WHEN PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK THE CARS COMPUTER SAYS IT IS NOT IN PARK. (SHIFT TO PARK) COMES ON THE SCREEN AND THE CARS SYSTEMS STAY ON. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Traverse years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Power Train complaints
194 reportsWHEN 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.
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…
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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.
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 …
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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.
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…
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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..
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.
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING THROUGH FIRST AND FOURTH GEARS, CAR SLOW RESPOND, JERKING, SHUDDER. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR- BECAUSE SAFETY ISSUE VEHICLE-WILL SAY PUT CAR IN DRIVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN AUTO STOPPED MODE. VEHICLE ROARS -TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING RIGHT FRONT BAD. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE IS…
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TRANSMISSION SLIPPING THROUGH FIRST AND FOURTH GEARS, CAR SLOW RESPOND, JERKING, SHUDDER. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR- BECAUSE SAFETY ISSUE VEHICLE-WILL SAY PUT CAR IN DRIVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN AUTO STOPPED MODE. VEHICLE ROARS -TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING RIGHT FRONT BAD. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE IS AN INTERNAL RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION-THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. THEY ARE NOT MAKING IT PUBLIC-THEY ARE JUST REPAIRING AS CUSTOMERS BRING THEM IN WITH COMPLAINTS.
WE WERE TRAVELING ON VACATION AND WERE 2.5 HRS AWAY FROM HOME AT THIS TIME. WE STOPPED TO PUT GAS. WHEN WE EXIT THE GAS STATION TO ENTER ENTER THE STREET (BEFORE ENTERING THE FWY), THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND WE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO APPLY ANY GEA…
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WE WERE TRAVELING ON VACATION AND WERE 2.5 HRS AWAY FROM HOME AT THIS TIME. WE STOPPED TO PUT GAS. WHEN WE EXIT THE GAS STATION TO ENTER ENTER THE STREET (BEFORE ENTERING THE FWY), THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND WE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO APPLY ANY GEAR CHANGE. THE CAR WAS STILL ON, BUT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. NONE OF THE GEARS WERE FUNCTIONING, INCLUDING, PARKING, DRIVE, AND REVERSE. WE WERE LEFT UP HILL AND IT WAS SCARY BECAUSE EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED ON PARKING, IT WAS GOING DOWNHILL. WITHOUT PLACING THE BREAK ON THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD JUST KEEPING ROLLING DOWN. WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS SLOW SO WE WERE ABLE TO GUIDE THE PARK DOWN HILL WHERE THE LAND WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. MY 2018 CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS A BROKEN AXLE!! I DRIVE MY 3 Y.O. TO SCHOOL ALMOST EVERY DAY AND I DRIVE ON THE FWY TO GO TO SCHOOL ABOUT 4 TIMES A WEEK. THIS MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE CAUSED OUR AND OTHERS LIVES. MY CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE READY ON MONDAY, BUT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT AGAIN.
FIRST ISSUE IS, WHEN YOU STOP DRIVING THE TRAVERSE, PLACE IT IN PARK AND HIT THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, IT WILL SHUT OFF THE ENGINE BUT NOT THE ELECTRONICS. THE CAR DISPLAYS "ACTION REQUIRED SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH IT IS ALREADY IN PARK WITH THE RED P LIT UP. YOU CANNOT TURN OFF THE VEHICLE UNTIL YOU REPEATEDLY START …
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FIRST ISSUE IS, WHEN YOU STOP DRIVING THE TRAVERSE, PLACE IT IN PARK AND HIT THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, IT WILL SHUT OFF THE ENGINE BUT NOT THE ELECTRONICS. THE CAR DISPLAYS "ACTION REQUIRED SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH IT IS ALREADY IN PARK WITH THE RED P LIT UP. YOU CANNOT TURN OFF THE VEHICLE UNTIL YOU REPEATEDLY START THE VEHICLE, PLACE IT IN DRIVE THEN BACK TO PARK. EVENTUALLY IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY. VEHICLE WILL NOT LOCK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TRY TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. I AM JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND DEALERSHIP SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AS THE RECOMMENDED FIX FROM MANUFACTURER DID NOT WORK. ALL OF WHICH ARE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES DESPITE THIS BEING A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY HAVE A LONG DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHIFTS IN GEAR. YOU SHIFT TO D AND HIT THE GAS AND THE ENGINE REVS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL FINALLY START TO GO. THIS DELAY WITH ENGINE REVVING ALSO HAPPENS RANDOMLY WHEN AT A STOP AND ACCELERATING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS AND I HAVE HAD A FEW NEAR MISSES OF ALMOST BEING HIT BECAUSE OF THIS! THIS SECOND ISSUE ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN GOING FROM A STOP.
I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD, IT APPEARED TO DISENGAGE EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTER AND DASH ICON WERE SET IN "DRIVE" MODE. THERE IS ALSO AN ALARM SOUNDING WHEN I SHUT THE VEHICLE MOTOR OFF AND THE DASH SCREEN READS "SHIFT TO PARK". I FOUND THAT I NEED TO RESTART THE…
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I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD, IT APPEARED TO DISENGAGE EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTER AND DASH ICON WERE SET IN "DRIVE" MODE. THERE IS ALSO AN ALARM SOUNDING WHEN I SHUT THE VEHICLE MOTOR OFF AND THE DASH SCREEN READS "SHIFT TO PARK". I FOUND THAT I NEED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND SHIFT OUT AND BACK IN TO "PARK" IN ORDER FOR THIS ALARM TO SHUT OFF. IT APPEARS THERE IS A BAD CONNECTION BETWEEN THE COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION OR VISA VERSA. GM HAS ALREADY ISSUED SEVERAL TSBS RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE AS YOU MIGHT BE AWARE.
Official recalls
221V246000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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