Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Chevrolet Traverse owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle stopped abruptly. The check engine, traction control, stability control, and air conditioner warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined the failure was due to the throttle body. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The throttle body was previously replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
I was driving 70mph on the interstate (with my 4 children in tow) my CEL, service stabilitrac and reduced engine power lights came on. My speed was reduced to around 45mph. I had two semis behind me, the one directly behind me had to get over very quickly to avoid rear ending me. I put on my hazards and took the next exit approximately 7 miles ahead. Once off the interstate I shut off my vehicle, waited two minutes then restarted, lights and messages still on. I proceeded to drive but could only go around 45mph while my vehicle was not wanting to go. I parked it at work then at lunch I drove it on city streets at 35mph. I parked it again at my work. When I got off I started the car and started driving, no lights or messages. I proceeded to drive to the interstate on my way home. When my vehicle hit 60mph the same thing happened, luckily no vehicles behind me. …
The first time I was in a restaurant drive thru but sitting idle. Then several codes flashed on my dash about traction control and stabilitrak and limp mode and it started to stink. We towed it to our mechanic and he could not tell what code was causing the issue so he cleared the codes and it ran fine after that. After a couple additional trips to the mechanic, we did have a couple issues seemingly related and he ended up replacing a coil and all the spark plugs. Now, a few months later, my wife was driving up the road to our house and just before turning into our driveway, the same error messages came up on the dash. She turned off the car and called me. When I got home I started the car and got the same results. We had the car towed to our mechanic again. This time when the tow truck arrived, the car did not start. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. On three separate occasions, the traction control indicator illuminated and the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle lost power steering ability, but was able to coast over to the side of the road. In addition, on two occasions, the vehicle was restarted and able to drive normally. The vehicle was taken to yark Chevrolet (located at 9830 waterville swanton rd, whitehouse, oh 43571, [phone]) where it was diagnosed, but a failure code could not be found. The contact also stated that the failures recurred a third time while driving 70 MPH. In addition, the engine failed and the steering seized. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road, but failed to restart. The vehicle was towed back to yark Chevrolet where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. …
While driving on the highway at 55mph my vehicle seemed to suddenly drive rough and I thought I was going to lose control or a blown tire or something. I lost power and my vehicle began to slow down on its own. Things began to light up on my dash about the stabilitrak system needing servicing. This was terrifying since cars were flying by me and I was in the middle lane. This has happened more than once even on local roads at slower speeds such as 30mph. Why is there no recall for this? There are so many complaints and families are in these vehicles including mine. I am also getting a check engine code for timing. My vehicle is just at 70K miles and I use it as a daily driver to/from work and primarily just in my town. Furthest I drive is 20 minutes down the highway to a relative and back. Please fix this with a recall! It is extremely unsafe! …
Recently I started having issues with shuddering while driving at certain speeds. First at 40mph and then more recently at higher speeds. Also today the stabiltrack warning light came on stating that it required service. RPM's and speedometer also would fluctuate while driving. There are many videos on youtube that point to the throttle body having oil blow by through the throttle body as there is no check valve to keep this from happening. I will be cleaning the throttle body to see if it fixes the problem. I've also seen that the brake position sensor could be the culprit as well. I replaced the ignition coils after seeing the engine fluctuations, but did not replace the sparks plugs as they were recently replaced under 6K miles ago. This seems to be a long standing and wide dispersed issue with this year, make and model of vehicle. …
The first occurrence happened 10/11/17 on I-40. My car started "jerking" and all of a sudden the car decelerated to approx 35 MPH. The ABS light came on. A ntfcn came on that all of my assists were off (parking, all wheel drive, traction control, stabilitrack). A ntc also appeared that said to service stabilitrak. When I go to press my brake there is a noise in the brake pedal and it "jumps" when I go to press it. We have taken it and had it put on the computer but no codes appear saying there is anything wrong with it. They say the sensors are fine. I have almost been rear-ended several times now. It happens every time I drive my car. I am too afraid to drive my car anymore. It is too dangerous. I can't afford to replace it. No dealer is going to take a faulty car and I can't afford to buy another one. …
The car's engine sounds too loud. I bought the car late December 2015 and I told the servce advisor that something is wrong with the wiring because the light bulb needed to change, sounds from speakers would bounce off from one speaker to another, the windows would not go back up, and engine was louder than usual. Two weeks ago, while I was on I-95 with my kids, the engine light came on, the car automatically slowed down on me, traction control automatically turned off, the car stated engine power slowed and stabitalk light came on. I was terrified. I'm already a victim of mile discrepancy and poor professionalism from the GM from autonation Chevrolet delray and I'm still having problems with my vehicle. I took my car there a time back in May because my engine was shaking, I was told they fixed my engine but the car was still shaking afterwards. …
While driving on a on a busy street vehicle- approx 30mph - unexpectedly and without warning this vehicle suddenly decelerated / downshifted to a crawl. We nearly lost control of the car and narrowly avoided several close calls of people behind us. Thankfully we were not on the highway as others have described. Also, door locks began locking and unlocking on their own. Once we got to a safe spot messages on the display began flashing, service stabiltrak; service traction control; park assist off; traction control on; traction control off. Towed this car to the dealer for an exorcism since it was no longer driveable. First thing they did was replace the battery. As they tell it a bad / funky battery might cause bad things to the electronic transmission module. $400 later issues persist. Now I am told I need to replace the transmission outright - $5500. This just can't be right. …
I was driving with my children while exiting a highway off-ramp, and our Chevy Traverse suddenly malfunctioned and I temporarily lost power steering/control of the car, had no acceleration, and all instruments went wonky (turning on/off, going back and forth). I was forced to pull off the highway off-ramp onto a dangerously narrow shoulder with minimal room, and had to coast the car to the end of the off-ramp-- and then was stuck at the off ramp at a red light in rush-hour traffic. After towing the vehicle to the dealership, we replaced the battery at the suggestion of our local Chevy dealership. Then about 4 months later, the problem has happened again as I was exiting our driveway on my way to work. We had it towed to our local Chevy dealership, and after 4 days of running diagnostics and test driving it, they finally concluded it was a faulty transmission module. …
Traction Control complaints in other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA has 86 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, 24% of the model year's 354 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Chevrolet Traverse traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Chevrolet Traverse traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 96,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.