WHILE I WAS GOING 65 SHUT DOWN I BARELY COULD GET OVER MOST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE EVER. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE DEALERSHIP CANNOT GET ME OUT O…

Read full complaint

MY CAR WOULD ONLY STOP RUNNING WHEN AT RED LIGHTS I'D HAVE TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART.. JERKING TRANSMISSION ALL THE TIME THEN WHILE DRIVING EXPRESSWAY THE TRANSMISSION CAR STOPPED WHILE I WAS GOING 65 SHUT DOWN I BARELY COULD GET OVER MOST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE EVER. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE DEALERSHIP CANNOT GET ME OUT OF LEASE WITHOUT PAYING MORE MONEY FOR ANOTHER CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11318099

3,600 miles · Mar 5, 2020
EngineVisibility/wiperWheels

PURCHASED A YEAR AGO IN FL. MY WINDSHIELD CAME LOOSE TWICE ALREADY WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE PADDING IN THE DASHBOARD AREA AGAIN. THE TIRE ON DRIVER SIDE HAS TO HAVE AIR IN IT SEVERAL TIMES AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MINS. PRESSURE KEEPS READING AT 26 AND ALARM GOING OFF WITH THE PROBLEM. HUSBAND REFILLS AND THREE DAYS LATER I MOVE THE…

Read full complaint

PURCHASED A YEAR AGO IN FL. MY WINDSHIELD CAME LOOSE TWICE ALREADY WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE PADDING IN THE DASHBOARD AREA AGAIN. THE TIRE ON DRIVER SIDE HAS TO HAVE AIR IN IT SEVERAL TIMES AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MINS. PRESSURE KEEPS READING AT 26 AND ALARM GOING OFF WITH THE PROBLEM. HUSBAND REFILLS AND THREE DAYS LATER I MOVE THE VEHICLE AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WINDSHIELD YOU CAN HEAR AIR LEAKING FROM IT. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I STARTED MY CAR IT HAD A WEIRD ENGINE NOISE LOUD ACCELERATION EVEN WHEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. I READ NO RECALLS BUT POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION PENDING IF YOU REFUSE TO FIX THE VEHICLES. I WILL BE OVER 36 MONTHS BEFORE MY CAR REACHES 30K MILES. I DRIVE TO AND FROM DOCTORS, GROCERY SHOPPING. CASUAL DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11316475

52,180 miles · Feb 27, 2020
Service Brakes

PARKING BRAKE WOULDN'T RELEASE. SERVICE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ON. I HAD PARKED ON A SLIGHT HILL. AFTER ABOUT TWO HOURS, I STARTED MY VEHICLE, PRESSED THE BUTTON, SHIFTED TO REVERSE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE. ODD! I LOOKED AT THE CLUSTER AND NOTICED THE 'PARK' FLASHING AND THE SERVICE PARKING BREAK LIGHT ON. I TRIED SHIFTING…

Read full complaint

PARKING BRAKE WOULDN'T RELEASE. SERVICE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ON. I HAD PARKED ON A SLIGHT HILL. AFTER ABOUT TWO HOURS, I STARTED MY VEHICLE, PRESSED THE BUTTON, SHIFTED TO REVERSE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE. ODD! I LOOKED AT THE CLUSTER AND NOTICED THE 'PARK' FLASHING AND THE SERVICE PARKING BREAK LIGHT ON. I TRIED SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE MULTIPLE TIMES AND EACH TIME PUSHING THE BUTTON. NO LUCK. I LEFT MY VEHICLE AT THE LOCATION SINCE IT WAS LATE AND SAFE. THE NEXT MORNING BEFORE HAVING IT TOWED, I TRIED ONCE MORE TO PUSH THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON AND IT SUCCESSFULLY DISENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE SERVICE LIGHT CLEARED ITSELF. I NOTICED ON A FORUM THAT 2018 TRAVERSES HAVE THIS ISSUE AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY OR LETTING IT SIT FOR A FEW HOURS SOMETIMES RESOLVES THIS RECURRING ISSUE BUT NEVER FIXES IT.

NHTSA ODI #11311818

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

SHIFT TO PARK ERROR MESSAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THIS PREVENTS TURNING THE VECHICLE OFF, LOCKING THE DOORS, ETC. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED ON SEVERAL THOUSAND VEHICLES. HOWEVER, GM HAS ONLY QUIETLY FIXED PROBLEM CASE BY CASE AND WILL NOT COVER UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. A NATIONAL RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED …

Read full complaint

SHIFT TO PARK ERROR MESSAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THIS PREVENTS TURNING THE VECHICLE OFF, LOCKING THE DOORS, ETC. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED ON SEVERAL THOUSAND VEHICLES. HOWEVER, GM HAS ONLY QUIETLY FIXED PROBLEM CASE BY CASE AND WILL NOT COVER UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. A NATIONAL RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ASAP TO FIX AND REPLACE THE SHIFTER. POSES A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL SINCE IT INVOLVES A FAULTY GEAR SHIFTER.

