2009-2026 Chevrolet Traverse Problems & Issues

The flexible steel cable that connects the safety belt to the vehicle at the outside of the front outboard seating positions can fatigue and separate over time as a result of occupant movement into the seat. In a crash, a separated cable could increase the risk of injury to the occupant. Applies to: Certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Traverse (GM lists 2013 models built August 6, 2012 to May 30, 2013 and 2014 models built March 26, 2013 to May 14, 2014), plus 2009-2014 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook. GM recall 14187.

Owners report the forward automatic emergency braking applying the brakes, sometimes hard, when no vehicle or obstacle is ahead; one owner reports the car skidding and a following vehicle barely avoiding a rear-end collision. Applies to: 2024-2025 Chevrolet Traverse (third generation), per owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

One or two of the weld nuts that secure the right or left roof-rail airbag to the vehicle might be damaged, out of position, or missing, because repairs flagged during assembly may not have been performed or may have been performed improperly. If the roof-rail airbag is not properly secured, it may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury in certain crash conditions. Applies to: Only 55 specific 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse built March 25, 2010 to December 4, 2018 at Lansing Delta Township, identified from that plant's roof-rail airbag fastener repair records; vehicles that did not get that repair during manufacture are not included. GM recall bulletins N202321200 and N202321201.

NHTSA recall 18V774000 (GM campaign 18365) covers certain 2019 Traverse vehicles (and certain other GM models: Encore, Spark and Trax) whose Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) was never switched out of factory 'manufacturing mode' before shipment. With the SDM in this state the airbags will not deploy in a crash, and seatbelt reminders, event data recording, and automatic post-crash notification are also inactive — a serious occupant-protection defect even though only a small build window was affected.

GM recalled certain 2020 Chevrolet Traverse crossovers because Continental tires fitted to them were cured for too long during production. On a family crossover like the Traverse, the failure shows up in one of two ways: the over-cured rubber can break in the sidewall and dump the air out of the tire suddenly, or the belt edge can separate and throw the tread off the carcass. Either one can take control of the vehicle away from the driver and cause a crash. The same campaign covered a number of other GM models and Continental tires sold into the aftermarket for 2018-2021 vehicles, so replacement tires bought over the counter can be affected too.

Some owners report that rear automatic braking brakes unexpectedly, usually when reversing out of a garage or driveway. GM says this may be due to the design sensitivity of the rear virtual bumper, which is calibrated to catch as many scenarios as it can. Applies to: 2024–2025 Chevrolet Traverse equipped with reverse automatic braking (RPO UVZ). The February 2025 revision of GM 24-NA-048 covers equipped GM vehicles; equipment and VIN must be confirmed. This is rear braking, not forward automatic emergency braking.

The engine may stall after a remote start or after the vehicle is started and warms up; it may stall after the first shift into Drive or Reverse when it is below 32°F (0°C). No trouble codes are stored; GM says the cause is under engineering investigation and is suspected to be related to the torque converter. Applies to: 2024-2026 Chevrolet Traverse with the 2.5L turbo LK0 and MF8 eight-speed automatic (also 2024-2026 GMC Acadia and 2025-2026 Buick Enclave), North America.

GM identifies a fractured transmission wave plate that can remove third, fifth and reverse gears on certain 2009 Traverse vehicles. Bulletin 14404A does not establish this coverage for later Traverse model years.

Certain 2018-2020 Traverse units (with the global front-wheel-drive 6- or 9-speed transmission) left the factory with missing or loose bolts on the start/stop transmission accumulator endcap. This can cause a transmission fluid leak that may progress to a loss of propulsion while driving, and leaking ATF near an ignition source raises fire risk. GM issued safety recall N202313440 (NHTSA 20V-668) covering this defect across multiple GM models, with the remedy beginning December 15, 2020.

First-year 2009 Chevrolet Traverse crossovers are part of GM recall 09V073000. Some were built with the transmission shift cable adjustment clip not fully engaged. Because the clip is what holds the cable adjustment, an unseated clip allows the shift lever indication and the transmission's real gear selection to diverge. A driver can put the Traverse in PARK, remove the key, walk away, and have the vehicle roll — and may also find it will not restart. NHTSA classifies this as noncompliance with FMVSS 102 and FMVSS 114 rather than a wear-out failure, so it applies to how the vehicle left the factory. 276,729 vehicles were covered campaign-wide across the 2009 GM models involved.

GM bulletin 18-NA-091 covers certain 2018 Traverse vehicles with the 9T65 automatic (RPO M3W or M3V). A slight shudder during a light-throttle shift below 40 mph may involve torque-converter clutch reapplication. The bulletin does not cover the later eight-speed Traverse or establish that every vibration is converter failure.

