2018 Chevrolet Traverse: What to check before buying

A "Shift to Park" warning is the most common complaint. The shifter sits in park, but the car won't shut off or lock, keeps chiming, and can drain the battery. Dealers usually replace the shifter assembly, often at the owner's cost. Transmission reports are the second pattern: shudder and bucking at low speed, torque converter diagnoses, and repeat fluid flushes. Other owners describe a flashing D, loss of drive, or a car stuck in low gear. One crash report describes sudden acceleration while parking.

The "Shift to Park" fault shows up here too. The car stays in accessory mode, won't lock, and runs the battery down. It comes and goes, and dealers often can't make it happen during a visit. A second pattern is stalling right after the auto stop feature restarts the engine. The car jerks, the dash goes dark, and steering and brakes stiffen. In one crash report the car rolled backward down a hill into a pole. Other reports cite charging system and StabiliTrak warnings and melted wiring connectors.

Exhaust bracket failures lead this category. The bracket on the flex pipe breaks at a poor weld, the pipe or catalytic converter cracks, and owners get a check engine light, rattling, or a P0420 code. Owners point to GM special coverage for the 2019 and 2021 models and say their 2018 was refused. Purge valve failures cause rough starts and idling close to a stall. Several entries are really transmission problems, such as limp mode, sensor and TCM replacements, and metal in the fluid.

Nearly every report here is an exhaust failure. Owners describe a sudden loud exhaust note, rattling or thumping from underneath, a check engine light, and exhaust fumes or a smoky smell in the cabin. Some report headaches and breathing trouble. Mechanics find fractured brackets, holes in pipes, and cracked or detached catalytic converters. Repairs often don't last, and some converters fail again. Failures are reported from about 30,000 to 151,000 miles, and coverage requests are usually denied.

The electric parking brake is the main safety concern. Some owners say it engages by itself while driving, overheats the brakes until they smoke, and won't release. Others say it won't set or release when parked, which raises the risk of rolling. One crash report describes the car rolling forward from park on a sloped driveway and injuring a person. Other reports describe false brake assist events with grinding, shuddering stops, early ABS sensor and wiring faults with backordered parts, and one master cylinder failure.

Power steering assist can drop out suddenly while driving. A "steering assist is reduced" or "power steering" warning appears and the wheel turns very hard. Some reports come from nearly new cars. Several owners describe the engine stalling at a stop, with the steering and brake pedal locking up while the car rolls. Fixes include steering rack replacement and reprogramming, sometimes with long waits for parts. StabiliTrak warnings that come with stalling, and steering lock tied to the shift-to-park fault, also appear.

Buckles either won't latch or come unlatched while in use. Reports involve the driver, the front passenger, and especially the second-row middle seat. One second-row belt won't pull out at all. Repeat dealer repairs don't always fix it, and owners say coverage was denied, even where a customer satisfaction program was cited. Another report notes that hill descent control turns off when the driver's belt isn't buckled, and the car then rolled backward on an incline.

Failed purge valve solenoids cause most of these complaints. The car sputters or stalls after starting or shifting into drive, and the pump nozzle shuts off early so the tank won't fill. A P0496 code often follows a fill-up. One owner reports repeat catalytic converter failures, with power loss on the interstate, and another blames weak flex pipe welds for letting fumes into the cabin. Other single reports describe hesitation from fuel starvation during U-turns and a fuel smell in the cabin.

Airbags failing to deploy in serious crashes is the main complaint. Four of the five reports involve crashes, including head-on, side-impact, and rear-end collisions where owners say no airbag went off. Two people were injured. Several owners add that OnStar did not respond after the crash. One report describes the car catching fire after a minor accident. Another owner says the car was sold with airbags that did not work.