Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Chevrolet Traverse owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was parking in front of a restaurant- my foot was on the brake and as I came to a stop the engine revved up and the car surged forwarded about 5 feet - The car pushed a pole and blew out the front door and the door frame- all this time my foot was on the brake. If someone was walking in to the restaurant they surly would have been killed. NO warning lamps or lights-I have not taken it to the dealer yet the body shop still has it. There was no police report the accident was on private property. If the dealer gives me the runaround I'll get rid of this car.
It happened several times already and couple of times was so dangerous, I had 4 kids in my car. When I drive from Salem, OR to Portland, OR, in the middle of a highway, my car suddenly doesn't drive. On the dashboard signs are traction controll and stability track or something. Please help me. When it happens, car doesn't drive and stops on freeway. It's so dangerous.
My 2013 Chevy Traverse LT began Very ruff Idling, Battery Charging system, Traction control, Stabilitytrak, and Check engine lights would come on. Smoke coming from engine area. Had Vehicle towed to dealer. The same day I got it back had the same problem. The truck cuts off while driving down the street almost creating multiple accidents. The first time this happened, I was on the expressway driving about 60 MPH when the traction control light came on, the truck reduced power and completely cut off while driving. An 18 wheeler truck that had slam on breaks to keep from rear ending me. This most recent time this issue came about, While driving on a city street, suddenly the truck did the ruff idol and cut off while driving. I was almost hit by an 18 wheeler again. Thank god these 18 wheeler truck drivers had the skills to make it around me. I am so scared to drive the truck. …
We were on a trip to Kansas from Wisconsin and the check engine light went on StabiliTrak warning came on. The vehicle then cut speed from 70 to 30 mph we had to ride the shoulder for 5 mi to the nearest truck stop to investigate issue we had to purchase an OBD tester and code 1682 came up. After doing reviews at the truck stop I clean the throttle body put it back together I also had to replace the purge valve canister which then got us another 10 mi down the road before the same code popped up. Got the car back home after it going off several more times nearly killing us multiple times on the interstate having to pull to the side of the shoulder to avoid traffic. Did more research only to find out that thousands of other people have had the same issue. …
I've told penland automotive llc car dealer Joey my vehicle cuts off while I'm driving me & my kids have been in 8 near death experience & I've been in 6 by myself I went to trade it in because that's not safe & I've done plenty of work on it I've told him the service stabiltack keeps shutting it off & im scared he says it's nothing he can do about it & I've only had this vehicle a year it started before the 1 year anniversary on the truck!! Him not doing nothing is not ok!! I thought it needed a tune up but I really didn't so I paid out that for nothing! …
Vehicle dies while driving in traffic. Has done this since I bought it. Very unsafe. I have had my car since march 2022. While driving it says engine power reduced, traction control, stabli track, and loses power and I have to try to safely make sure I get it off the road. After it dies it won't start. I have to get tow truck to bring it home. Then next day it starts fine sometimes. Very unsafe. I have children . I have barley been able to prevent myself from being in a wreck. When it dies the whole cars jerks. It does it all the time. This last time it was doing it so much I haven't been able to drive it. To afraid of accident.
This had occurred more than 4 times. I was at the stop light, when the light turned turned I proceeded to press on the gas pedal and my vehicle started to shake/vibrate. Then the transmission light turned followed by the advanced traffic control light and low engine power. I was unable to go past 10mph..I drive my vehicle on the freeway/highway everyday for work and my children are always with. This makes it very unsafe for me and my family because I don't know when this issue will happen. I have taken it 2 times to the transmission specialist and mechanic but the codes do not always appear only when this issues occurs.
Was driving down the road and the seat belt warning came on even though the seat belts were buckled and the car suddenly lost power the traction control light blinked I tried to give the car gas and it acted like it did not want to go I pulled over and cut it off and let it sit for a minute and then cut it back on and it's drove fine
On all occasions, my car was in motion on major city streets and side roads and my driving speeds ranged from 25mph to 55mph. The following messages flash across the dashboard: traction control off, engine power is reduced, service traction control, service stabilitrak. The check engine light comes on with the stabilitrak icon. My speed was thrown down to the range of 10mph to 40mph. The entire car began shaking and the exhaust pipe was giving loud "puffing" sounds. This happened several times, but the third time, I was not able to restart my car. I had it towed to the dealership I bought it from. After having it for a month, they were unable to find the issue, therefore nothing was fixed, and I was told "let us know if it happens again." wow! ...and it happened again months later - again three separate times! …
Takata recall 2013 Chevy Traverse ltz, 109K miles, I'm on my 3rd power steering pump. Bought used in July 2018, replaced the pump back in May 2019, I provided the pump and took it to the dealership where I bought it, they replaced it and charged me $600 for labor and the next day it out out again (turns out it was actually a bad pump, brand new but bad ) so the dealership said they'd swap it out for the cost of labor, I didn't have another $600 to throw away so I replaced it with some help and it worked perfectly, we used the dext. Iv fluid as suggested and it's been running great, no more whine and steers like a dream. Well it's now July 2019 and the pump is out again. No visible leaks and the fluid level is good and fluid still red. If I get rid of this I'm going back to Ford for a vehicle, this is my first Chevrolet and also my last. …
Engine complaints in other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA has 46 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse, 28% of the model year's 162 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Chevrolet Traverse engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse, though it has 4 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 2013 Chevrolet Traverse engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.