Some 2018 Traverse models with the 3.6L LFY V6 and GM's 9T65 9-speed automatic can exhibit a slight shudder felt during gear shifts at speeds below about 40 mph with light throttle. GM bulletin 18-NA-091 attributes it to possible torque converter clutch (TCC) shudder on re-apply after a shift.

Some vehicles were built with contamination inside the chassis electronic module, which can cause an electrical short in the module. The vehicle could then display a check engine light, stall, or fail to start. A stall while in motion increases the risk of a crash. Applies to: Certain 2014 Chevrolet Traverse built June 27, 2013 to October 10, 2013 (GM recall 14515). GM's report does not list 2013 Traverse models.

Many second-gen Traverse owners experience random no-crank / no-start events, sometimes after the engine shuts off while driving. GM service bulletins identify two patterns: bent or backed-out terminals at body connector X203 causing loss of communication on the HSLAN data bus with multiple stored DTCs, and a separate intermittent no-crank condition on certain 2019 3.6L LFY models built before February 22, 2019, flagged by ignition coil supply and ignition relay feedback codes and caused by loose terminal tension in the underhood fuse block. The result is being stranded with a vehicle that will not respond to the start button.

The MyLink/infotainment touchscreen on 2018-2020 Traverse units can go black or freeze (in some cases the radio, volume and USB still function while the screen stays dark) and does not always recover with a normal restart. Owners have traced some failures to blown resistors on the screen's power-circuit board, requiring display/board replacement; software-related freezes are also common.

Owners frequently report a "Shift to Park" warning that appears even when the transmission is already in Park, often preventing the ignition from shutting off and risking battery drain (the radio stays on and the doors won't lock). The root cause is a weak/failing park switch in the console shifter assembly (often bad harness connectors) that fails to pull the Body Control Module signal low, a defect documented across multiple GM models and addressed in a GM service bulletin.

Owners report the high-pressure fuel pump on the 3.6L V6 failing: at highway speed the engine dropped into reduced power ("limp mode"), or the vehicle stalled and would not restart. Applies to: 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse with the 3.6L V6 (owner reports here are from 2009 and 2013 models). Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

Certain 2014 Traverse vehicles built March 26–August 15, 2013 are included in recall 14V-223. ECM calibration can misstate fuel level by as much as a quarter tank. An optimistic reading can lead to running out of fuel and stalling, increasing crash risk. VIN eligibility, not the year alone, determines recall involvement.

Owners of first-generation Traverse vehicles report steering-fluid leaks and steering noise. Opened reports for 2010 and 2011 describe dealer findings of rack leakage and proposed or completed rack replacement. These reports do not prove the same internal fault, frequency or repair for every vehicle. GM 14329B separately addresses pump wear on certain 2009–2011 vehicles; it is not blanket rack-replacement coverage.

GM Special Coverage 14329 describes hydraulic power-steering pump wear on certain 2009–2011 Traverse vehicles. Reduced hydraulic pressure can make steering much heavier, particularly at low speed. This is hydraulic steering, not an electric steering motor or control-module fault.

Worn (stretched) timing chains on the 3.6L High Feature V6 can set DTCs P0008, P0009, P0016, P0017, P0018 and/or P0019, and GM released timing chain service kits for the repair. Applies to: 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse with the 3.6L LLT V6 (GM bulletin 12-06-01-009F also lists other GM High Feature V6 models). GM's bulletin does not list 2013-2017 Traverse models.

Owners report the 3.6L V6 using oil between oil changes with no visible leak; one owner reports the engine running out of oil and stopping. Applies to: 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse with the 3.6L V6 (owner reports here are from 2009, 2011 and 2012 models). Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

The second-generation 3.6L LFY runs four cam phasers fed by oil-control solenoids. On early C1XX Traverse builds the solenoids stick or screen-clog with casting/machining debris and varnish, and the ECM calibration was itself part of the problem. The result is a set of correlated cam timing codes — commonly P0011 with P0014, P0021 and P0024 appearing together — plus a rough idle, a rattle on start-up as the phasers fail to lock, and reduced power. On 2018 models GM addressed the calibration side with Service Update N192266190, an ECM reprogram for an engine-control software issue during auto stop/start events that could cause rough running, reduced power or a stall with P0011/P0014/P0021/P0024. This is distinct from the LLT/LFX timing chain stretch problem: the chains here are not necessarily worn, the phaser control is.

