THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE. DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, A LOUD CLUNK WAS HEARD, THE VEHICLE JERKED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, CHECK STABILITRAX AND TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGES APPEARED AND STABILITRAX DISABLED, SPEEDOMETER REMAINED FROZEN AT SPEED THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. WHILE DRIVING TO SAFE LOCATION TO STOP, VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE STUCK IN A SPECIFIC GEAR THAT IS LOWER THAN NO…
2012 chevrolet Traverse powertrain problems
moderate 43 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
43
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
THE CAR STUTTERED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND FIRST GEAR. SHE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHUTTERING IMMEDIATELY. SHE THEN PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT STARTED SHUTTERING VIOLENTLY AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE AT 10 MILES PER HOUR. EVEN AT THAT SPEED IT WAS STILL SHUTTERING. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE QUOTED THAT THE CLUTCH PLATES AND VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A …
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2012 chevrolet Traverse?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 43 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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