CarBrief

Owners filed 464 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Traverse, and the power train group has the most[1][2]. Two recalls apply, and the fix for each is available through dealers[3][4].

464owner complaints[1]
2recalls[5]
20–22MPG combined (EPA)[6]
5★NHTSA overall rating[7]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 464 owner complaints on file for this model year[1]. Nine mention a crash, 2 a fire and 7 injuries[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several components. The counts below are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Component group Complaints Median miles at failure
Power train[2] 196 32,750
Unknown or other[8] 105 15,438
Electrical system[9] 102 21,700
Engine[10] 100 32,400
Brakes[11] 37 37,000
Fuel/propulsion system[12] 30 18,991
Steering[13] 14 4,631

Exterior lighting has 12 complaints[14].

Power train. Power train is the largest group, with 1 crash and no fires or injuries[2]. In the sample of complaints we read, about 10 of 12 describe a transmission that would not engage, acted like it was in neutral, jerked, or would not shift out of a gear[2].

Engine. The engine group has 100 complaints and 1 crash[10]. In our sample, 8 of 12 texts describe the car losing power, stalling or shutting off while driving, often with a check engine light[10].

Electrical. The electrical group has 5 injuries and 1 crash[9]. In our sample, 7 of 12 texts describe the vehicle shutting down or losing power while driving, and 4 of 12 describe display, radio or camera glitches[9].

Brakes. Brakes have 37 complaints but 3 crashes, more than any other group listed[11]. In our sample, 5 of 12 texts describe failed brake parts such as a master cylinder, booster or sensors, and 4 of 12 describe parking brake or hill hold problems, including the car rolling on a slope[11].

The unknown or other group has 2 crashes, 1 fire and 6 injuries among its 105 complaints[8]. Steering has 14 complaints and no crashes, fires or injuries[13].

Recalls

Two recalls apply to this car. Both have a remedy available, free of charge.

If you own or are shopping for one, ask a Chevrolet dealer whether both recalls were completed on that vehicle.

Fuel economy

The EPA lists three versions of the 2018 Traverse. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Version City / highway / combined MPG Fuel Annual fuel cost
3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, front-wheel drive[15] 18 / 27 / 21 Regular $3,200
3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, all-wheel drive[16] 17 / 25 / 20 Regular $3,350
2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 9-spd, front-wheel drive[6] 20 / 26 / 22 Premium $3,750

The turbo four-cylinder has the best combined rating at 22 MPG, yet its estimated yearly cost is the highest at $3,750, and it uses premium fuel[6].

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the all-wheel-drive Traverse 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for frontal crash, 5 for side crash and 4 for rollover[7]. Its rollover risk is 15.0%[7]. The front-wheel-drive version has the same star ratings and a rollover risk of 16.9%[17].

Engine and size

The EPA test car list shows two engines. The 2.0L 4-cylinder is rated 262 hp[18]. The 3.6L 6-cylinder is rated 305 hp[19].

Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

Measure AWD FWD
Length 204 in 204 in
Width 79 in 79 in
Height 71 in 71 in
Wheelbase 121 in 121 in
Curb weight 4,700 lb 4,361 lb

How 2018 compares with other years

2009: 448 complaints, 8 recalls20092010: 669 complaints, 5 recalls2011: 608 complaints, 5 recalls20112012: 354 complaints, 5 recalls2013: 162 complaints, 4 recalls20132014: 548 complaints, 7 recalls2015: 313 complaints, 5 recalls20152016: 292 complaints, 5 recalls2017: 361 complaints, 3 recalls20172018: 464 complaints, 2 recalls46420182019: 412 complaints, 3 recalls20192020: 234 complaints, 8 recalls2021: 92 complaints, 3 recalls20212022: 100 complaints, 1 recalls2023: 93 complaints, 2 recalls20232024: 141 complaints, 0 recalls2025: 185 complaints, 0 recalls20252026: 25 complaints, 1 recalls2027: 1 complaints, 0 recalls2027
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Traverse model year. The 2018 is highlighted[5].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20094488
20106695
20116085
20123545
20131624
20145487
20153135
20162925
20173613
20184642
20194123
20202348
2021923
20221001
2023932
20241410
20251850
2026251
202710

NHTSA lists 464 complaints and 2 recalls for the 2018 Traverse[5]. Only three years have more complaints: 2010 with 669, 2011 with 608 and 2014 with 548[5]. The years next to it are lower, with 361 complaints for 2017 and 412 for 2019[5]. Recall counts for those two years are 3 each[5].

These counts are not adjusted for sales, so they show how much was reported, not how likely a car is to fail.

Should you buy a used 2018 Traverse?

The 2018 Traverse earns 5 stars overall from NHTSA[7][17]. Its complaint total is among the higher ones for this model[5]. In the sample of complaints we read, owners describe transmission and power loss problems while driving[2][10]. Both recalls have a remedy available, so check that they were done[3][4]. A pre-purchase inspection and a look at the service history would be sensible, since our data does not cover repair costs or long-term reliability scores.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
Power train has the most NHTSA complaints at 196 of 464 total, followed by unknown or other at 105, electrical at 102 and engine at 100[1][2][8][9][10]. Owners in our sample describe transmission shifting trouble and power loss[2][10].
Has the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse been recalled?
Yes. Recall 20V668 covers the start/stop accumulator and recall 21V246 covers the side curtain air bags. Both have a free remedy available[3][4].
What MPG does the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse get?
The EPA rates it at 20 to 22 MPG combined, depending on engine and drive[15][16][6]. That is 21 for the 3.6L front-wheel drive, 20 for the 3.6L all-wheel drive and 22 for the 2.0L turbo[15][16][6].
How safe is the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA rates it 5 stars overall in both all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive versions[7][17].
Is 2018 a bad year for the Chevrolet Traverse?
It has the 4th highest complaint count of the model years listed, at 464, behind 2010, 2011 and 2014[5]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 464 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse (9 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 7 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 196 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 32,750). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Recall 21V246, filed April 8, 2021: Air Bags › Critical Fasteners. NHTSA recall database
  4. Recall 20V668, filed October 29, 2020: Power Train › Automatic Transmission. NHTSA recall database
  5. Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet Traverse model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  6. EPA rating for Traverse FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 9-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  7. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.0%. NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 105 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 15,438). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 102 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 21,700). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 100 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 32,400). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 37 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 37,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 30 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 18,991). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 14 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 4,631). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 12 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. EPA rating for Traverse FWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. EPA rating for Traverse AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  18. EPA Test Car List, 2018 Chevrolet Traverse with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 262 hp. www.epa.gov
  19. EPA Test Car List, 2018 Chevrolet Traverse with 3.6L 6-cylinder: rated 305 hp. www.epa.gov
  20. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TRAVERSE 4DR SUV AWD: length 204 in, width 79 in, height 71 in, wheelbase 121 in, curb weight 4,700 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  21. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TRAVERSE 4DR SUV FWD: length 204 in, width 79 in, height 71 in, wheelbase 121 in, curb weight 4,361 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.