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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

104 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2021
Unknown Or Other

When shifting the vehicle to park, the vehicle system says to Shift to Park and the message does not turn off even if you turn off the engine.

NHTSA ODI #11430218

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2021
Unknown Or Other

Unk. Parking break will not engage and engine will not turn off. 30 mins riding around block and pulling in drive back and forth last night before it engaged. Four days now this has happened at store, Dr appt. This is unacceptable defect.

NHTSA ODI #11424212

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2021
Unknown Or Other

After it rains water leaks from the headliner between the rear view mirror and headliner control panel (lighting, sunroof, collision controls etc..) It is available for inspection, the introduction of water in this area could affect the components in this area, camera, air bags, collision alert. Have not taken into a dealer to e…

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After it rains water leaks from the headliner between the rear view mirror and headliner control panel (lighting, sunroof, collision controls etc..) It is available for inspection, the introduction of water in this area could affect the components in this area, camera, air bags, collision alert. Have not taken into a dealer to evaluate or inspected.

NHTSA ODI #11424167

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2021
Unknown Or Other

When I put the vehicle in park I get a message that says (SHIFT TO PARK) even though the vehicle is in park. Then when I try to turn my vehicle off I can't. It takes several times messing with the gear shift to finally get it not to say (SHIFT TO PARK) then I can finally turn my vehicle off. I've contacted the dealership and the…

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When I put the vehicle in park I get a message that says (SHIFT TO PARK) even though the vehicle is in park. Then when I try to turn my vehicle off I can't. It takes several times messing with the gear shift to finally get it not to say (SHIFT TO PARK) then I can finally turn my vehicle off. I've contacted the dealership and they say they know of this issue, but there is no recall. I feel like this is a problem that needs to be addressed and GM needs to correct immediately.

NHTSA ODI #11423054

40,000 miles · May 5, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF THE CAR, 80% OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REGISTER THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO TURN OFF. IT WOULD ALARM & CHARM WITH A MESSAGE TO "SHIFT TO PARK". THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING ISSUES WITH THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIAS, AND POSSIBLY OTHER MODELS…

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WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF THE CAR, 80% OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REGISTER THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO TURN OFF. IT WOULD ALARM & CHARM WITH A MESSAGE TO "SHIFT TO PARK". THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING ISSUES WITH THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIAS, AND POSSIBLY OTHER MODELS OF CHEVY/GMC. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AS THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF THE VEHICLE IS TRULY IN PARK AND CAN LEAVE YOU IN SCARY SITUATIONS WHEN YOU CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN STRANDED WITH A DEAD BATTERY BECAUSE THE "SHIFT TO PARK" CHIME AND MESSAGE DRAINED THE BATTERY. CHEVROLET HAS PROVIDED THEIR DEALERSHIPS WITH BULLETINS IN HOW TO ADD A JUMPER HARNESS AND ADD/REPLACE A SWITCH IN THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, BUT REFUSE TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE SERVICE ADVISORS ADMIT THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX NUMEROUS GEAR SHIFTERS AND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ANYONE AFFECTED. PLEASE ADDRESS! I AM INCLUDING MY RECEIPT ON THE SERVICE I HAD TO PAY FOR TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE TECHNICAL BULLETINS CHEVROLET HAS SENT THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11415223

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

47,000 miles · Feb 23, 2021
Unknown Or Other

THE REAR AIR VAPORATOR EXPLODED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF AIR/HOT AIR BLOWING OUT ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11397525

47,000 miles · Feb 17, 2021
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, MY CAR WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE BEING PUT IN PARK. I WOULD SHIFT THE CONTROL TO PARK BUT WOULD GET WARNINGS PARK WAS NOT ENGAGED. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. NOW I AM GETTING A MESSAGE TO SERVICE PARKING BRAKE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT USE THE PARKING BRAKE, SO I CAN'T UNDERSTAND W…

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SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, MY CAR WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE BEING PUT IN PARK. I WOULD SHIFT THE CONTROL TO PARK BUT WOULD GET WARNINGS PARK WAS NOT ENGAGED. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. NOW I AM GETTING A MESSAGE TO SERVICE PARKING BRAKE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT USE THE PARKING BRAKE, SO I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SERVICE IS NEEDED. BOTH PROBLEMS WERE WHEN CAR WAS IN PARK. THE 'SERVICE PARKING BRAKE' WARNING STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11396591

40,000 miles · Jan 18, 2021
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherCrash

WE PARKED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE (TURNING IT OFF) ON A SLIGHT GRADE AS WE NORMALLY DO IN THE FRONT OF OUR HOUSE ON A PUBLIC STREET. WE AWOKE THE NEXT MORNING TO DISCOVER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ADVANCED OR SLID FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 15' COMING TO REST AGAINST A TELEPHONE POLE ADJACENT TO OUR CORNER PROPERTY. IF THE TELEPHONE POLE …

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WE PARKED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE (TURNING IT OFF) ON A SLIGHT GRADE AS WE NORMALLY DO IN THE FRONT OF OUR HOUSE ON A PUBLIC STREET. WE AWOKE THE NEXT MORNING TO DISCOVER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ADVANCED OR SLID FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 15' COMING TO REST AGAINST A TELEPHONE POLE ADJACENT TO OUR CORNER PROPERTY. IF THE TELEPHONE POLE WAS NOT IN THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE IT WOULD HAVE CROSSED A SIDE STREET AND COME TO REST IN OUR NEIGHBORS FRONT YARD. UPON VIEWING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE DRIFT FORWARD, BEFORE ENTERING THE VEHICLE WE COULD SEE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CLEARLY IN PARK AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD (1) PREVIOUS SERVICE BY A DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #11388652

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2020
Seat BeltsUnknown Or Other

SHIFTER GAVE ERROR THAT IT WAS NOT IN PARK. HAD TO HAVE SHIFTER REPLACED AT MY OWN COST BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. ALSO THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS FAULTY.

NHTSA ODI #11377283

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.