2012 Chevrolet Traverse Transmission Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  26%
• 25k–50k
  617%
• 50k–75k
  617%
• 75k–100k
  1029%
• 100k–150k
  926%
• 150k+
  26%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Chevrolet Traverse owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

UNKNOWN, I first bought my Chevy Traverse Ltz in April of 2020, and about 2 weeks of driving it, I noticed that all(4)of my wheels/brakes instantly locked up while driving in traffic, almost causing a pile-up collision. The rotors and brakes releases alot of smoke as the wheels scrub and the suv doesn't move forward nor backward. I reported it to the car lot/dealership where i purchased it from and was told to take it to a certain auto shop. I arrived there, just to be told that he doesn't fix those type of problems. The dealership where i bought it from didn't look at it either. So, from that time til now in 2021, I have been dealing with the same exact problems being terrified with my children in the car, not knowing if/when the next time the wheels lock up for no reason, if it will be fatal for me and my children or other drivers. …

2012 chevy traverse. Feb 20 2020. Milage 127691 My valve cover gaskets failed causing the cabin to fill with smoke. Sept 11 2020 right front axel seal failed causing ptu to lose all the transfer case fluid and bearings. Transfer case replaced. Feb 22 2021 milage 141464 transmission slipping had new one installed. Jan 5 2022 milage 153350 had timing chains replaced. Check engine light came on. Back on june 29 2012 Chevrolet issued a bulletin No. 11340B special coverage adjustment timing chain wear. It is for 2007-2009 traverse acadia outlook enclave equipped with the same 3.6L Engine as my 2012 and other years. they extended warranty coverage for 10 years 120k miles. seeing this problem existed in 07-09 models this should be looked at and to include other years as well. I am a member of 2 facebook traverse groups and there are a lot of others with the same issue. …

The air conditioning stopped working after working amazing, Traction Control Disabled light keeps coming on, The RPM's would rev up seems like it gets stuck then drops to normal. stabilitrak messages with the ABS warning light lit up, Power steering (or power control) goes limp (at the worse times pulling out in traffic) It's on issue after the other. Once I get one fixed another goes, then we're back to the first one that was replaced that is now not working again. I still have a car payment so I'm without my car more than I'm driving it. I have to save up to get it fixed, and I won't drive it until I know for sure it's good. I was almost killed way to many times in it so to all the issues that GM knows about.

Traveling at 70 MPH on a highway Traction control/stabilitrac and engine turn on and acceleration stopped, car wont accelerate causing to cars behind me to start swirling around due to my car lost of acceleration, then pulled over to the shoulder thankfully with no accidents, then turn off car and turn on again and car worked normally for about 100 miles and it did it again.

First I already had to rebuild the transmission which is showing the beginning signs of failing again. Then around the same time I started having another issue that I find a lot scarier as the driver. It started giving me severely Reduced engine power, traction control off and stabilitrak messages with the ABS warning light lit up like a Christmas tree. This is by far the most dangerous of any issue I've ever experienced with all of my vehicles I've ever owned. It starts with a huge jump I cant stop or control to a car behind me it seems like I'm really getting on it and speeding up. But in a split second too quick for any human to process what is happening it just drops out big time. It then wont go above roughly 30 mph and the engine is revving very high to even get it to that. …

When driving the vehicle it will lose power and flash service stabilitrack and low engine mode enabled without warning. This has happened many times since 2016. When the conditions cannot be replicated gm/chevrolet has not been concerned but to refer to dealership. The dealership replaced ECM due to warranty conditions. Issue with emissions and electrical modules continued to cause intermittent power loss. Corrosion was found in the internal fuse box due to poor sun roof drainage emptying into glovebox and onto internal fuse box. GM and Chevrolet describes this as a known issue but insists my VIN is not affected. The issues continued to persist leading to frequent battery replacement that was ultimately due to contamination of electrical components. …

Vehicle with auto transmission was switched from reverse to drive position on flat surface. When driver moved foot from brake to gas pedal vehicle lurched backward striking pole. The vehicle was also observed lurching forward when reverse lights were on. Dealership replaced TCM control solenoid valve and reprogramed.

I have had many ongoing issues since car purchase. Electrical , air conditioning and injector issues. Car does not seem safe. Lights go out every few months whilde driving when it is dark. This is very dangerous. 1st replacement on light was done while under warrant, however, Chevy dealer failed to address the issues causing the light to burn out and simply changed light out. It has been continuous with us changing lights, brake lights and headlights. Car would lose power and jerk as well as had gears problems while traveling on a fwy with cars going an average og 60 MPH. Car would not auto shift above 20-30 MPH. Gas smell upon start of vehicle and the list goes on. Stuck open EVAP purge solenoid setting ses light cac case 8-2106770252 dalila lopez--- scanned ECM found code p0300 p0496.performed diagnosis. …

Tl* 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. …

While driving the vehicle will shudder and lose power, occasionally the vehicle will stall almost like it is attempting to grab gears while down shifting and it will cause the whole vehicle to shake, it has happened so hard I have had to exit the interstate for worry of mine and my passengers safety. The vehicle upon entering will slam into gear and when driving in rural areas the transmission even feels like it is slipping and the car will jerk back and fourth until it grabs a higher gear. I purchased the vehicle in 2018 with just over 100,000 miles and even now the vehicle is only sitting at roughly 132,000 miles and has has regular services to maintain the vehicle. Upon further investigation, the Traverse has several complaints of this same issue including older and newer vehicles, and most have resulted in torque converter/transmission replacement. …

Transmission complaints in other Traverse years