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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
88,572 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Chevrolet Traverse engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Chevrolet Traverse Owner Comments (Page 4 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #52

Mar 092019

Traverse

  • 106,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Purchased car used in December '15. Numerous times car was driving and a warning was given on dash "reduce engine owr, service stablitrak". car was takento marty feldman in livonia, mi (May 17)and per inspection stated needed new accelerator pedal which was not the problem. Problems persisted with said vehicle fast fwd to March 2019 car will not start at all. Victory Chevy in Milan, mi stated timing chain went out needs replaced. Online a quick search finds these same issues with thousands of Traverse N equinox models!!! a recall is needed

- Belleville, MI, USA

problem #51

Oct 122018

Traverse

  • 82,000 miles
The vehicle started making a noise in the engine, took it into the dealership and they said they thought it was something different. A week later the car started to drive badly and the engine sounded worse. After work I tried to start the vehicle and it wouldn't start. The numbers on the sensor reader stated it was the timing chain. We got it served by a mechanic and the timing chain when it slipped damaged the engine. Now we haven't been able to drive the travers for over a year and we are still paying for it because we now need to put a new engine in it. The dealership and the manufacture were of no help to us. I also would like to make mention, we did have our oil changed regularly.

- Chenoa, IL, USA

problem #50

Feb 052019

Traverse

  • 66,409 miles
Car began running extremely rough with lack of power. Check engine light came on and obd showed codes of P0016 and P0017. Vehicle had a bad timing chain which was replaced at a cost of $3200. Vehicle shows 66409 miles on the odometer.

- Huntingdon Valley, PA, USA

problem #49

Feb 282019

Traverse

  • 117,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving the kids to school the dash dings and says traction control off, service stabilitrak, engine power is reduced. Then my car would not go over 15mph. I am now afraid to drive this car especially with the kids as it is unsafe.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #48

Nov 292018

Traverse

  • 49,300 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle abruptly decelerated to 20 mph. Also, the traction control and reduce power check engine indicators illuminated. The failures were experienced numerous times. When the vehicle was restarted, it regained normal acceleration; however, the failure recurred more frequently. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who replaced the accelerator pedal and the accelerator sensor. The repairs did not correct the failure and the vehicle continued to lose acceleration. The speed would not exceed 20 mph. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic who diagnosed that the crank position sensor failed and the engine timing chain stretched. The manufacturer advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in the warranted repair for the timing chain replacement, which ended in 2017. The manufacturer provided the contact with case number: [xxx]. the dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 49,300. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bethel Park, PA, USA

problem #47

Oct 032016

Traverse 6-cyl

  • 115,084 miles
2012 Chevrolet Traverse. Consumer recommends issuing a recall notice on the vehicle models engine.

- Foley, AL, USA

problem #46

Feb 092019

Traverse

  • 114,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

All of a sudden the vehicle displays service stabilitrak, traction control off, engine power reduced. Then the vehicle has very little power to accelerate or navigate hills. When it first happened to me, I pulled out of our driveway and it just wasn't running smoothly and I had very little power to drive forward.

- Hastings, MI, USA

problem #45

Jun 012018

Traverse

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. While operating the vehicle, "reduce engine power" and "stabilitrak" suddenly appeared on the instrument panel. Next, the vehicle decelerated and failed to accelerate properly. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. Feldman Chevrolet of livonia (32570 Plymouth rd, livonia, mi) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was invalid.

- Van Buren Township, MI, USA

problem #44

Nov 092018

Traverse

  • 180,000 miles
The service traction control light comes on and then it will give you a misfire in one of the cylinders. Also the vehicle appears to almost shut down. The braking system on the car also feels funny. My mechanic has checked everything and cant find anything wrong. The stuff that I describe before is the latest things to occur.. I have complained for a long time now about the illegal tracking of this vehicle and all of my vehicles. I have made complaints to the department of justice, the media and to the internal affairs here where I live in gwinnett county Georgia. This illegal tracking is being done for the purpose of gang stalking.....the tracking information on this vehicle and all my other vehicles has been shared with a large number of people.

