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9.2

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,580
Average Mileage:
18,050 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. dealer took back (1 reports)
  3. replaced transmission (1 reports)
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2018 Chevrolet Traverse transmission problems

transmission problem

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2018 Chevrolet Traverse Owner Comments

problem #8

Oct 202023

Traverse LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,375 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have been getting all service required for my vehicle since I bought it in 2018. The dealership did not tell me about a transmission issues. I took the truck to them several times complaining of slow to accelerate and shifting into gear. They would drive it and tell me there is no problem. I thought I was losing my mind. Finally after bringing it back and forth for four times; they finally say it’s my transmission. “By the way your warranty is up so you will have to pay out of pocket” said the mechanic. I was furious. Needless to say I took it somewhere else to get fixed. I they had my truck for 2.5 months due to inability and lack of knowl,edge on how to fix it. I will never buy another Chevy.

- Cheryl L., Kankakee, US

problem #7

Jul 292022

Traverse LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

My Chevy Traverse jerks when putting in gear and first starting off. Took to dealership who said transmission was shot. Because we we outside of our warranty they said that they would not cover the expenses. After complaining that we always have this dealership assess and care for all this car needs, we were surprised that they have never come across any signs that the transmission was faulty. Eventually, they agreed to cover price of transmission, but we had to pay for work. Ended up paying over $2000, transmission was replaced but I still am having the jerking movements when shifting into gear. I also have a hissing with the AC, and this car does not recognize that I am shifted into park and will not turn engine off. I am very surprised there are no recalls for this vehicle!

- Sarah J., Lawton, US

problem #6

Nov 252018

Traverse Premier 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,400 miles

2018 TRAVERSE PREMIER with 9400 miles. Returning to Chicago from St. Louis over Thanksgiving weekend trying to beat the blizzard back to Chicago. Car started dropping out of gear and then wouldn't rev past 1500 rpm without dropping forward motion. So I was going about 50mph on I-55 with wind and rain starting. About the Chenoa exit, yellow engine light came on and I just made it to a gas station off the exit.

It's a Sunday, weather closing in and my expensive Traverse has failed. Nothing was open so had to stay at motel nearby. Onstar had car towed to Barker Chevy in Lexington (this is a great dealership, by the way). Diagnosed problem as blown seal causing damage to 6-9 gears. I simply can't believe this would happen on a car that's practically new.

First rule of vehicle ownership: never buy any GM car/truck model in its first year of manufacture. GM uses customers as quality control dept. instead of fully testing and verifying newly introduced features, like the 9T65 tranny. This tranny has never impressed me since I drove the car off the lot in Aug. 2017. Pretty clunky, and always seems to hunt for right gear. Bottom line: my Traverse is in Lexington, IL, parts are back ordered and dealer has no idea when they might be available.

Meanwhile, I'm racking up Enterprise rental car bill (which GM will pay for). But I have to return the car tomorrow so 150 mile drive to Bloomington, IL, then loaner from dealer and then 150 miles back home. And then another 300 mile round trip when car is fixed. I never should have bought this car, and believe, as a long time GM customer, I'm done with their BS quality. I see these "dependability" commercials Chevy runs on TV and gag at their claims.

- dilbertzoolandersb, Grayslake, US

problem #5

Jun 162018

Traverse Redline Premier 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission failed at 10k miles, leaving family stranded in 95 degree heat. Chevy roadside assistance, Onstar, Local dealers, nobody came to get us (we were in a very rural area after 6pm on a Saturday and no rental car places were open, no Uber, no internet- just voice cell service). Chevy wanted to tow to small local dealership- we had to pay out of our own pocket to get it towed to our dealership. Had to call friends to get us.

Repairs took 2 weeks, plate replacement and software re-load to fix. One month later (while trying to get to a wedding), transmission will not engage when shifting into drive. Will have to go back into shop. This year model does not have the bugs worked out- the 9 speed transmission is not reliable.

We begged Chevrolet to give us relief and buy back the vehicle. We were denied. Please save yourself and your family. Avoid this car at all costs. We love the look and features of the car (why we bought it)..

Thankfully my family is ok- but this could have very easily ended very badly. It is not worth the risk to your family- especially since Chevrolet will not take ownership of this defect.

