2013 Chevrolet TRAVERSE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Chevrolet TRAVERSE has 295 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 chevrolet traverse. the contact stated that the global positioning navigational system was difficult to read because the font was entirely too small. the navigational system also exhibited white lettering on a light green background, which did not provide enough contrast. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 10 crash reports 6 injuries

295

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

53 complaints

18%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLOBAL POSITIONING NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM WAS DIFFICULT TO READ BECAUSE THE FONT WAS ENTIRELY TOO SMALL. THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM ALSO EXHIBITED WHITE LETTERING ON A LIGHT GREEN BACKGROUND, WHICH DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH CONTRAST
• I WENT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF EAST HILLS CHEVROLET TO RESPOND TO THE 2 RECALLS THEY HAD ON MY CAR. THEY FOUND SOMETHING ELSE WITH THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO FIX THAT. AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK, IT HAS A NEW ISSUE....IT PERIODICALLY SHORTS OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. I SEEMS LIKE IT STALLS, AL
• THE REAR SEAT AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING MODULE CONTROLS GET EXTREMELY HOT WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON OR WHENEVER THE REAR UNIT IS IN USE. THE CONTROLS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING UNIT ON THE DASH NEVER GET HOT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TODAY TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE PROBLEM. I WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLOBAL POSITIONING NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM WAS DIFFICULT TO READ BECAUSE THE FONT WAS ENTIRELY TOO SMALL. THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM ALSO EXHIBITED WHITE LETTERING ON A LIGHT GREEN BACKGROUND, WHICH DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH CONTRAST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

46 complaints

16%

• AS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I HAD NO WARNING AND NO ABILITY TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I HAD MY CAR TOWED
• TRAVELING AT ROUGHLY 55MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED BEEPING. THE CAR CONTROLS BEGAN TO BECOME HARD TO STEER AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SPEED IN SECONDS SLOWED TO 15-20 MPH. THE DASH STARTS REPORTING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:ENGINE POWER REDUCES SERVICE STABILITRAK TRACTION CONTROL OFF I PULL OVER SHU
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE, POWER TO THE ENGINE DIMINISHED, TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY TE

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

“AS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I HAD NO WARNING AND NO ABILITY TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I HAD MY CAR TOWED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

43 complaints

15%

• THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN THE PAST 30 DAYS. WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS JERKS, AND SPEED IS IMMEDIATELY REDUCED TO 5MPH. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AS DOES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. A REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS SCAN FROM ON-STAR IDENTIFIED 3 ERROR CODES: C0561, P0700, P182E.
• WHILE DRIVING THIS 2013 TRAVERSE, IT LOST ALL POWER WITH THE STABILINK AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED IN THE MESSAGE CENTER. THEN THE 2013 TRAVERSE LOST POWER WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE TRAVERSE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED FROM 55 MPH TO 15 MPH CAUSI
• TRAVELING AT ROUGHLY 55MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED BEEPING. THE CAR CONTROLS BEGAN TO BECOME HARD TO STEER AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SPEED IN SECONDS SLOWED TO 15-20 MPH. THE DASH STARTS REPORTING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:ENGINE POWER REDUCES SERVICE STABILITRAK TRACTION CONTROL OFF I PULL OVER SHU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN THE PAST 30 DAYS. WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS JERKS, AND SPEED IS IMMEDIATELY REDUCED TO 5MPH. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AS DOES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. A REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS SCAN FROM ON-STAR IDENTIFIED 3 ERROR CODES: C0561, P0700, P182E. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

28 complaints

• TRANSMISSION WAS SURGING AND ABRUPTLY SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AND AGAIN FROM FIFTH TO SIXTH GEAR. THE MORE IT WAS DRIVEN THE WORSE IT WAS GETTING. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. WAVE PLATE AND PISTONS AND SEALS GEARS 3, 5 AND REVERSE WERE ALL REPLACED
• IN SNOW OF ALMOST ANY DEPTH, THE VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY ON ACCELERATION FROM 35 MPH UP. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND FEELS LIKE ITS BOGGING DOWN. IT WILL STAY LIKE THIS FOR SOMETIME HOURS THEN IT WILL CEASE. FENDER WELLS ARE CLEAR OF DEBRIS. THE PROBLEM IS IT WILL DO THIS SOMETIMES
• THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN THE PAST 30 DAYS. WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS JERKS, AND SPEED IS IMMEDIATELY REDUCED TO 5MPH. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AS DOES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. A REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS SCAN FROM ON-STAR IDENTIFIED 3 ERROR CODES: C0561, P0700, P182E.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TRANSMISSION WAS SURGING AND ABRUPTLY SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AND AGAIN FROM FIFTH TO SIXTH GEAR. THE MORE IT WAS DRIVEN THE WORSE IT WAS GETTING. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. WAVE PLATE AND PISTONS AND SEALS GEARS 3, 5 AND REVERSE WERE ALL REPLACED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

26 complaints

• SERVICE AIR BAG SIGNS CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED FROM COLD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING. IT ALSO HAPPENED ON 12/06/2014 AND 12/11/2014. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED N-TENSIONER KIT ON 12/12/2014. THIS MORNING "SERVICE AIR BAG" SIGN CAME ON AGAIN AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR.
• I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE ON 2/20/2015 AND THE NEXT DAY THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON STAYED ON EVEN AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THE NEXT DAY IT DIDN'T COME BACK ON THE FOLLOWING DAY WHICH WAS 2/22/2015 IT CAME ON AND AGAIN AND STAYED ALL DAY. ON 2/23/2015 DIDN'T COME ON AT ALL THEN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V118000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“SERVICE AIR BAG SIGNS CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED FROM COLD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING. IT ALSO HAPPENED ON 12/06/2014 AND 12/11/2014. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED N-TENSIONER KIT ON 12/12/2014. THIS MORNING "SERVICE AIR BAG" SIGN CAME ON AGAIN AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 295 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLOBAL POSITIONING NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM WAS DIFFICULT TO READ BECAUSE THE FONT WAS ENTIRELY TOO SMALL. THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM ALSO EXHIBITED WHITE LETTERING ON A LIGHT GREEN BACKGROUND, WHICH DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH CONTRAST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: AS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I HAD NO WARNING AND NO ABILITY TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I HAD MY CAR TOWED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN THE PAST 30 DAYS. WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS JERKS, AND SPEED IS IMMEDIATELY REDUCED TO 5MPH. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AS DOES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. A REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS SCAN FROM ON-STAR IDENTIFIED 3 ERROR CODES: C0561, P0700, P182E.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION WAS SURGING AND ABRUPTLY SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AND AGAIN FROM FIFTH TO SIXTH GEAR. THE MORE IT WAS DRIVEN THE WORSE IT WAS GETTING. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. WAVE PLATE AND PISTONS AND SEALS GEARS 3, 5 AND REVERSE WERE ALL REPLACED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)