GM recalled 2023 Traverse along with 2023 Blazer, Acadia, Cadillac XT6 and 2022-2023 XT5 because the transmission may have been assembled with an incorrect sun gear. The wrong gear allows the driver-side half-shaft to disengage from the transmission — the axle simply pulls out of the differential. Consequences are a sudden loss of drive power while driving and, more dangerously, the loss of the parking pawl's ability to hold the vehicle, so the Traverse can roll away after being placed in Park. Owners typically hear a grinding or clicking noise from the front of the vehicle before full disengagement. GM's internal campaign number is N222389310.

Owners of 2015-2016 Traverses report the A/C compressor failing, locking up or smoking, leaving no cold air; in one report the locked compressor stalled the engine. Applies to: 2015-2016 Chevrolet Traverse (owner reports here are from 2015 and 2016 models). Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

Traverse owners widely report the air conditioning blowing warm air after only a year or two of use, caused by refrigerant escaping the system. GM bulletin PIT5710 instructs dealers to leak-check the condenser and, if no external leak is found, inspect the rear auxiliary A/C evaporator. GM bulletin 18-NA-240 also identifies a leak at the A/C condenser receiver/dehydrator tank plug on early 2018 builds.

The auxiliary evaporator blower motor may emit brush dust containing copper particles, which can lead to accelerated corrosion of the auxiliary A/C evaporator and a small refrigerant leak. Owners may notice the A/C blowing warm, poor A/C performance or a low charge. Applies to: 2013-2016 Chevrolet Traverse built before October 6, 2015 with auxiliary (rear) air conditioning (RPO CJ2), plus the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia of the same years.

The gas struts that hold the power liftgate up are oriented so dirt can get between the piston rod and the guiding bushing, which can wear them prematurely, and the liftgate's Prop Rod Recovery software may be unable to detect or stop a liftgate with worn struts from falling too quickly after it is opened. A falling liftgate may strike a person, increasing the risk of injury. Applies to: 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse with the power liftgate (RPO TB5 or E61) built before March 10, 2012, plus the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook models GM lists. GM recall 15240. GM does not list 2013 and later Traverse models.

The moonroof feeds rainwater into a rain tray above the headliner that drains through tubes routed down the pillars. Debris clogs the tubes (and tray outlets), so the tray overflows and water runs down the inside of the headliner, dripping from the overhead console, dome/map light area, or near the rearview mirror. Second-generation (2018-2023) owners report soaked headliners, wet front floors, and damaged overhead electronics. Some cars also have poorly seated/kinked or leaking quick-connect drain hoses that leak even after the tubes are cleared.

Coolant may leak from the radiator hose quick connect at the radiator inlet. GM's correction is to remove the inlet hose and replace its seal. Applies to: Certain 2024-2026 Chevrolet Traverse (with the 2025-2026 Buick Enclave and 2024-2026 GMC Acadia), confirmed by VIN in GM's warranty system. All North American third-generation Traverses use the 2.5L turbo LK0.

The water pump shaft seal on the 3.6L V6 may leak, and GM says these leaks are often due to driving with a low engine coolant level. GM says keeping the coolant at the proper level will increase shaft seal reliability. Applies to: 2009–2013 Chevrolet Traverse with the 3.6L LLT V6. GM Customer Satisfaction Program 13079 also lists other GM models with LY7 or LLT engines; that combined engine list does not mean a Traverse has a LY7.

On the 3.6L V6 (RPO LFY) Traverse, the evaporative emissions purge valve can fail to fully close, allowing fuel vapor to flood the intake. This causes a P0496 (EVAP high purge flow) code with rough running, hesitation, or stalling at idle, and hard starting after refueling. GM acknowledged the condition and issued Special Coverage N232395300 (15 years / 150,000 miles) to replace the purge valve at no charge on affected 2019 Traverse units.

GM PIP5681C documents a possible exhaust bracket/weld failure on specified 2018-2022 LFY Traverse applications. Noise and mixture or catalyst codes can accompany the leak, but do not establish it without inspection. The adjacent Bank 1 pipe can also be damaged.

A very large share of second-generation Traverse front-end noise complaints that get misdiagnosed as struts, control arm bushings or sway bar links are actually the cradle brace — a flat bar bolted across the front subframe with a single bolt at each end. When the brace is loose, mispositioned or was never torqued to spec, it knocks against the cradle over small bumps and during turning maneuvers, producing exactly the clunk owners associate with worn suspension. GM covers the diagnosis in bulletin PIT5931A for 2018-2023 Traverse. Owners have replaced struts and sway bar links with no change before the brace was found.