102 of the 674 complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse are about the other systems — 15% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 15,438 miles.
102
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
the vehicle will not register that it is in park, when the engine is turned off a beeping notifcation reads "shift to park" - you have to start the engine and shut it off multiple times, or slam the shifter into place to get it register in park. this happens constantly and is starting to get old, and annoyoing.
NHTSA complaint #11748130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2018 Chevy Traverse purchased from Carvana caused carbon monoxide exposure to my family in military housing. Vehicle locked itself while running in the garage (garage door open), and CO entered the home where my children were standing near the interior door. Fire dept forced entry into the vehicle and cleared the home. All family members required oxygen at the hospital; all 3 children had elevated COHb levels. Mechanic confirmed catalytic converter failure and exhaust defect. Full Description: On 6/7/26, our Traverse turned on and locked itself while running in our garage (door open) as we were preparing to leave. Exhaust was blowing toward the interior door of our military home, and CO entered the house. My children were inside near that door and became exposed. We could not unlock or shut off the vehicle. Fire dept forced entry, confirmed high CO levels, and cleared the home. At the hospital, all of us required oxygen; all 3 children had elevated COHb. A mechanic later confirmed catalytic converter failure, exhaust defect, P0171, and incomplete catalyst monitor—stating this can cause ongoing CO exposure. A Build Verification sheet found in the glove box (not disclosed at sale) showed pre‑existing issues: exhaust rattle, check engine light, and multiple mechanical reworks. Carvana refuses to assist. This vehicle is unsafe to drive or idle.
NHTSA complaint #11745280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car not registering that its in park, it sometimes takes up to 30 minutes of needing this to shut off and with hot tempatures and young children this to me is a safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11744070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Repeated problems trying to turn off vehicle with a "Shift to Park" notification being displayed. It took numerous attempts each time of banging the shift lever and flicking the shift button for it finally properly turn off. Otherwise, it would continually alarm. While the milage is only 26500, it was beyond the 5 yr warranty. I was never notified of any recall notice concerning this well documented problem. There were several class action lawsuits about this known issue, but all have since been closed. Dealer replaced transmission control range selector harness and jumper for $500.
NHTSA complaint #11742952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Having to have the torque converter looked into, 2nd vehicle in the last 2 years with what appears to be same shifting / shuttering problem!
NHTSA complaint #11737825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When putting the vehicle in park it doesn’t recognize it’s in park and keeps saying shift to park.
NHTSA complaint #11724414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle was driving fine in good condition and well maintenance. No warning at all and went to drive it home from a friends and it would not go in reverse at all. Towed to dealership and they said it’s a transmission issue. There is a recall on 2018 chevy traverse vehicles. My vehicle is not showing up but I do believe this could be the issue and should be considered a recall
NHTSA complaint #11722649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vacuum pump had a catastrophic failure. This led to failure of assisted breaking, and caused brake pedal to go rock hard while driving on the roadway. Metal shards from the vacuum pump broke off, and has now entered the engine. Chevy knows this vacuum pump is flawed, but did not include my model of vehicle in the recall. Even though it uses the same part. I received a “brake assist” message on the dash about 15 seconds prior to the loss of brakes. I had my wife and two kids with me, and this jeopardized their safety. Further research on the matter states this is a known issue at GM, but for some reason my year and model were not included.
NHTSA complaint #11720348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Noxious emissions fill passenger compartment while at idle, or when using remote start. Cannot drive with windows closed, or with recirculation on. Passengers feel, "sleepy". Bracket holding flex pipe fails at the same point in several different traverse vehicles. The 2018 model we have, is not covered by a recall, even though the 2019 of the same design and fail point, is. N222385510 GM is addressing this on only select models, even though the same issue is applicable to other models, and the same part numbers are the cause and or affected.
NHTSA complaint #11719184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Shift to Park" Error.. even after turning the car back on.. slowly going through each gear and back down to park I'm still getting this error
NHTSA complaint #11714898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The Chevy suffers from the "Shift to Park" issue due to a faulty park switch in the shifter assembly, which is an electrical issue. Apparently GM does not cover this repair but it is dangerous as the car does not shut off even when engine is off and the gear is in park.
NHTSA complaint #11709074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When the gear shift is in the park position, the system does not recognize it so the car doesn’t properly shut down; on occasion draining the battery. The shift to park problem has been present for 4 years. It has not drained the battery until this month.
NHTSA complaint #11706518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Park to shift keeps popping up on dash while driving. Vehicle will not recognise when in park at times to allow vehicle to be shut off properly. The stability track warning pops up on dash now as well. The check emits comes on with codes for all going back to transmission control module system and when replaced spark plugs we found that the PCV (cam cvr to turbo) tube was cracked all the way through where the hard plastic meets metal on the part and had to replace it. This is all after multiple failed parts that had to be replaced dealing with the ac unit and it’s lines. Today is the second time in two weeks that the vehicle has been in operational mode in the middle of a foward motion driving at the time. Luckily this time I was in a housing area and not a major street or on the loop 360 when it decided to stop driving while in motion in drive.
NHTSA complaint #11706203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car has a "Shift to Park" error message. We noticed a recall for other 2018 Traverse vehicles and wonder why ours is not covered. Car will not shut down completely. Battery is drained. Dealer is requesting $767.43 to repair when other GMC/Chevy vehicles are identified in a recall.