NHTSA ODI #11311237

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2020
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

3 RD TIME REPAIR SUNROOF -LEAKING ISSUE 3RD TIME REPAIR TRANSMISSION- TELLING ME TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF RESTARTED -ACCELERATED ON ITS ON WHEN VEHICLE IN DRIVE. ELECTRICAL PASSENGER WINDOW STARTING NOT TO GO DOWN MUST HIT BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS HAPPENING DAILY NOW. RIGHT FR…

Read full complaint

3 RD TIME REPAIR SUNROOF -LEAKING ISSUE 3RD TIME REPAIR TRANSMISSION- TELLING ME TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF RESTARTED -ACCELERATED ON ITS ON WHEN VEHICLE IN DRIVE. ELECTRICAL PASSENGER WINDOW STARTING NOT TO GO DOWN MUST HIT BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS HAPPENING DAILY NOW. RIGHT FRONT MAKING A AWFUL SOUND 2ND TIME BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR. RADIO-AND XM NOT WORKING- BLUETOOTH NOT CONNECTING. THIS TRAVERSE HAS BEEN A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG NOW ELECTRICAL STUFF..

NHTSA ODI #11306745

9,000 miles · Feb 3, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

EXPORT VERSION ONLY. COUNTRY: COLOMBIA. 1. SHITF TO PARK. WHEN YOU PARK THE VEHICLE ASK YOU TO PUT IT IN PARK AND IT IS ALREADY. DEALER IS WORKING ON THAT AS I WRITE THIS THREAD. TECH FOUND A RECALL OR BULLETIN FROM MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR OR POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF SOME PARTS 2. SERVICE STABILITRACK. IN MANY AND RAMDOM OCA…

Read full complaint

EXPORT VERSION ONLY. COUNTRY: COLOMBIA. 1. SHITF TO PARK. WHEN YOU PARK THE VEHICLE ASK YOU TO PUT IT IN PARK AND IT IS ALREADY. DEALER IS WORKING ON THAT AS I WRITE THIS THREAD. TECH FOUND A RECALL OR BULLETIN FROM MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR OR POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF SOME PARTS 2. SERVICE STABILITRACK. IN MANY AND RAMDOM OCACIONS THIS SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND 20 SECONDS LATER GOES OFF. WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND NO FIX YET 3. FUEL ECONOMY SYSTEM, IT DOES NOT WORK RIGHT NOW, AND IT HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE. DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN YOU STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. DELAER HAS UPDATED SOFTWARE IN ORDER TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE. 4. LOCKING AUDIO CONFIRMATION. WHEN YOU MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS IT GIVES YOU AN AUDIO OR LIGHTS CONFIRMATION. IT DOES NOT WORK ANY MORE. DEALER LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE. 5. ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE. THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE ACTIVATED IT SELF WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATION 5 MPH AND THE E. BRAKE CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. TURN THE ENGINE OFF SEVERAL TIMES, PUT IN PARKING, NEUTRAL ETC ETC. AFTER 5 MINUTES OF BLOCKING TRAFFIC HAD TO FORCE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. ALMOST DID NOT MAKE IT. TURN VEHICLE OFF AND CALLED THE FLAT BED. WHILE WAITING 15-20 MINUTES LATER TURN VEHICLE ON AND SURPRISE!!! IT WAS FIXED. MAGIC. THE E BRAKE WAS OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS FREE. WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON THE E BRAKE LIGHT (RED) WAS ON, AND SERVICE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT (AMBER) WAS FLASING ALL THE TIME. DEALER DID AN UPDATE TO THE SYSTEM AND NOT SURE IF IT WILL HAPPENED AGAIN. BUT THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED. ONCE AT MY HOUSE ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO BUT IT TOOK ABOUT 1 MINUTE AND IT FIX IT SELF SO I DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO IT. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AT A SHOPPING CENTER BUT SHE LEFT IT IN THE LOT AND WENT BACK SHOPPING AND WHEN IT CAME OUT IT WAS FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #11306638

17,099 miles · Jan 29, 2020
Power Train

WHEN CAN GOES IN PARK AND I TURN THE CAR OFF A WARNING MESSAGE TELLS ME THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK AND WON'T SHUT DOWN. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON DRIVE OR REVERSE AND ATTEMPT AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN TWO DAYS. I HAVE THIS AS A VIDEO.

NHTSA ODI #11302881

15,000 miles · Jan 26, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, WITH AN ERROR WARNING US TO 'SHIFT TO PARK', WHEN IT IS ALREADY IN PARK POSITION. THIS RENDERS THE DRIVER UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND WILL LEAD TO BATTERY DRAIN. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN TO LUCAS CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON DE…

Read full complaint

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, WITH AN ERROR WARNING US TO 'SHIFT TO PARK', WHEN IT IS ALREADY IN PARK POSITION. THIS RENDERS THE DRIVER UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND WILL LEAD TO BATTERY DRAIN. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN TO LUCAS CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON DECEMBER 31ST TO FIX THIS AND WERE MADE AWARE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, NOT YET AT THE RECALL LEVEL. IT HAS NOW BEEN A MONTH SINCE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ORDERED THE PART NEEDED TO MAKE THE REPAIR, ASSUMING THEY EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE CONSIDERING WE WERE TOLD THE PART WOULD BE DELIVERED IN JUST A FEW DAYS.

NHTSA ODI #11301925

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.