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10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$7,880
Average Mileage:
92,300 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. had to replace engine (4 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
2012 Chevrolet Traverse engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Chevrolet Traverse Owner Comments

problem #5

Feb 162020

Traverse LTZ 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 119,000 miles

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

Our family was driving home from a trip on the highway. Every light on the car dash lit up and we lost all power. Thankfully we were able to get to the side of the road. The engine had seized. We had the timing chain replaced 6 months prior to this costing us $3500. The quote we received for a new engine from the dealer was $6500.00. The car is not worth that much and we still have a loan on the car. Given the amount we put in already we decided not to repair this car. We had many issues with this car in the few years we owned it and each time I felt less safe driving in it.

- Julie G., Lunenburg, US

problem #4

Sep 062016

Traverse LT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

I have owned V8 Chevy Silverado's for 20+ years but got V6 2012 Transverse used from the dealer in 2014. It was a car they used for executives and 18k miles. I got new license plates when I bought it. Driving on the freeway in Southern California the engine seizes with no idiot lights, oil pressure normal. Mechanic opens it up and it has no oil! I have never had a leak so it burned all the oil in less than 4000 miles, all of it until it seized. Now the oil pressure gauge always read normal, never moved, i had no oil leaks in driveway, the engine should shut down with sensor before seizing and I ad sync blend oil changes ever 4-5k miles. I replaced the engine and finance the bill on credit card, while still making my car payments. Now I see multiple reports online of the same engine seizing from burning oil. No other symptoms. Chevy I am available for more info.

- James B., Huntington Beach, CA, US

problem #3

Jul 282018

Traverse LT 1 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,300 miles

Yes $7,872.68 is the actual dealer estimate for repair. The vehicle only has 80K miles on it. We bought Feb 1, 2017 for $16,000. After 18 months and 18K miles it had complete engine failure. The dealer offered $3000 for it in trade (great so we have $8500 negative equity to deal with or a $7800 repair)!

I appealed to GM, told them we have an '04 Silverado with 144k and an '04 impala with 195k miles and they're both still running, it is totally unacceptable a '12 Traverse can't make it to 100k miles without blowing an engine. They offered 10% assistance only, because the vehicle is out of warranty.

Options were a remanufactured engine with 3 year/100k mile warranty (warranty will run out before vehicle loan) or salvage engines that were priced same or more than remanufactured engine. WTH? No one would/could tell me if the reman engine was re-engineered to avoid the same issues.

Why put the same piece of crap time bomb back in the vehicle? I went to an independent shop that installs Jasper remanufactured engines, same 3 yr/100k warranty, but Jasper has made some changes to try to mitigate the issues. They quoted me $7000. I told them the final bottom line price from GM with the 10% assistance which is $6777.30. They agreed to match it so I will be trying the Jasper engine and giving my money to a local business instead of GM.

- Matthew B., Elkhart, IN, US

problem #2

Jan 132018

Traverse ES 3.2V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

2012-Traverse

This is my daughters vehicle and her husband was driving it and the vehicle died while he was driving and would not restart so he called me and I told him it sounded like the fuel pump. He called a service shop that is certified gm shop and the mechanics called him and told him it was out of gas. He stated that the fuel gauge was not correct. OK, Simple enough, My son-n-law could not get the vehicle as he was too busy. I decided to go ahead and pick it up for him and I did so and added a full tank of gas to it. I proceed 8 miles to my home and the Traverse oil light came on and went off and the Traverse shut off. I tried to restart it and all I got is a sound from the starter that clicked as though it was a dead battery. I decided to pull the Traverse to my house and wait till the next morning and check the oil and charge the battery. The battery was dead so I replaced it. The oil dipstick was showing full so I attempted to start the engine, No go still the same click from the starter. We called the shop and they came and picked it up and checked it over. The motor was seized up and according to them there was nothing indicating as of why it would just lock up. I have bought nothing but GM products for the last 35 years and have owned two Cadillac's and still own a 1971 chevelle, a Cadillac and a GMC truck. I decided to look up if there was similar issues with he Traverse and I found that this is happening way too often and with no help from GM to do anything about it. From the complaints I have seen most of the Traverse owners are young women with children that own these vehicles. The company I work for have a line of these as well. I am paying close attention to see what GM says about my daughters Traverse and what help they may provide. Hard working women and men should not have to endure these kind of hazard endangerment situations and hardships mentally , Physically and financially from a GM vehicle. GM really needs to step up to the plate and demand withing the company as to what is causing this vehicle to do what it is doing to put its customers in these situations.

- Danny R., Hallsville, US

problem #1

Apr 112017

Traverse

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

The Traverse shut down while driving and we later found out it was due to the engine seizing up. The vehicle was always properly maintained. A search of the internet, we found that this was not uncommon for 2011 & 2012 models. I spoke with Chevy who reluctantly admitted that it was an issue and that by the vin# ours was suspected to be one of the defective engines. The SUV was out of warranty, but I got GM to agree to pay half the repair costs to replace the engine with a reconditioned one. Now we are having additional issues with the AC lines - and will be listing that on another complaint.

- Kim D., Mode, US

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