Occasionally when putting the SUV in reverse, the car does not go into gear. I'll hit the gas and nothing and then all of the sudden it goes into gear. It's almost like it's in a delay sometimes I'll have to put into drive and then reverse for it to go into gear.
2021 Chevrolet Traverse powertrain problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What stands out
Of the 17 model years of Chevrolet Traverse we track for powertrain problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (12).
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2021 Traverse powertrain has a documented pattern of transmission shuddering, shifting delays, and engagement failures starting from as low as 1,085 miles and continuing throughout ownership. Owners report unsafe driving situations and costly repairs ($3,800+ for torque converter replacement), with some transmission failures occurring after service attempts.
Owners of 2021 Chevrolet Traverses report a cluster of transmission problems affecting drivability and safety. The most common complaint is violent shuddering and hesitation during acceleration, particularly in the 25–35 mph range and from a complete stop. This starts early—one owner experienced it at just 1,085 miles. Owners also report delayed or failed gear engagement, with reverse being especially problematic; some must cycle between gears or wait for delayed response.
A separate but serious issue involves shifter behavior: the shifter responds slowly, gets sticky, or moves unintentionally. One owner faces a persistent "shift to park" warning requiring repeated tapping before the engine shuts down. A transmission-related fault code appears in at least one case, prompting a dealer diagnostic that determined transmission replacement was needed.
Another owner's driveshaft bolt came completely loose at 45 mph, splitting the shaft and causing loss of control, despite having passed a multi-point inspection the day prior. One owner experienced engine RPM runaway with loss of power delivery—the engine revving to maximum while the vehicle barely moved.
These failures occur across the mileage spectrum, from 1,085 miles to 137,000 miles. One attempted repair—a $3,800 torque converter replacement—was followed by transmission failure due to a gasket leak.
Same Chevrolet Traverse powertrain reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission shudder and hesitation during acceleration
Owners report violent shuddering, jerking, and hesitation when accelerating, especially in the 25–35 mph range and from a complete stop. One owner noted the issue appearing with just 1,085 miles on the odometer, with a distinct shudder during shifts in higher gears. The vehicle may require easing off and reapplying throttle pressure to regain forward motion.
When: Throughout ownership; one owner experienced failure at 1,085 miles, others at 115,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shuddering and jerking during acceleration; Hesitation to accelerate; Vehicle struggles to exceed certain speeds (20 mph in two separate incidents); Shudder during gear shifts in higher gears; Transmission labors on inclines
Codes mentioned: Transmission-related fault codes (specific codes not listed in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced torque converter for $3,800; transmission subsequently failed due to gasket leak
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner cited this as a noted problem with GM 9-speed automatic transmission per consumer research
Delayed or failed gear engagement
Owners report the transmission failing to engage into drive or reverse, or responding slowly. Reverse engagement is particularly problematic, with some owners needing to cycle through gears or wait for delayed engagement. Check engine light illuminates in at least one case.
When: At 137,000 miles in one case; intermittent throughout ownership in others
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission fails to respond to gear shifter input; Slow or delayed response when releasing gear shifter button; Failure to engage reverse gear; Occasional delay before reverse engages; Sticky gear shifter; Check engine light illuminated
Codes mentioned: Transmission-related fault codes (specific codes not identified in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner diagnosed with need for transmission replacement at 54,000 miles but vehicle not yet repaired; another experienced transmission failure after torque converter replacement
Shifter malfunction and shift-to-park warning
Owners report the gear shifter being unresponsive, sticky, or easily moved unintentionally. One owner reports a persistent 'shift to park' warning requiring repeated tapping of the shifter to engage park and allow engine shutdown.
When: Intermittent throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shifter fails to respond or responds slowly; Gear shifter easily moved unintentionally; Sticky gear shifter; 'Shift to park' warning illuminates every time park is selected; Requires hard tapping to engage park
Repairs/costs cited: Owner expresses concern about escalation from tapping to a larger problem
Driveshaft failure
At 45 mph, the driveshaft bolt came completely loose and split the driveshaft in two, causing loss of vehicle control. Owner had a multi-point inspection performed the day before without identifying any damage, rust, or visible defects.
When: Occurred shortly after multi-point inspection
Symptoms owners cite: Driveshaft bolt came completely loose; Driveshaft split in two; Loss of vehicle control; No visible damage or rust prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided; multi-point inspection performed day prior found no issues
Reverse light and parking brake anomalies
Owner reports reverse lights illuminating when vehicle is in park on multiple occasions. Parking brake also sets unintentionally when doors are opened or closed.
When: Intermittent throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Reverse lights illuminated while in park; Parking brake engages when doors open or close
Loss of power and RPM runaway
Vehicle stops responding to throttle input with the engine revving to high RPM but no forward motion, forcing the owner to drive at barely touching the throttle while tachometer reads maximum.
When: Occurred during normal driving without warning
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to maximum RPM without corresponding acceleration; Vehicle stops shifting gears; No power delivery to wheels despite high engine speed
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2021 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 powertrain problem on the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 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?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 95,500 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/2021/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.