← 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
3,300 miles · May 3, 2018
Air BagsUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury

MY WIFE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE HAD 3000 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE HAD A SEAT BELT ON BUT WAS STILL INJURED. . ALSO ON STAR NEVER CAME ON. AN INVESTIGATOR FROM GM WAS HERE TODAY,AND SAID I SHOULD GET A COPY OF HIS REPORT.

NHTSA ODI #11091612

7,256 miles · Apr 25, 2018
Engine

AT 7,256 MILES, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DALE WILLEY AUTOMOTIVE REPLACED THE ENGINE COOLANT FAN MOTOR & ASSEMBLY, AS IT WAS INTERMITTENTLY TURNING ON & OFF, CAUSING A CODE TO BE FIRED FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT. THE RADIATOR ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. ALSO, A FUSE HAD TO BE REPLACED THAT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY BY THE F…

Read full complaint

AT 7,256 MILES, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DALE WILLEY AUTOMOTIVE REPLACED THE ENGINE COOLANT FAN MOTOR & ASSEMBLY, AS IT WAS INTERMITTENTLY TURNING ON & OFF, CAUSING A CODE TO BE FIRED FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT. THE RADIATOR ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. ALSO, A FUSE HAD TO BE REPLACED THAT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY BY THE FACTORY WITH A PLASTIC COATING COVERING THE METAL CONTACT OF THE FUSE WHICH WAS CAUSING INTERMITTENT POWER .

NHTSA ODI #11090092

438 miles · Apr 25, 2018
Service Brakes

109 MILES ON MY TRAVERSE 2018 & ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE. DALE WILLEY AUTOMOTIVE REPLACED THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM CHECK VALVE & HOSE. DROVE IT AND WITHIN 2 DAYS WHILE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON AGAIN. DROVE IT OVER THE WEEKEND AND RETURNED TO THE DEALER AT 438 MILES AND TH…

Read full complaint

109 MILES ON MY TRAVERSE 2018 & ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE. DALE WILLEY AUTOMOTIVE REPLACED THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM CHECK VALVE & HOSE. DROVE IT AND WITHIN 2 DAYS WHILE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON AGAIN. DROVE IT OVER THE WEEKEND AND RETURNED TO THE DEALER AT 438 MILES AND THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED. HAVE HAD NO ISSUES AFTER THIS WAS DONE REGARDING THE BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #11090088

1,000 miles · Mar 31, 2018
Service Brakes

AFTER ABOUT 1000 MILES THE BRAKES STARTED GRINDING, AND ALERT WOULD POP UP TO SERVICE THEM AND THEY WOULD BE A HEAVY VIBRATION AS THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WOULD BE KICKING IN EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEED'S. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE BRAKE SENSORS, AFTER ANOTHER TWO WEEKS IT STARTED HAPPENIN…

Read full complaint

AFTER ABOUT 1000 MILES THE BRAKES STARTED GRINDING, AND ALERT WOULD POP UP TO SERVICE THEM AND THEY WOULD BE A HEAVY VIBRATION AS THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WOULD BE KICKING IN EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEED'S. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE BRAKE SENSORS, AFTER ANOTHER TWO WEEKS IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN THEY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS BECAUSE THEY SAID IT HAD A SHORT IN IT . BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD THE PARTS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER WHICH LED ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A LARGE PROBLEM. IT HAS NOW HAPPENED THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME BUT I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I LOST ALMOST 2 WEEKS OF HAVING THE CAR IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS THAT I'VE OWNED IT. IT NOW HAS 3500 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AT 5 MPH AND EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE TOUCHED

NHTSA ODI #11082326

9,000 miles · Mar 21, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS DRIVING ON A 45 MPH ROAD, SLOWLY COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER, ALMOST LIKE A PUTT-PUTT FEELING. WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, & THE AUTO STOP FEATURE CLICKED ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I RESUMED DRIVING & TRIED TO GET UP TO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, IT WAS HARD TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING ON A 45 MPH ROAD, SLOWLY COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER, ALMOST LIKE A PUTT-PUTT FEELING. WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, & THE AUTO STOP FEATURE CLICKED ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I RESUMED DRIVING & TRIED TO GET UP TO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, IT WAS HARD TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH, BUT IT FELT LIKE THE ACCLERATOR WAS RESISTING. I THOUGHT MAYBE THE SENSOR CAME ON BY ACCIDENT, SO WHEN I GOT HOME, I POWERED THE VEHICLE OFF, WAITED 30 SECONDS, & POWERED IT BACK ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WIRING HARNESS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR AT THE TIME OF BEING DROPPED OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP HAD APPROXIMATELY 9000 MILES ON IT, & I PURCHASED IT IN NOVEMBER 2017.

