2018 Chevrolet Traverse transmission and drivetrain problems
195 of the 461 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 129 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. 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 transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 195 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 8 · 2019: 27 · 2020: 23 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 24 · 2025: 42 · 2026: 22
Half of the 75 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 16,000 and 51,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
461 complaints in all about the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, 22 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Traverse transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I had stopped for a red light on a city street. The auto stop was on (stops the engine idling) and when I attempted to go after the light turned green, I would press the accelerator and the car would lurch forward, then do nothing, lurch forward, then nothing and the engine light came on.
As I was waiting at a red light and proceeded to to turn green I pressed on the gas to accelerated and the vechicle began to jerk and lerch forward and would not advance almost as as it was losing power or not respoding to the gas pedal. Very scary in the middle of an intersection.
While driving my Traverse today the vehicle suddenly jerked to a stop while driving through a restaurant parking lot twice, then while attempted to accelerate to the suicide lane on a 4 lane road the check engine light came on and the engine began to over rev red lining as if it couldn't change gears.
While driving on flat level surface the vehicle would sporadically shift into first gear. I pulled over shut off the vehicle and it corrected itself. The next day after putting it into drive it wouldn't shift out of 1st. I tried putting it in l and manually shifting and it still wouldn't leave 1st.
Sporadic transmission failure during operation of vehicle. During operation of vehicle a sudden jerk of the transmission occurs and the vehicle is unable to shift gears in transit. I AM force to pull over and stop vehicle in order to procedure. This has occurred 3 times in the past 7 months.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 20V668000 HighOct 29, 2020 · 194,105 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
129 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
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- engine problems 101 complaints
- electrical problems 101 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 195 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (42% of everything owners filed about it), and 129 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall 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 transmission and drivetrain on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 20V668000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 33,000 miles; half of them between 16,000 and 51,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.