The Lemon Index2018 Chevrolet Traverse.
The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse is worse than average by owner complaints: 176 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 119, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 20 to 22 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Traverse year is 2013.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 464 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Chevrolet Traverse year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 10K to 52K miles on the car (186 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 15K–51K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 9K–38K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 7K–37K miles
Recalls 2
- airbags 2021
The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
- transmission & drivetrain 2020
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Traverse SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3050–3600 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
When I shut off my car it says to shift into park regardless of the fact that it is and won't shut off for a while I think the shifter has a defective problem
2018 Chevrolet Traverse owner · NHTSA complaint 11265802
More owner reports
When putting the transmission in park the cars computer says it is not in park. (shift to park) comes on the screen and the cars systems stay on.
NHTSA complaint 11321130
While driving car on a state highway, it began to jerk, lose power and check engine light came on. Next day taken in to dealer, informed GM is aware of the problem that also affects several other GM cars and is unable to fix.
NHTSA complaint 11140241
Quick answers
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 119; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Traverse year by this measure is 2013.
What are the most common 2018 Chevrolet Traverse problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (41%), electrical (23%) and engine (21%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse have?
2 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse get?
20 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2018 Chevrolet Traverse problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 10,000 and 52,900 miles. The middle report was at 32,000 miles, from 186 complaints.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 41% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse cost in fuel a year?
About $3050 to $3600 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Chevrolet Traverse year is better than the 2018?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2013, 2021 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works