2018 Chevrolet Traverse · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 46owner reports
- 21,000median miles
- $8,500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 18, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
195 of the 461 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 46 of those describe transmission shudder.
Narrower sheets: Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear (25 reports)
Tick what matches of 46 reports
Transmission shudder on other Traverse years
No other Traverse model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every Traverse year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the torque converter (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
5 of the 46 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $5,500 to $9,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 15,000 and 57,000 miles, from the 24 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 10 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 information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk noise.
This service bulletin provides information on Driveline Clunk Noise and what is acceptable and what is considered normal operation.
This informational bulletin provides information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips, or Flares.
Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips, or Flares.
6 more on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse page.
What owners wrote
“Our Traverse has the transmission shudder really bad. This started at about 20k miles. Dealership made some adjustments which helped. Now that it out of warranty, this has gotten soo much worse. This needs to recalled.”
Filed Apr 28, 2026 · 20,000 miles
“Each time I drive the vehicle, the transmission has a shudder to where it almost stops pulling. To me, this could cause an accident due to it failing when in heavy traffic. These transmission issues on these vehicles need to be recalled and corrected before someone gets hurt or possibly killed.”
Filed Sep 25, 2025
“The transmission is slipping which caused the converter to go out in the transmission.”
Filed Sep 11, 2025
“Transmission shudders at low speeds changing gears. Less than 79,000 miles and changed or flushed transmission 3 times at dealership. Vehicle has been at dealership over a month with no fix in sight.”
Filed Jul 6, 2025 · 79,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 46 reports involved a crash. 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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 70 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