Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Chevrolet Traverse owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the vehicle was emitting a vibrating and rattling noise while driving. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated while driving uphill and accelerating, the engine backfired. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that there was an EVAP leak. The vehicle received an undisclosed repair however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally failed to immediately start-up. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed because the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the check engine warning light illuminated, and the rattling noise became more prominent. …
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the EVAP purge valve was replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the check engine warning light became illuminated again. The contact also stated that the vehicle was jerking and stalling while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was a leak coming from the purge valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. Additionally, the vehicle failed to immediately restart after refueling. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed and determined that the purge valve was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact stated that the purge valve was replaced on two previous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 55,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the purge valve needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The purge valve was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was towed back to the place of employment. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally at start-up and while idling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the purge valve was defective. The contact spoke with a dealer and the dealer confirmed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the vehicle experienced rough idling while starting. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a faulty EVAP purge solenoid valve. The dealer replaced the EVAP purge solenoid valve. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the exhaust and smelled a gasoline odor. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 50,000.
I had just got gas and the vehicle took longer than usual to start/turn over. I was leaving the store and sitting at the stop sign that is on a small incline. When I proceeded to go, my truck shook a few times, cut off, and I had no control of the vehicle. The brake pedal would not push down and my vehicle began rolling backwards. There was a car behind me that started honking his horn because I was going to run into him. I pushed the start/turn off ignition button and tried the brakes again and it worked. I had to sit there for about 5 minutes to get myself together because I was terrified to take off again. About a week later I was pulling out from my subdivision and the truck started alarming to service the StabiliTrak as I was pulling out. At the moment, the steering wheel became almost impossible to turn and the car didn't want to go! …
The vehicle has a design flaw which causes a bracket which connects the 2 pipes which connect to the catalytic converter to fail. Once the bracket has failed, the rear catalytic converter is allowed to vibrate more than designed, adding extra stress to the catalytic converter. Over time, this additional stress causes the catalytic converter to fail, releasing harmful gases directly from the engine exhaust manifold with carbon monoxide and other harmful gases into the air and into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. This is a know issue that GM has recalled on the 2019 (recall N212356540) and 2021 (recall N222385510) model year Traverse. Other years may have also been recalled that I am not aware of. For some reason, GM has neglected to take ownership of this issue on the 2018 Traverse which shares the same design as both the 2019 and 2021 model years. …
The exhaust system on my 2018 Chevrolet Traverse has failed due to cracking in the exhaust pipe and/or muffler assembly. This appears to be consistent with known issues in similar model years where exhaust pipe brackets separate and cause cracks or holes in the exhaust system. The failure has resulted in excessive exhaust noise and potential exhaust leakage. The dealership has confirmed the issue and recommended repairs costing several thousand dollars but stated my VIN is not included in the existing recall or special coverage. Yes, the vehicle and failed components are available for inspection upon request. The failure of the exhaust system creates a risk of exhaust gases, including carbon monoxide, entering the passenger cabin, which poses a serious health hazard. …
Fuel System complaints in other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, 8% of the model year's 464 complaints. The component named most often is delivery › fuel pump (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Chevrolet Traverse fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, though it has 2 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 2018 Chevrolet Traverse fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 34,000 miles, and 35% 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.