2018 Chevrolet Traverse · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 70owner reports
- 24,450median miles
- $1,200median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 6, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
336 of the 461 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 70 of those describe stalling. Only shift to park warning is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 70 reports
Stalling on other Traverse years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (13 reports) and the alternator (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
All 2 recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
What owners paid
8 of the 70 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $450 to $1,700.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 15,000 and 48,000 miles, from the 35 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 8 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of No Crank, No Start, Quick Start/Stall, No FOB Detected, Key FOBs Inoperative, B3924 00, B3925 00, B3926 00, B3927 00, B3928 00 Set.
This service bulletin advises the tech that the rotational Clicking Noise Heard After Engine Shut Down may be normal characteristics of the vehicle.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on.
This Preliminary information communicates that a rotational clicking noise heard after engine shut down is a design characteristic and no repairs should be attempted.
4 more on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse page.
What owners wrote
“Lost power to transmission at 36k miles. Transmission replaced by GM. Currently, the vehicle lost transmission power while driving and had to be towed to dealership. Notified that the transmission needs replaced again”
Filed Jun 3, 2026 · 36,000 miles
“The vehicle was struggling to pick up the gears and stalled in the road. After having it checked at the Chevy dealer stated it was the Transmission that needed to be replaced. The vehicle is unable to reverse due the the transmission issue. Unable to drive. There is no active recall for this issue which is concerning, considering I've read multiple drivers have the same issue with the 2018 Chevy traverse.”
Filed Sep 30, 2025
“The vehicle will not shut off and vehicle information screen states Shift to park. When this happens we have 2 options. 1st to sit and wait for the vehicle to turn off(takes over an hour on average), 2nd Disconnect the negative battery connection. The vehicle shuts down nearly instantly. Then reconnect the battery before being able to use the vehicle again”
Filed Dec 10, 2024
“Transmission issues :hard shifts, shift delays , hesitation upon acceleration, trouble on reverse gear. Engine issues: grinding noises , ticking noises ,check engine light turning on, loss of power engine Vibrating in steering wheel when braking.”
Filed Oct 19, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 70 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 94 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 46 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 37 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 36 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 32 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 26 reports