The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle hesitated before shifting gears. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle was shuddering. The contact stated that after stopping at a traffic light, the light turned green and the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the…
2017 Chevrolet Traverse powertrain problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 16 powertrain complaints filed for the 2017 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2017 Traverse has documented transmission problems—shuddering, harsh shifting, and complete failures—across multiple mileage points, with some owners facing $8,500+ replacement costs. A few owners also report control issues (loss of acceleration power, park disengagement, brake failure), making this a reliability and safety concern to investigate thoroughly on any used example.
Owners describe a consistent pattern of transmission shuddering and jerky shifting, especially between 1st–3rd and 4th–5th gears or in the 20–40 mph range. The problem starts intermittently but worsens over time, sometimes occurring hundreds of miles apart, making diagnosis difficult. A transmission shop told one owner this is a known issue in Chevy and GM six-cylinder models, with class action lawsuits filed for other GM vehicles. Multiple owners report the issue persists after transmission fluid changes, spark plug and coil swaps, and even dealership transmission reprogramming.
Several owners faced transmission failure requiring replacement, with one quote at $8,500. One owner's vehicle failed at 12,000 miles—unusually early. Some cars developed grinding noises before stalling; others simply quit accelerating properly. An all-wheel-drive owner reported the transfer case shuddering on takeoff, and one extreme case involved the transfer case exploding while leaving a traffic light, bending the driveshaft and damaging the power steering line.
Additional control problems surface in a few complaints: one vehicle lost all power and hesitation during highway acceleration without warning lights; another shifted itself out of park at 999 miles and rolled into another car; one briefly lost control of both brakes and acceleration on the highway. These scattered reports raise broader powertrain reliability questions.
Same Chevrolet Traverse powertrain reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission shuddering and harsh/delayed shifting
Vehicle shudders, jerks, or hesitates during acceleration and gear shifts, particularly between 1st–3rd and 4th–5th gears or in the 20–40 mph range. Delayed throttle response and rough shifts reported. Symptoms occur randomly at first, then increase in frequency. Several owners report the issue persists even after transmission fluid changes, spark plug/coil replacements, or transmission reprogramming.
When: Between 70,000 and 130,000 miles; one case at 12,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering or jerking during acceleration and gear shifts; Hesitation and delayed throttle response; Hard or rough shifting; Feeling of gears not matching up or grinding before engagement; Rough shifts particularly between 2nd–3rd and 4th–5th gear
Codes mentioned: P0826
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement quoted at approximately $8,500. Dealership and independent shops have recommended full transmission replacement. Temporary relief reported after transmission flush/fill, but deterioration resumed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned. One owner notes class action lawsuits exist for other GM six-cylinder transmission models with similar issues.
Loss of power and acceleration hesitation
Vehicle loses power and hesitates to accelerate without warning, sometimes without any check engine light or dashboard indication. Occurs at highway speeds and during merging situations, creating safety hazards. In one case, RPM increased significantly but vehicle failed to accelerate proportionally.
When: Reported at various mileages; one case after routine dealership service (oil change and engine additive in October 2024); another at 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power during acceleration; Hesitation to accelerate on highway merge; Vehicle unable to maintain safe speed; RPM increase without corresponding speed increase; No warning lights or dashboard warnings preceding the event
Repairs/costs cited: No successful repairs documented. Spark plug replacement and coil replacement made one case worse. Another owner notes dealership unable to diagnose without stored fault codes.
Transmission failure with stalling
Transmission suddenly fails, causing the vehicle to stall and limiting top speed to 15–60 mph. In one case, a grinding noise preceded the failure. No warning lights appear in some instances until the failure occurs.
When: At 128,000–130,000 miles in documented cases
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle unable to exceed 60 mph or limited to 15 mph; Sudden stalling; Grinding noise from front end before stall; Check engine light illuminated after failure
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required. One vehicle was repaired; another was not.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in at least one case but no assistance provided.
Transfer case shuddering and failure
Transfer case shudders on takeoff or during gear engagement, particularly in all-wheel-drive vehicles. In one severe case, the transfer case exploded while proceeding from a stopped position, bending the driveshaft and damaging the power steering line.
When: Recurring issue reported one year prior and recurring again; explosive failure occurred without prior incident or accident
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering from transfer case area or rear end on takeoff; Feeling of gears grinding before engaging; Loud explosion while driving from stopped position; Loss of steering control following explosion
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership replaced rear end, clutch parts, and reprogrammed transmission; issue recurred. Explosion case required replacement of transfer case, driveshaft, and power steering line.
Transmission leak
Transmission leaking oil in a relatively new vehicle (7 years old at time of complaint). Owner expresses concern over premature failure in a vehicle still under typical lifespan expectations.
When: At approximately 7 years of age
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak from transmission
Vehicle shifts out of park on its own
After the driver shifted into park and exited the vehicle, the transmission independently disengaged from park. The vehicle rolled away and struck another vehicle from behind.
When: At 999 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifts out of park without driver input; Vehicle rolls away uncontrolled
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but police report was not filed.
Brake and acceleration control failure
Vehicle accelerated to nearly 90 mph on highway despite driver turning off cruise control and applying brakes. Driver had no control over braking or acceleration for approximately 2 minutes.
When: While driving on highway with cruise control
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates uncontrollably despite brake application; Cruise control fails to disengage; Loss of braking control; Loss of acceleration control
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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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 powertrain problem on the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 16 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 78,308 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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.
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/2017/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.