2018 Chevrolet Traverse Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 33,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving at 5, 8 MPH, the transmission slipped. After coming to a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate for five seconds before jumping forward 3, 5 feet. Several unknown warning lights briefly illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle failed to respond while in reverse(R). The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 148,000 miles

For months we have had issues with the known issue of “Shift to Park” which is a huge potential safety risk to myself, my children, and all of my neighbors who are ever remotely close to the vehicle. No dealer can resolve the known issue for this year/make/model. It has slipped from park to drive once but thankfully I was still in the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

When car is shifted into park, it does not register that. It is in park. Therefore the car keeps beeping, and you cannot leave the car in this position. This is the second time that we have had to address this problem once in 2021 and now in 2026 I believe that General motors should fix this problem without the consumer being charged to…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I am experiencing and "Shift to Park" notification on my dashboard when my vehicle is in park. This causes my vehicle to stay in accessory mode where ally electrical stays on when I am attempting to turn the vehicle off. Due to the inability of fully turning the car off, my car battery can potential drain out. I have experienced the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles. Parts named most: Exhaust system (9).

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Check engine light came on after feeling hesitation while driving and roughness while stopped. Diagnostic eval was done at shop and Evaporation Emissions Purge Valve was found to be faulty and replaced. Mechanic stated after the repair that this was a problem with certain year Traverses (unsure of which at the time) and an extended…Owner complaint, filed 2026

This vehicle has under 90,000 miles and is only used to transport my grandchildren to and from the local elementary school. We got in the vehicle, and it would not accelerate. The vehicle is currently at the Chevy dealership getting diagnosed, but the error message was for the transmission. We do not feel that this should happen on a…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 32,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

On 08/15/26, I was at a traffic light waiting to make a left turn on a major roadway. Because the wait was on a hill, the park brake automatically engaged. When the traffic light turned green and as I attempted to accelerate, the electronic parking brake failed to release as it should and normally does. Since the vehicle would not move…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the driveway was on a slope, and his wife was attempting to reenter the vehicle while it was in parked and the engine was running, and in the process the vehicle began to roll forward down the contacts driveway, the contacts wife was injured in the process receiving…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 107,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 34,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

My engine light came on, so I took it the mechanic. According to the reading it says it was my purge valve, they replaced. After driving 30 miles it came back on. I took it back and they thought it was a defected part so they replaced it again. After 30 miles, it came back on. The mechanic searched online and showed me this issue was for…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Valor Canister Purge solenoid is faulty. After filling it up with gas and start driving the vehicle begins to stutter. After a stop at an intersection the vehicle begins to stutter and shuts off.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 4,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

Passenger tail light kept getting moisture in it causing it to stop working. Local Dealer,GM,Chevrolet and 3rd party show sold out or discontinued. I have a vehicle I am paying for that I can't drive or risk getting a ticket or rear ended everytime I go to work. Item is on backorder with no date for deliveries to start.Owner complaint, filed 2024

My drivers side quarter panel taillight has stopped working due to moisture in the light (no visible breakage on light), this was in January. This part is on continuous backorder with no ETA of coming back in stock. The light is an LED and therefore cannot replace just the bulb. I travel for work and drive through large cities and have…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

I started my car and it felt weird and made a strange noise. An error message cande on saying 'steering assist is reduced, drive with care. I drove a few blocks and the message remained on until I returned to my home. My backseat reminder alarm also does not work anymore. My car is a 2018 chevy traverseOwner complaint, filed 2020, at 16,656 miles

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.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 3,000 miles

Parts named most: Blind spot detection (5), Automatic emergency braking (5).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 chevrolet traverse. While driving 70 MPH and attempting to change lanes, the blind spot detection system failed to operate as intended. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The contact stated that there was a delay in the blind spot warning indicator notifying the driver of a vehicle to the left…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 3,500 miles

I was driving along the Jackie Robinson Parkway when, on a curve, the car braked on its own and crashed into a wall, resulting in the total destruction of the vehicle. My son had to be hospitalized. This car had braked on its own before, at speeds of 10 or 15 mph, but I didn’t think much of it at the time; however, this time we were…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while attempting to use the second-row middle seat buckle, the contact became aware that the buckle was inoperable. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: N192223110-01. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Drivers side seatbelt, wont stay latched. On several occasions seatbelt just released. Seatbelt button was not engaging.Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (9).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

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.Owner complaint, filed 2026

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…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 78,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), I am writing to inquire about an issue recently encountered with my 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. On July 21, 2025, my vehicle was at Riverview Chevy for its state inspection, during which the rear toe links were identified as failed and required replacement. This service…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Incident Description: On 10/2/2024, I discovered a critical failure in the rear suspension of my 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The rear left control arm had completely rusted through and detached from the vehicle frame. This occurred unexpectedly while my family was backing the vehicle into the driveway from my garage. Had this failure…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

I’ve had this vehicle for about a year or less the car ran fine with minor problems that come with having a vehicle. Up until last week the car never showed any signs of a failing transmission, it went from running fine to shuttering and suddenly I wasn’t able to reverse. The check engine light never came on, I’ve did all my routine…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The transmission on my 2018 Chevy Traverse went out per the mechanic that recently inspected it. It was just purchased from a Chevy dealership not even 8 months ago. I first noticed the problem a couple weeks ago when my car hit about 25mph getting on the highway then wouldn’t go any faster as I would try to accelerate speed, then it was…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving along the Jackie Robinson Parkway when, on a curve, the car braked on its own and crashed into a wall, resulting in the total destruction of the vehicle. My son had to be hospitalized. This car had braked on its own before, at speeds of 10 or 15 mph, but I didn’t think much of it at the time; however, this time we were…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while in park, there was an alarm beeping. The message “Shift to Park” was displayed. Additionally, the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 121,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owned a 2018 chevrolet traverse. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the contact was struck on the driver side of the vehicle and was totaled; upon impact no air bags were deployed and onstar did not function. The vehicle was towed to billy beck towing and recovery (2455 highway 70 morehead city nc 28557…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 71,887 miles

On 9/16, I was involved in an accident which lead to my car being totaled from appx $30,000 in damage. Traffic came to a stop on the interstate and I ended up rear ending a car which caused the following damage: engine was ripped from motor mounts and shoved into firewall, cracked engine block, whole front end of car was damaged…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 57,624 miles