The first time I was in a restaurant drive thru but sitting idle. Then several codes flashed on my dash about traction control and stabilitrak and limp mode and it started to stink. We towed it to our mechanic and he could not tell what code was causing the issue so he cleared the codes and it ran fine after that. After a couple additional trips to the mechanic, we did have a couple issues…
2012 Chevrolet Traverse cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse have filed 22 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 88,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Traverse | 13 |
| 2010 Traverse | 22 |
| 2011 Traverse | 43 |
| 2012 Traverse (this page) | 22 |
| 2013 Traverse | 8 |
| 2014 Traverse | 24 |
| 2015 Traverse | 10 |
| 2016 Traverse | 7 |
1crash
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 22 cruise control complaints filed for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of Chevrolet Traverse in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse describe a recurrent and dangerous failure: the vehicle suddenly loses engine power while driving, accompanied by check engine, "engine power reduced," "traction control off," and "service stabilitrak" messages appearing on the dash. Speeds drop from 60–70 mph down to 15–45 mph with no driver input, making the pedal unresponsive and cruise control inoperable. The event can happen at any speed and repeats for the same owners multiple times. Several reported near-miss rear-end collisions due to sudden unexplained deceleration in highway traffic; one owner was carrying children when it happened twice.
Dealerships struggle to diagnose the fault—diagnostic scans often show no codes or only nondefining codes, and technicians cannot reproduce the problem on test drives. Attempted repairs have included fuel pump/lines/fuel pressure sensor replacement, engine mount replacement, ignition coil and spark plug changes, and throttle body work—none providing lasting solutions. Turning the vehicle off and waiting 3–15 minutes sometimes clears the warnings temporarily, but the issue returns. One owner reported unintended acceleration to 100 mph that took five minutes to slow, resulting in a crash.
Chevrolet has not issued a recall and has told owners that some VINs are not part of any coverage program despite the documented pattern. Owners across forums report identical failures, yet no manufacturer fix has emerged.
Same Chevrolet Traverse cruise control reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden Loss of Power / Limp Mode with Traction Control / Stabilitrak Messages
Vehicle enters a severe power-reduction state triggered by traction control or stabilitrak system faults, causing unannounced deceleration from highway speeds (60–70 mph) down to 15–45 mph with no driver input. Check engine light, 'engine power reduced,' 'traction control off,' and 'service stabilitrak' messages appear simultaneously. Vehicle becomes difficult or impossible to accelerate. Repeated occurrences are common.
When: Random; occurs while driving at any speed; one owner reports it happens more frequently below 40 degrees F. Happens repeatedly for affected owners.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unannounced deceleration to 15–45 mph; Check engine light illuminates; 'Engine power reduced' message; 'Service stabilitrak' message; 'Traction control off' message; Vehicle will not accelerate when pedal is pressed; Difficulty navigating hills or merging; Cruise control disabled or inoperable; Vehicle jerking or shaking during event; Brake pedal noise or jumping sensation when pressed (some reports)
Codes mentioned: P0014, nondefining code
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump, fuel lines, and fuel pressure sensor replacement reported in one case ($400 mentioned for fuel pressure sensor). Engine mount replacement attempted without resolution. Coil and spark plug replacement attempted. Throttle body cleaning or brake position sensor replacement suggested by owners but not confirmed effective. Clearing codes sometimes resets issue temporarily. No permanent fix found by dealers in multiple cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships unable to duplicate problem in test drives. No recall issued. Affected vehicles reported as not part of 'special coverage' programs. Chevrolet customer service stated some VINs/years 'not part of the issue' despite documented complaints.
Unintended Acceleration
Vehicle accelerates without driver input after shifting into drive or when brakes are applied. One incident resulted in crash into telephone pole with passenger injury.
When: Occurs when shifting into drive or when braking is attempted
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly when shifting into drive; Vehicle accelerates when brakes are applied; Brakes ineffective; car continues accelerating despite brake input; Rapid acceleration to 100 mph (one report); Engine revving to high RPMs; Temperature gauge reads hot; Vehicle will not slow down or turn off easily
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle required multiple brake applications and 5 minutes to slow from 100 mph to 20 mph. Vehicle would not shut off when placed in park; had to force into drive, then park, then ignition off. One crash incident with injuries; vehicle not repaired.
Ignition/Starting Issues Following Error Events
Vehicle fails to start or cranks reluctantly after traction control / stabilitrak error messages occur. Some owners report needing 10+ minutes before the vehicle will restart.
When: Following episodes of power loss / stabilitrak warnings
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start after error messages clear; Engine cranks reluctantly or hesitates when restarting; Requires 10+ minute wait before ignition will turn over; Rough idle after restart
Persistent Check Engine Light
Check engine light remains on even after traction control / stabilitrak errors are temporarily cleared by turning off and restarting the vehicle.
When: Remains illuminated following power-loss events
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light stays on after traction control messages clear; Light does not turn off with key cycle resets
Speedometer Inaccuracy
Speedometer reads lower than actual speed. One owner was cited for speeding despite setting cruise control below the posted limit and having GPS confirm the lower speed shown on the speedometer.
When: Ongoing; one report at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer displays speed lower than actual vehicle speed; GPS and speedometer agree on lower speed, but radar enforcement equipment shows higher actual speed
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted or specified
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
It's a meaningful issue. 22 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 60,000 and 117,000 miles, with the median around 88,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 117,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Chevrolet/Traverse.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.