2018 Chevrolet Traverse engine problems
101 of the 461 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 257 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 101 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 10 · 2019: 19 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 18 · 2025: 22 · 2026: 14
Half of the 54 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 10,000 and 73,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
461 complaints in all about the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, 14 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Traverse engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Transmission light came on, car started excessively jerking and stalling (vehicle was in motion on a city street while turning and driving straight) took into dealership and said GM does not have a 'fix' for this problem and it's currently under investigation.
Steering, turn either way, backing out of space there is a strange click noise, has 4631 miles only. Blue tooth won't come on all of sudden either for hands free speaking
While at a traffic light, the engine auto stop engaged as usual. However, upon releasing the brake to proceed through the intersection, the vehicle restarted but would not run properly. The vehicle would lurch/jerk forward then lose power over and over again. It felt like we would get whiplashed from the movement of the vehicle.
Started SUV then noticed check engine came on once driving. Went down a major road and noticed the SUV was losing power and wasn't shifting properly. Had my kids in the car and was able to turn around to get back to my house. Once I got it to a safe spot I pressed on the gas to properly park it.
The contact leases a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving in traffic, the vehicle powered off, the engine failed, and all the instrument panel indicators flickered. The contact was able to coast the vehicle out of traffic. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to roll when the gear was shifted into park.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications257 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0014 P0024 P0011 P0300 P0021 B3055 B3060 B3935
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 195 complaints
- electrical problems 101 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 101 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (22% of everything owners filed about it), and 257 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 2 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 32,400 miles; half of them between 10,000 and 73,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.