- Loganville, GA, USA

problem #43

Dec 072012

Traverse

  • 115,084 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving 70 mph, the engine seized. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the off ramp of the highway into a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to classic Chevrolet Cadillac (3855 eastex fwy, beaumont, tx 77706, (409) 892-5050) where it was also determined that the engine needed to be replaced and metal shavings were found in the oil. The contact stated that Chevrolet issued a report that engines in the vehicles may experience metal shavings, which could cause engine failure. On two occasions, the contact pointed out knocking noises to the dealer when she brought the vehicle in for oil changes. The manufacturer stated that they could not assist. The failure mileage was 115,084.

- Foley, AL, USA

problem #42

Oct 222018

Traverse

  • 3 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving on a flat road in the middle of rush hour traffic. The traction control light came on, shortly after the check engine light came on, and steering wheel tightened. I pulled over, shut the car off, waited a few minutes and then restarted. No lights. When I brake car, seems to take longer and then jerks to engage brakes. Shop ran codes and nothing came back.

- Peachtree Corners, GA, USA

problem #41

Oct 142018

Traverse

  • 55,439 miles
When accelerating from a stop, the car initially did not have any power and shook a lot then eventually caught up and drove normally. When putting the car in park at home, it shook again and did not stop until I turned it off.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #40

Sep 262018

Traverse

  • 114,767 miles
Driving on highway. Engine began losing power, and totally lost power, as I coasted to the shoulder. No noises, no warning, no malfunction lamps until vehicle stopped. All happened within about a minute. Repair shop said engine was a loss due to internal damage. The situation could have very easily become a safety issue.

- Fenton, MI, USA

problem #39

Nov 302017

Traverse

  • 83,000 miles
Timing chain. Vehicle has service stabilization system and traction control messages come up on display. Vehicle very sluggish and will say "reduce power" on display. Driving down road at 55 mph and car goes completely limp. Have to pull over to side of busy road with wife and kids in car and have to come to complete stop, no power to wheels. Loud noise from engine compartment. Vehicle was driving down the road.

- Traverse City, MI, USA

problem #38

Jul 282018

Traverse

  • 80,000 miles
Vehicle was travelling forward down a city street in traffic and the engine stopped running. Dealer did not specify what part of engine broke, but it was a complete engine failure and the entire engine needs to be replaced.

- Elkhart, IN, USA

problem #37

Aug 182018

Traverse 6-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving 20 mph, the brake pedal was difficult to depress and failed to respond. In addition, the steering wheel failed to move left or right and the vehicle lost power. As a result, the contact crashed into a bus terminal wall. Additionally, the key failed to release from the ignition. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact, passenger, and rear passenger occupant sustained chest injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 92,000. *

- Biloxi, MS, USA

problem #36

Aug 022018

Traverse

  • 102,163 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle experienced a compete loss of power. In addition, the service stabilitrak and traction control warning indicators illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,163.

- Monroe, MI, USA

problem #35

Aug 022017

Traverse

  • 160,000 miles
While driving, traction control automatically went off, then automatically went back on. Happened as I was exiting a parking lot onto a busy road. Went off again, then in the middle of my turn, car suddenly decelerated and I was barely able to make it into the next parking lot. Gradually ramped up to about 20 mph. Traction control automatically came "on" but so did the check engine light. Let the car sit for about an hour and it would drive (but I did not get over 40 mph or further than around the block). Check engine still on. Thank goodness I was not on the interstate as had been about 15 minutes earlier.

- Carpentersville, IL, USA

problem #34

Jun 152018

Traverse

  • miles
There were more than a few occasions were I am driving and my car will instantly slow down and the check engine light comes on and something saying traction control. I don't know exactly what that means but when I took it to my dealership the lights had went off and they just looked at me, saying that they can't fix something that's not there. It's scared me because it decreases speed while on the highway and the other cars obviously don't know what's happening and we almost got into an accident. I'm nervous about my car while driving in the road. This has happened on the streets as well as highway.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #33

Feb 042018

Traverse

  • 83,000 miles
P0017, P0018, P0019, P0068, P0089, P0106, P228C 2012 Traverse all of these code are on the scanner. The vehicle will slow to just about a stop going down the road. Lots of lights come up on the dash, traction control and stabilitrac, the car is in the driveway and will not turn over. GM is doing nothing about this issue, I have called, considering that they have had the same issue with the engines in the Traverse models. Car only has 83K miles on it and gets oil changes just about every 3000 miles. From Michigan

- Traverse City, MI, USA

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