2018 model year · NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports · Updated September 2026
2018 · All trims · All engines
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According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse has 19 documented known issues, with 4 rated critical. The most serious are Side Curtain (Roof-Rail) Airbags May Not Be Properly Attached (Recall 21V246000) ($0-$0 repair), Intermittent No-Crank / No-Start from Connector X203 and Wake-Up Faults ($150-$900 repair), Start/Stop Accumulator Missing Bolts Causing Transmission Fluid Leak / Loss of Propulsion (Recall N202313440) and Camshaft-Driven High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (Direct-Injection 3.6L) — Long Crank, No-Start, Low Rail Pressure ($600-$1,400 repair). Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $50 to $6,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse vehicles. The left-side half-shaft assemblies may be missing a retaining ring.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Traverse wheelchair accessible vehicles with Power In-floor Ramp conversion. The screw and clip that hold the inner wheel-well plastic shroud in place may chafe against the transmission case, possibly resulting in a transmission fluid leak.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:FRONTAL IMPACT
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.
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According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse has 19 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Side Curtain (Roof-Rail) Airbags May Not Be Properly Attached (Recall 21V246000), Intermittent No-Crank / No-Start from Connector X203 and Wake-Up Faults, Start/Stop Accumulator Missing Bolts Causing Transmission Fluid Leak / Loss of Propulsion (Recall N202313440). Of these, 4 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse has 19 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 4 issues are rated critical: Side Curtain (Roof-Rail) Airbags May Not Be Properly Attached (Recall 21V246000) and Intermittent No-Crank / No-Start from Connector X203 and Wake-Up Faults and Start/Stop Accumulator Missing Bolts Causing Transmission Fluid Leak / Loss of Propulsion (Recall N202313440) and Camshaft-Driven High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (Direct-Injection 3.6L) — Long Crank, No-Start, Low Rail Pressure. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Chevrolet Traverse issues range from $0 to $6,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Side Curtain (Roof-Rail) Airbags May Not Be Properly Attached (Recall 21V246000), typically costs $0-$0 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
GM recalled 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse — a span covering essentially the entire first generation and the first two years of the second — because the side curtain airbags may not be properly attached or secured to the roof rail. An improperly retained curtain airbag can fail to… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
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 wi… Repairs typically run $150-$900. Severity: high.
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… Severity: high.
Every direct-injected 3.6L V6 in the Traverse runs a cam-driven high-pressure fuel pump mounted in the valley that steps rail pressure up past 2,000 PSI. The pump's internal plunger seal and check valve wear, and the follower/cam lobe interface can wear as well, so rail pressure… Repairs typically run $600-$1,400. Severity: high.
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… Repairs typically run $150-$900. Severity: medium.
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 evap… Repairs typically run $500-$1,400. Severity: medium.
Second-generation Traverse owners report the 3.6L LFY V6 consuming oil at roughly 1 quart every 1,000-2,000 miles, with some AWD examples burning a half-quart per 1,000 miles starting around 55k miles. Root causes are worn/coked piston rings and a PCV system that pulls oil vapor… Repairs typically run $120-$6,000. Severity: medium.
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 th… Severity: medium.
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… Severity: medium.
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 ligh… Repairs typically run $150-$1,700. Severity: medium.
On the second-generation Traverse the front (Bank 2) exhaust pipe carries a welded mounting bracket. The weld separates from the pipe and tears a hole in the pipe wall around the bracket. Owners first hear a metallic rattle or a deepened exhaust note under the front of the vehicl… Repairs typically run $400-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The second-generation Traverse (2018+) uses the GM 9T65 9-speed automatic transmission that suffers from a shudder during light acceleration in the 25-50 mph range. The torque converter clutch chatters during lockup, producing a vibration that feels like driving on a rumble strip… Repairs typically run $150-$2,500. Severity: medium.
The 3.6L V6 in the Traverse consumes oil at a rate that many owners find unacceptable, particularly on 2009-2017 models with the LLT and LFX engine variants. Owners report consuming 1 quart every 2,000-3,000 miles. The oil consumption is related to piston ring design and the PCV… Repairs typically run $0-$4,000. Severity: medium.
The dual-zone climate system on the Traverse commonly suffers blend door actuator failures, where one side (often the passenger side or rear) blows warm air while the other blows cold regardless of temperature setting. The plastic gears inside the actuator strip or stick, often p… Severity: medium.
Second-generation Traverse models paired the 3.6L LFY V6 with GM's 9T65 9-speed automatic, which exhibits a noticeable shudder/shake felt during 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 upshifts at speeds below ~40 mph under light-to-moderate throttle. GM traced it to torque converter clutch (TCC) re-ap… Repairs typically run $250-$2,500. Severity: medium.
Traverse owners frequently see 'Service StabiliTrak' and 'Traction Control Off' messages appear together while driving, sometimes accompanied by an engine power reduction. The warning is a downstream symptom rather than a single fault: common triggers are a failing wheel speed se… Repairs typically run $150-$700. Severity: medium.
The Traverse is a heavy three-row crossover on a front-drive-biased platform, and the front wheel bearing/hub assemblies are a recurring wear failure across both the Lambda and C1XX generations. The bearing develops a speed-dependent hum or growl that changes pitch when the vehic… Repairs typically run $300-$800. Severity: medium.
The Traverse power liftgate struts lose gas pressure over time, causing the liftgate to drop slowly when opened or slam shut unexpectedly. On models with power liftgate, the electric motor can also fail, leaving the liftgate inoperative via the button. The struts typically fail b… Repairs typically run $50-$600. Severity: low.
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,… Repairs typically run $75-$300. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
