Transmission shifts to a low gear and will not upshift causing the vehicle to only go about 10 mph @4,ooo rpm. Dealer says it is a solenoid in the transmission that has failed. Part is on limited distribution because of significant instances of this occurance. This is a dangeruos situation that could cause great peril. My vehicle has only 22,000 miles. This is very premature for this new of…
2023 Chevrolet Traverse powertrain problems
severe 22 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 22 powertrain complaints filed for the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Powertrain accounts for 29% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2023 Traverse can suffer serious transmission failures including loss of drive, sudden seizure in traffic, and unintended rollaway when parked—some at very low mileage. Recall 23V172000 exists but does not cover all affected VINs, parts are in short supply, and manufacturer assistance has been limited.
Owners of 2023 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles report multiple categories of transmission failure. The most alarming are unintended rollaway incidents—two owners describe vehicles rolling backward or forward when parked after the driver exited, with brakes and Park gear failing to stop them. One owner's vehicle rolled down a driveway into a tree; the other rolled backward 100 feet into a tree after a passenger turned off the engine. Both failures occurred at low mileage, with one following 10,000-mile service.
Other owners report total loss of forward drive, with vehicles stuck in low gear at 10 MPH or unable to accelerate beyond 60 MPH, sometimes followed by complete seizure and stalling in traffic. Several describe transmission slipping—feeling like neutral while driving—and hard, unexpected downshifts at highway speeds with buzzing or clicking noises from the front of the vehicle.
A few complaints mention exhaust smell inside the cabin and loud engine noise, with owners waiting on parts.
Owners are aware of NHTSA Campaign 23V172000 (Power Train recall), but many report their VIN is not included despite similar symptoms. Those covered by the recall cannot get repairs because transmission parts are unavailable. Dealers either cannot duplicate failures or refuse to work on vehicles not officially covered. Manufacturer response has been limited—some owners received only a 50% repair cost offer, and no rental vehicles were provided during downtime. None of the serious rollaway incidents were repaired.
Same Chevrolet Traverse powertrain reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2024 · 2025
Failure modes owners describe
Unexpected vehicle rollaway/loss of braking response
Vehicle continued to roll downhill or backward after driver exited and attempted to stop it, or after shifting to Park; brakes and shifting failed to arrest motion. Incidents occurred immediately after service and in parked scenarios where transmission should have held vehicle.
When: ~10,000 miles (post-service); ~14,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolled forward or backward despite shifting to Park; Brakes did not respond when pressed; Loud alarm sound at random times after service; Vehicle continued moving after multiple attempts to engage Park and brake
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; field investigator did not inspect transmission; manufacturer offered no assistance in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V172000 (Power Train); VIN not included in recall in at least one case; manufacturer investigator failed to inspect transmission; manufacturer declined assistance
Transmission loss of forward drive / limp-home mode
Vehicle fails to accelerate normally or respond to throttle input; speed limited to 5–60 MPH with gradual or abrupt deceleration. Shift lever does not respond when changing gears. Engine seized or stalled completely in traffic.
When: ~69,000 miles; ~88,000 miles; 17,000–22,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to exceed 60 MPH and decelerates gradually; Vehicle fails to exceed 6 MPH and does not respond in reverse; Vehicle lunges forward at traffic light, then seizes over 4 MPH with transmission warning light; Transmission shifts to low gear and will not upshift; stuck at ~10 MPH at 4,000 RPM; Transmission disengages while driving; vehicle stalls in intersections and on highway; Complete transmission seizure with abrupt stop; mild slips and sticking prior
Codes mentioned: Transmission warning light illuminated, ESC warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required; one dealer quoted half cost to be covered by manufacturer; one owner reports solenoid failure, limited parts distribution; most vehicles not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V172000 (Power Train); VIN included in one case (parts not available); manufacturer covered half repair cost in one case and referred owner to NHTSA Hotline; parts on limited distribution
Hard downshifting and transmission slipping
Transmission unexpectedly downshifts without warning or slips as if in neutral during normal driving. Hard, abrupt shifts occur when changing gears or accelerating from stop. Clicking noise from front during gear changes.
When: 2,000 miles; typical driving conditions; 21 months old / 17,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unintended downshift at 25–30 MPH without warning; Abnormal buzzing sound from hood during downshift; Transmission slips and feels like neutral while driving; Click from front of vehicle when shifting from Park to any gear; Hard shifting in lower gears; Rough or delayed acceleration when leaving stop, red light, or freeway
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer could not duplicate failure; most vehicles not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V172000 (Power Train); VIN included but parts not yet available for recall repair; manufacturer stated parts not available
Exhaust noise and smell inside cabin
Exhaust smell detected inside vehicle and loud noise from engine during operation and idle. Related exhaust system component(s) suspected but not explicitly diagnosed.
When: Occurred after initial use; no mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Exhaust smell inside vehicle; Loud sound from engine when in motion and on standby; Weird sound during startup that never stopped
Repairs/costs cited: Waiting for parts; owner advised to continue driving; rental refused due to mileage warranty exclusion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; recall-related parts on order; warranty does not cover issue at >36,000 miles
Vehicle does not move or barely moves from Park
Vehicle fails to move or moves very slowly when shifted out of Park despite throttle input; may require shifting back to Park and to Drive again to regain minimal motion.
When: No specific mileage; typical driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not move during acceleration when pulling into driveway; Vehicle placed in Park and back to Drive; vehicle would not move; Delayed acceleration when leaving stop, red light, or freeway; Noisy braking; Rough and noisy idle
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; diagnosis not completed
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
When driving transmission slips and goes into wat feels neutral....also when shift from park to any gear there is a click coming from front of vehicle
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that after shifting into reverse the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that there was a loud banging sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the same loud sound was heard while driving forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was duplicated; however, the…
I was trying to park on a little steep driveway. Somehow I got out of the car when it is D gear. In seconds I realized the car is moving forward and jumped right back in the car, hit the brakes and switch D to P. The car didn't stopped. I remember buckled up sign on display and I did. Then I pushed the start button tried to stop and start it again, the car didn't stopped. The car continued…
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V172000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution…
7-8 mild transmission slips/sticking 3 MAJOR transmission events where the car seized up completely and stopped running. Almost felt like a car crash. Very abrupt stop and almost caused people behind us to rear end us Car is only 21 months old / 17,000 miles. Most recent was in early August. We have not driven car since out of fear.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V172000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2023 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 2023 Chevrolet Traverse?
It's a meaningful issue. 22 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 22 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 51,845 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/2023/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.