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ProblemsByVin Index / 2018-CHEVROLET-TRAVERSE / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2018 Chevrolet Traverse owner complaints

442 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle . Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

powertrain 7 complaints shown

182 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
12/31/2021 ODI #11445732.0

Electrical ground problem affecting transmission control is evident by a Shift to Park warning that displays on the driver information center and prevents vehicle from being turned off. GM has this problem so we’ll documented that a TSB exists and is on file with NHTSA. The inability to turn off the vehicle when this is encountered is a significant safety issue. We paid out of pocket to have the fix recommended in the TSB applied to our vehicle.

12/19/2025 ODI #11706203.0

Park to shift keeps popping up on dash while driving. Vehicle will not recognise when in park at times to allow vehicle to be shut off properly. The stability track warning pops up on dash now as well. The check emits comes on with codes for all going back to transmission control module system and when replaced spark plugs we found that the PCV (cam cvr to turbo) tube was cracked all the way through where the hard plastic meets metal on the part and had to replace it. This is all after multiple failed parts that had to be replaced dealing with the ac unit and it’s lines. Today is the second time in two weeks that the vehicle has been in operational mode in the middle of a foward motion driving at the time. Luckily this time I was in a housing area and not a major street or on the loop 360

12/15/2021 ODI #11443920.0

Shift to Park message displays on the Driver Information Center (DIC) when the vehicle has been shifted to Park and the ignition has been turned to the Off position. This causes alarm chimes to go off when door is opened and the battery to drain.

12/14/2020 48,000 mi ODI #11383276.0

I have had two major issues. First is the whole "shift to park" message that you have to vigorously wiggle the transmission lever to get to go away so you may exit the vehicle. I have had it in the dealer for it once already and they said they replaced the wireing harness. This did nothing. I am the second owner and I had that done at about 35,000 miles but it never completely went away. Now I am at 50,000 miles and for the last few weeks I have been noticing terrible high pitch noise that sounds like bad road noise but its coming from the drive train. So far it has seemed to happen mostly around the 72 to 78 MPH range on the hwy. As soon as you let off the gas the noise goes away but 50% of the time the noise comes back when you reapply the gas. Sometimes it takes drastically changing s

12/13/2025 ODI #11704842.0

Transmission issues since 85k miles, park to shift sensor error since owned, rear ideoendent suspension bolts were stripped needed alignment. Car has not performed since ownership.

12/12/2024 ODI #11630425.0

I purchased this vehicle in 2022 of October after about a year. I started noticing the car beginning to jerk back. Also, I noticed that the shift the handle when I would put it into park. It would not stay in park. It kept giving me a beeping noise. It kept slipping. At the time it wasn’t doing is it as much but lately I’ve noticed that it’s been happening more frequently so I took it into a mechanic to have it checked and they said it is a defect on the transmission. when I searched it up under NHTSA website I seen that there was multiple defects for this 2018 Chevy traverse.

12/10/2024 ODI #11629813.0

The vehicle will not shut off and vehicle information screen states Shift to park. When this happens we have 2 options. 1st to sit and wait for the vehicle to turn off(takes over an hour on average), 2nd Disconnect the negative battery connection. The vehicle shuts down nearly instantly. Then reconnect the battery before being able to use the vehicle again

electrical 5 complaints shown

64 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/29/2025 ODI #11707685.0

The shift to park started popping up randomly for a month now does it every time I try to turn my car off. I have to wiggle, push the button and more times than not I have to turn back on the car and move gears to see if that will help (which it doesn't). Super annoying

12/24/2025 ODI #11706918.0

After shifting from drive or other gear to park, vehicle will not register vehicle is in the "park" gear. Vehicle is in the "park" gear and will not move but is not turning off. "Shift to park" is displayed on the display. Vehicle will not shutdown the display system and keeps beeping. The issues worsens over time and continues to drain the battery. The vehicle is kept on.

12/15/2021 ODI #11443922.0

When driving on a right hand curve with traffic in the opposite direction lane, the forward collision warning system flashed a large red warning flash on the instrument panel near the speedometer. This was alarming and caused me to put on the brakes immediately, although there was no impending crash. This cause the cars behind me to take evasive action and apply their brakes in an emergency fashion and almost cause several collisions. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

12/11/2025 ODI #11704574.0

The car has a "Shift to Park" error message. We noticed a recall for other 2018 Traverse vehicles and wonder why ours is not covered. Car will not shut down completely. Battery is drained. Dealer is requesting $767.43 to repair when other GMC/Chevy vehicles are identified in a recall.

12/11/2024 116,479 mi ODI #11630051.0

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and shifted to park(P), the shift to park sensor failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked; however, the shift to park(P) warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the shift to park sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,479.

other 3 complaints shown

12/22/2025 ODI #11706518.0

When the gear shift is in the park position, the system does not recognize it so the car doesn’t properly shut down; on occasion draining the battery. The shift to park problem has been present for 4 years. It has not drained the battery until this month.

12/21/2018 ODI #11162890.0

I was driving down the highway about 79 MPH on I-65 in tennessee and all the sudden car stops while on the drive mode. Luckily no one was on my right lane, so I pulled over to the breakdown lane. It's a brand new car bought it 6 months ago and only has 3200 miles on it and it hasn't even went through it's first oil change.

12/18/2023 ODI #11560673.0

On Saturday December 16, 2023, I drove to Best Buy in Beaumont, Texas to pick up my son’s Christmas gift. I am inside for about 30 or so shopping around. When I get back to my car I notice my back moon roof was completely shattered. Only tiny particles of glass fell in my vehicle but I notice the middle of the glass was pushed up a little higher like something happened to it from the inside.

engine 2 complaints shown

38 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
12/27/2024 60,000 mi ODI #11632685.0

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the emissions purge valve needed to be replaced. The contact did research and was made aware of Technical Service Bulletin Number: N232395300 however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. 

12/16/2024 65,000 mi ODI #11630946.0

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the vehicle was emitting a vibrating and rattling noise while driving. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated while driving uphill and accelerating, the engine backfired. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that there was an EVAP leak. The vehicle received an undisclosed repair however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally failed to immediately start-up. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed because the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the c

lighting 1 complaint shown

8 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $250 · see lighting cluster analysis →
12/29/2022 ODI #11499312.0

The right rear quarter panel stop turn signal light started to retain moisture then the turn signal and stop light stopped working all together. the light is an LED and therefore cannot replace just the bulb. I am having no luck finding the correct replacement as any search turns up a part discontinued by Chevrolet.

airbags 1 complaint shown

5 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
12/28/2017 ODI #11057047.0

Was sold a Chevy traverse with non-functioning airbags. Defective part number: 13524236

steering 1 complaint shown

14 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $700 · see steering cluster analysis →
12/21/2023 ODI #11561367.0

I had just got gas and the vehicle took longer than usual to start/turn over. I was leaving the store and sitting at the stop sign that is on a small incline. When I proceeded to go, my truck shook a few times, cut off, and I had no control of the vehicle. The brake pedal would not push down and my vehicle began rolling backwards. There was a car behind me that started honking his horn because I was going to run into him. I pushed the start/turn off ignition button and tried the brakes again and it worked. I had to sit there for about 5 minutes to get myself together because I was terrified to take off again. About a week later I was pulling out from my subdivision and the truck started alarming to service the StabiliTrak as I was pulling out. At the moment, the steering wheel became almos

Showing 300 of 442 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Chevrolet/Traverse#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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