2012 Chevrolet TRAVERSE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet TRAVERSE has 587 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: this vehicle has engine defect, which dangerously stops the car while driven. the chevrolet dealership tried to repair once but failed. i purchased this vehicle from chevrolet dealership in november of 2012. on september 28, 2013, the engine of my vehicle suddenly completely stopped running w. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 12 crash reports 14 injuries

587

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

117 complaints

20%

• THIS VEHICLE HAS ENGINE DEFECT, WHICH DANGEROUSLY STOPS THE CAR WHILE DRIVEN. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TRIED TO REPAIR ONCE BUT FAILED. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER OF 2012. ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2013, THE ENGINE OF MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING W
• DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, STARTED UP HILL AT 55 MPH IN TRAFFIC. FOLLOWING ALARMS CAME ON: TRACTION CONTROL DASHBOARD SYMBOL; STABILITRACK OFF; ENGINE POWER REDUCED; TRACTION CONTROL DISABLED. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO 40 MPH AND WOULD NOT GO FASTER. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A THROTTLE BODY OR EC
• RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS ALL OF THE SUDDEN: TRACTION CONTROL OFF, TRACTION CONTROL NEEDS SERVICE, STABILITRAK OFF, STABILITRAK NEEDS SERVICE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE BEGAN TRYING TO STALL. LUCKILY, I WAS ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND COULD EASILY PULL OVER QUICKLY. ALL OF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THIS VEHICLE HAS ENGINE DEFECT, WHICH DANGEROUSLY STOPS THE CAR WHILE DRIVEN. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TRIED TO REPAIR ONCE BUT FAILED. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER OF 2012. ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2013, THE ENGINE OF MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

84 complaints

14%

• DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, STARTED UP HILL AT 55 MPH IN TRAFFIC. FOLLOWING ALARMS CAME ON: TRACTION CONTROL DASHBOARD SYMBOL; STABILITRACK OFF; ENGINE POWER REDUCED; TRACTION CONTROL DISABLED. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO 40 MPH AND WOULD NOT GO FASTER. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A THROTTLE BODY OR EC
• BETWEEN 5 AND 7 TIMES THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR WITH MESSAGE STATING SERVICE AIR BAGS. TOOK TO DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS TO FIX. NEXT A DASHBOARD MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR INFORMING ME OF ENGINE FAILURE ,LOSS OF POWER.THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN TO NO MORE THAN 20 MPH. PULLED OVER SHUT ENGINE OF
• I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND THE STABILLITRACK LIGHT CAME ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. THE DRIVER CENTER SAID THE TRACTION CONTROL SHUT OFF AND IT ALSO STATED TO SERVICE STABILLITRACK. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SLOW ITSELF AS WELL. I PARKED THE VEH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, STARTED UP HILL AT 55 MPH IN TRAFFIC. FOLLOWING ALARMS CAME ON: TRACTION CONTROL DASHBOARD SYMBOL; STABILITRACK OFF; ENGINE POWER REDUCED; TRACTION CONTROL DISABLED. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO 40 MPH AND WOULD NOT GO FASTER. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A THROTTLE BODY OR EC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

62 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED
• DRIVER BEGAN TO FEEL AND HEAR A RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL WELL. WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A LOW SPEED LEFT TURN OFF OF A PRIMARY ROAD INTO THE ENTRANCE OF A BUSINESS, THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN AND WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OPPOSING LANE OF TRAFFIC.
• A WEEK AGO MY TRAVERSE STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES SO I TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO CHECKED ALL FOUR WHEELS AND DETERMINED THE BRAKES WERE FINE. HE SAID IT WAS POSSIBLY A ROCK OR SOMETHING CAUSING THE NOISE AND IT STOPPED FOR A FEW DAYS. THIS MORNING I WAS PULL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

48 complaints

• TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WE WERE HIT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DAMAGE TO THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WELL AND REAR RIGHT SIDE ON THE BODY WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE UNDERNEATH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ANYTIME IN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER'S COLLISION AND REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEK
• THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BACK AIRBAG. JUNE 5 IT WENT BACK IN WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN. THEY FIXED A CONNECTOR IN THE DRIVER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG. OCT 18 IT WENT BACK IN WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. THEY REPLACED THE F
• BETWEEN 5 AND 7 TIMES THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR WITH MESSAGE STATING SERVICE AIR BAGS. TOOK TO DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS TO FIX. NEXT A DASHBOARD MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR INFORMING ME OF ENGINE FAILURE ,LOSS OF POWER.THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN TO NO MORE THAN 20 MPH. PULLED OVER SHUT ENGINE OF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WE WERE HIT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DAMAGE TO THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WELL AND REAR RIGHT SIDE ON THE BODY WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE UNDERNEATH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ANYTIME IN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER'S COLLISION AND REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

48 complaints

• RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS ALL OF THE SUDDEN: TRACTION CONTROL OFF, TRACTION CONTROL NEEDS SERVICE, STABILITRAK OFF, STABILITRAK NEEDS SERVICE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE BEGAN TRYING TO STALL. LUCKILY, I WAS ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND COULD EASILY PULL OVER QUICKLY. ALL OF
• OPENED THE LIFT GATE WITH THE KEY FOB, MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN FULLY EXTENDED AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED SHUTTING WHILE I WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK. DON'T KNOW IF THE DOOR WOULD HAVE BOUNCED BACK UP IF IT HIT ME AND WOULD HAVE STARTED COMING BACK DOWN AGAIN SINCE IT DOESN'T STAY UP. USED MA
• WHILE DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO CHECK POWER CHARGING SYSTEM BUT THEN IT WENT OFF. A FEW MINUTES LATER MY AIR CONDITIONING SHUT OFF AND THE POWER SAVING MODE LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED A FEW MINUTES BY THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT. LATER THAT EVENING I HAD MY HUSBAND FOLLOW

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS ALL OF THE SUDDEN: TRACTION CONTROL OFF, TRACTION CONTROL NEEDS SERVICE, STABILITRAK OFF, STABILITRAK NEEDS SERVICE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE BEGAN TRYING TO STALL. LUCKILY, I WAS ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND COULD EASILY PULL OVER QUICKLY. ALL OF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 587 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THIS VEHICLE HAS ENGINE DEFECT, WHICH DANGEROUSLY STOPS THE CAR WHILE DRIVEN. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TRIED TO REPAIR ONCE BUT FAILED. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER OF 2012. ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2013, THE ENGINE OF MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, STARTED UP HILL AT 55 MPH IN TRAFFIC. FOLLOWING ALARMS CAME ON: TRACTION CONTROL DASHBOARD SYMBOL; STABILITRACK OFF; ENGINE POWER REDUCED; TRACTION CONTROL DISABLED. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO 40 MPH AND WOULD NOT GO FASTER. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A THROTTLE BODY OR EC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WE WERE HIT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DAMAGE TO THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WELL AND REAR RIGHT SIDE ON THE BODY WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE UNDERNEATH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ANYTIME IN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER'S COLLISION AND REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)