2018 Chevrolet Traverse Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 196 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, 42% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 32,750 miles. The words owners use most often: “shift park” (45% of reports).
- 196power train complaints
- 32,750median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,850typical repair cost reported by owners
- 25%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Shift park: mentioned in 89 of 196 complaints (45%)
- Turn off: mentioned in 50 of 196 complaints (26%)
- Gear shifter: mentioned in 16 of 196 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse at $5,850, and half of them between $470 and $8,000.
Based on 7 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2020–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 78 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 196 complaints, 1 mention a crash.
Chevrolet Traverse power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Traverse | 3 | 12% | — |
| 2025 Traverse | 13 | 7% | 3,000 |
| 2024 Traverse | 19 | 13% | 1,350 |
| 2023 Traverse | 31 | 34% | 66,200 |
| 2022 Traverse | 43 | 43% | 47,000 |
| 2021 Traverse | 16 | 17% | 95,500 |
| 2020 Traverse | 39 | 17% | 68,500 |
| 2019 Traverse | 170 | 41% | 57,000 |
| 2018 Traverse | 196 | 42% | 32,750 |
| 2017 Traverse | 18 | 5% | 60,770 |
| 2016 Traverse | 37 | 13% | 42,357 |
| 2015 Traverse | 23 | 7% | 61,500 |
| 2014 Traverse | 36 | 7% | 54,125 |
| 2013 Traverse | 28 | 17% | 90,000 |
| 2012 Traverse | 46 | 13% | 87,000 |
| 2011 Traverse | 79 | 13% | 70,000 |
| 2010 Traverse | 66 | 10% | 84,161 |
| 2009 Traverse | 58 | 13% | 90,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving at 5â8 MPH, the transmission slipped. After coming to a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate for five seconds before jumping forward 3â5 feet. Several unknown warning lights briefly illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle…
For months we have had issues with the known issue of âShift to Parkâ 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…
Car recently started to jolt when accelerating. Noticed it firsthand on the highway while on stop and go traffic. It's been doing it more often now when driving around the city. As soon as you accelerate past 15mph, it starts to jolt. The check engine light is not on. I do see that other 2018 Chevy…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2018 Chevrolet Traverses have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 196 owner complaints about power train for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse (42% of the 464 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 32,750 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,850 (half paid between $470 and $8,000), from 7 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
The most frequent phrase is “shift park”, in 89 of 196 complaints, followed by “turn off” (50).
Other 2018 Chevrolet Traverse problems
- Electrical System problems (102)
- Engine problems (85)
See all 2018 Chevrolet Traverse problems or power train problems across all Traverse years.