NHTSA ODI #11080407

100 miles · Feb 20, 2018
Power Train

I PURCHASED A 2018 TRAVERSE/REDLINE ON 6 FEB 2018, DROVE IT LESS THAN 100 MILES, AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING TWO (2) DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE SECTION ADVISED THEY DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND THAT THE EQUIPMENT IS EXPECTED SOMETIME NEXT WEEK. TODA…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED A 2018 TRAVERSE/REDLINE ON 6 FEB 2018, DROVE IT LESS THAN 100 MILES, AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING TWO (2) DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE SECTION ADVISED THEY DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND THAT THE EQUIPMENT IS EXPECTED SOMETIME NEXT WEEK. TODAY, 20 FEB 2018, STILL AWAITING EQUIPMENT. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP MGR THAT I DON'T WANT THAT VEHICLE BACK. THE MGR SAID THAT HIS HANDS ARE TIED AND I WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH GM. CONTACTED GM ON 9 FEB, AND COMPLETED AN APPLICATION FOR WHAT I WAS LET TO BELIEVE WAS A 'BUY BACK' OF MY VEHICLE. THE GM REP INFORMED ME THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN TWO DAYS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I CALLED GM BACK ON 13 FEB, SPOKE WITH ANOTHER REP WHO HAD NO CLUE AS TO WHY I WAS CALLING. THIS REP ASKED FOR 72 HOURS, AND WOULD GET BACK TO ME. ON 20 FEB, I RCVD A CALL FROM THE GM REP WHO STATED THAT GM CAN ONLY DO A BUY BACK AFTER 3 OR MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I BOUGHT A 46,000 DOLLAR PIECE OF JUNK, AND OF COURSE, NO ONE WANTS IT BACK. AND GM IS MORE THAN AWARE THIS PROBLEM EXISTS... THANK GOD I WASN'T MAKING A TURN IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED... TRULY AN UNSAFE VEHICLE... BUYER BEWARE !

NHTSA ODI #11073967

3,000 miles · Feb 7, 2018
Steering

I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR LESS THAN 4 MONTHS, BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR. I WAS DRIVING TODAY TO PICK UP LUNCH ON A CITY STREET WHEN AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED SAYING CAUTION, POWER STEERING AND SUDDENLY IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO CAREFULLY DRIVE AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11071566

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other

WAS DRIVING FROM NYC TO TORONTO. WE STOPPED 3 HOURS AFTER FOR BATHROOM BREAK AND LUNCH. I DID NOT LEAVE THE CAR THEREFORE THE CAR REMAINED ON. DROVE FOR ANOTHER 2 HOURS AND STOPPED FOR A BATHROOM BREAK AT JUNIUS PONDS TRAVEL PLAZA AROUND 330PM. TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THATS WHEN WE REALIZED WE DROVE WITHOUT THE KEY. THIS IS IN TH…

Read full complaint

WAS DRIVING FROM NYC TO TORONTO. WE STOPPED 3 HOURS AFTER FOR BATHROOM BREAK AND LUNCH. I DID NOT LEAVE THE CAR THEREFORE THE CAR REMAINED ON. DROVE FOR ANOTHER 2 HOURS AND STOPPED FOR A BATHROOM BREAK AT JUNIUS PONDS TRAVEL PLAZA AROUND 330PM. TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THATS WHEN WE REALIZED WE DROVE WITHOUT THE KEY. THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. WE CALLED ONSTAR AND CHEVY BUT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST IN ANYWAY. MY PARENTS HAD TO DRIVE TO US TO GIVE US THEY KEY. IT TOOK THEM OVER 6 HOURS BECAUSE IT WAS RUSH HOUR. IMAGINE 6 HOURS BEING STRANDED WITH KIDS. LUCKILY WE WERE AT A REST STOP WITH FOOD, BATHROOM AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HEAT. IT TURNED OUT WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS BUSY PACKING UP THE CAR, HE HAD SWITCHED INTO HIS WINTER JACKET LEAVING HIS SWEATSHIRT BEHIND WHICH THAT KEYS WERE IN. THE CAR WAS IN PARK IN OUR DRIVEWAY. WE DROVE OFF AND THERE WERE NO NOTIFICATIONS. WE EVEN STOPPED AT STARTBUCKS AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AGAIN. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS WILL MAKE IT EASY FOR THEFT AND RISKS THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF WE HAD STOPPED AT A PLACE THAT DID NOT HAVE HEAT. ONSTAR ONLY ALLOWS 2 REMOTE ENGINE START THEN IT WILL TELL YOU THAT THE CAR ENGINE HAS TO BE MANUALLY TURNED ON BEFORE USING THE REMOTE START AGAIN. IM NOT TALKING ABOUT IF A CHILD ACCIDENTALLY THROWS THE KEYS OUT THE WINDOW IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR SHOULD TURN OFF. IM SUGGESTING THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO MOVE FROM PARKING IF THE KEY IS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. IMAGINE DRIVING 5 HOURS 300+ MILES AWAY FROM THE KEY AND NO WARNING.

NHTSA ODI #11064385

12 miles · Dec 28, 2017
Air Bags

WAS SOLD A CHEVY TRAVERSE WITH NON-FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS. DEFECTIVE PART NUMBER: 13524236

NHTSA ODI #11057047

480 miles · Oct 6, 2017
Steering

KEEP GETTING ERROR MESSAGE: "ASSISTED STEERING IS LIMITED. PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY". THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET TRUING TURNS. WHEN ERROR CODE WAS DISPLAYED. CAR ONLY HAS 552 MILES. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL STEERING ISSUES FOR THE 2018 MODELS.

NHTSA ODI #11032115

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.