- drail-2018, Lenoir City, US

problem #4

May 232018

Traverse Premier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,000 miles

I purchased the 2018 Chevy Traverse Red Line Edition with my husband in February of 2018. At first, we were in love with this SUV! It was bigger then my 2013 Ford Explorer and had some other nice items I liked. We walked off the lot with the car and couldn't of been happier. About a month after we purchased the car, I began to notice some shifting issues. I would pull into my driveway to collect the mail and when I attempted to shift from park into drive, the car wouldn't accelerate. The engine revved but no movement. I would put it into park and let it sit a minute then put it back into drive and let it sit a minute then slowly step onto the gas and most times it would go. This happened a few times and I soon realized that when I put the car into drive I needed to wait a minute before accelerating and I had no issues.

Well, 3 months (May 2018) into this car and the issues started and they AREN'T fun issues. I was at the grocery store and when I got into my car, started it and shifted into drive, nothing. Didn't move. So I did the usual situation and put it into park and waited then back into drive and waited. Finally the car moved but it didn't sound right. It sounded like air was flowing UNDER the car - sounds weird, I know but it's hard to describe. I just knew as the primary driver of this vehicle that something wasn't right. I called the dealership at that moment and said I think I was having a transmission issue and needed to make an appointment asap. They could get me in the following day.

I took my car into the dealership on May 23, 2018 for my appointment and I heard nothing the remainder of the day about what the issue was with the car. So the following morning I called to see if they fixed the issues, my service tech told me there was a software update for the differential and the old software was causing the car to get confused between 2wheel drive and all wheel drive - which in the 3 months I had this car NEVER once have I put it in all wheel drive just for the record. So I pick up the car on May 24th and drive it home, it shifted fine but I noticed the noise was still there and I thought maybe it would go away in time.

Here's the best part.

So the morning of May 25th, I'm driving to work and it's a simple 30 minute drive with barely any traffic and half way into my drive.. the car starts jerking. I thought maybe it's me and how I'm driving. NOPE. Luckily, I wanted Starbucks so I pulled into the parking lot and as I started to pull up into the drive thru lane, the car started stalling out and grinding. Of course. I pulled it into a parking spot before it broke down and immediately called the dealership. They told me to park it and leave it - don't drive it and they would come tow it. My tech told me he probably thinks its a software issue that caused a hardware issue? Okay, well. Sure - why not? I don't work on cars so I really don't know.

Due to the Memorial Day on May 28th and how horrible my service tech is at calling me back. I didn't find out what was going on until June 4th. Service tech called me and said they found some locked up parts in the transmission and they've ordered parts but since the car is NEW they don't when they will get parts in. Could be 1 week.. could be 3 weeks but they have to rebuild the entire transmission. They also couldn't find a spare transmission because the car is NEW. That's all I was told. My husband physically when and saw my car and it was tore into pieces, transmission in pieces in the shop and since he knows a bit about cars, he kinda knew what parts were involved but he said it wasn't pretty.

I now have a $48,000 car that I can not drive. It's sitting hood open in the Chevy parking. The worst part is not knowing when this thing will be fixed while I'm stuck making a $800 car payment a month. My main question is - how does parts in the transmission lock up all of a sudden after a software update? Maybe the dealer did it? Who's to know but I know that I shouldn't have ANY of these issues with a brand new SUV. I wish at this moment I had my Ford back. I will add to this as I find out more about the situation and lead time.

- Nicole B., House Springs, US

problem #3

May 302018

Traverse Premier V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,864 miles

We have been told that they have not been trained yet on this transmission, so they are waiting for head office to tell them what to do.

They replaced the main brain of the transmission called Valve Body. This didn't correct the problem. They advised they don't know what to do, as they don't know what the problem is.

I did not want this car back. I bet there is going to be a major recall, for sure.

- Bonnie A., Maple Ridge , BC, Canada

problem #2

Mar 022018

Traverse Premier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50 miles

On Friday Dec 1, 2017 we picked up our 2018 Traverse Premium. After 50 miles the engine light came on and transmission failed as if it was in neutral and we pulled over. We stopped the car put it in park then engaged drive on the shifter. It would only operate in first gear. We drove it home that way. We had Onstar do a diagnostic and they confirmed it had a transmission problem. It was towed to the nearest dealership as per Onstar protocol. My dealership picked it up and drove it to their location.

On Monday I was told that it had no problems. They found nothing wrong. They drove it around slow and on highway and that it was human error. We sent our picture of the engine light on and they continued to basically tell me I was lying. I told them i could not trust that car and wouldn’t take it back. They took it back and as of now it has had no issues. I bought a Traverse from another dealership as I was treated so badly at the first dealership.

- Kay M., Rowlett, US

problem #1

Feb 082018

Traverse Premier Redline 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles

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 received 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. BUYER BEWARE !

- mos007, Woodbridge, US

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