NHTSA complaint #11704574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am unable to shift the car into park in order to turn off the engine. I constantly reverse and drive again to try again and again until it stays in park or the sensor realizes it is in park and turn off the engine.
NHTSA complaint #11700108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Light is telling me Shift To Park, this is third time it has happened, first time 2022, second time 2023 or 2024 and now 2025
NHTSA complaint #11699106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When I put my car in park and turn the vehicle off I get a warning that says shift to park. This has happened before and I have had it fixed a couple years ago. This problem has been ongoing for a couple months. It is not covered under warranty. I have to either start the car again and take the car out of park and then place it in park and then turn the car off, or push up on the gear shift to get the car to recognize that it is in park.
NHTSA complaint #11693234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
electrical codes saying power steering failure which could cause loss of control of vehicle catalytic converter failure - leading to oxygen sensor failure and burnt spark plugs. engine sputters. If you look online its non-stop reports of this same year having the same issues of catalytic converter failures. health concern, emissions concern, safety concern. GM needs to recall and replace these
NHTSA complaint #11691206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2018 Chevy traverse has a shift to park warning that continues to come on. It makes the vehicle not lock or park and you have to wait till it goes off. Sometimes it takes restarting the car and turning it off again before it will turn off. this seems to be a known problem when you look it up that 2018-2019 traverse are experiencing this. This should be a national recall for those years specifically.
NHTSA complaint #11690496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Exhaust raddling
NHTSA complaint #11688222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I’ve had this vehicle for about a year or less the car ran fine with minor problems that come with having a vehicle. Up until last week the car never showed any signs of a failing transmission, it went from running fine to shuttering and suddenly I wasn’t able to reverse. The check engine light never came on, I’ve did all my routine checks and more with the dealership I bought it from and was never told anything when the vehicle was brought in for inspections.
NHTSA complaint #11688232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Frequent symptom is an "Action Required: Shift to Park" message on the dashboard. Which is preventing my vehicle from shutting down properly, and causing the battery to drain, and hinder my car's ability to start in addition to getting trapped in the vehicle because the vehicles fail to shift to the ‘Park’ position preventing me from being able to exit the vehicle. This is a known issue affecting various GM models which one being my 2018 traverse by GM but not willing to make official recall of the issue. There is a class action settlement due to this issue that was not privileged to me as an owner of a used vehicle included in this notice and have.
NHTSA complaint #11686091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Been receiving a "shift to park" warning message since last year. It seems to be a known issue, however nothing has been done about it. I've had trouble from time to time getting the car to recognize the Park position I've put the shifter in and occasionally have sat in my car with it on for minutes attempting what I can think of to have to car finally recognize that I shifted into Park. I had called a Chevy dealership near me who advised because my car is outside warranty it would not be a covered repair. I'm concerned as I have 2 young children and this is our family vehicle. I cannot leave a car running while I have my children inside or with them inside and me outside trying to turn the car off.
NHTSA complaint #11677775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2018 Traverse has had the “shift to park” message displayed on the instrument cluster when I put the vehicle in park. Even though the red P for park is illuminated and the vehicle is clearly in park the ignition will not power off when you depressed the start/stop button. The vehicle displays the message shift to park. Now this has transpired for about 3 months and it is very frustrating when you can not park in your garage especially when storms are imminent from the forecast not to mention carbon monoxide poisoning! Now I or my wife have to continuously push on the shifter to get it to turn off. Or we have to turn the vehicle back on and try driving around the block or wherever we are at. Now not being able to turn your engine off is a definite safety concern especially when you have children and pets . This has been happening in GM SUV’s and is a known issue by GM but they seem it’s not a safety issue due it not causing any issues while driving. I had the vehicle repaired at our local dealer and it was $789 to repair the malfunctioning item. I have never heard of a shifter being defective in today’s modern cars. Whether it’s a mechanical issue or electrical issue it needs to be addressed. If I were to live an apartment dwelling with indoor parking I would have to find some other means to park if I could not turn my engine off. I have read numerous complaints online via forums which is very saddening when these automakers claim dependability with their very expensive vehicles. If the vehicle was built with defective or faulty components how does thst burden fall on the consumer?
NHTSA complaint #11675372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have had to repair the muffler and now the catalytic converter. There was a fissure on the muffler and now there’s a fissure on the catalytic converter.
NHTSA complaint #11675100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Regarding the vehicle's functionality, the horn activated unexpectedly on or around May 2, 2025, sounding continuously for approximately 10-15 minutes while the vehicle was occupied. Subsequently, the horn has ceased to function. Furthermore, on or around May 10, 2025, the powertrain system indicator illuminated, leading to a diagnosis on May 18th that identified code P0455, indicating an EVAP system leak. Concurrently, the driver's side seat belt buckle has exhibited a tendency to detach and fall between the seat components, failing to remain in its intended position.
NHTSA complaint #11671342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Engine light- shifting rough, steering wheel shakes. I took it in to get checked, they replaced something for the emissions. Then told I need a twerk converter. Another place didn’t recommend that & I was told needs a new transmission. I have only had my vehicle 4 years and have kept it well maintenanced.
NHTSA complaint #11671378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There is a shutter at a low speed. Upon research, this is a common problem with the torque converter.
NHTSA complaint #11668093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicles fails to recognize it’s in park and does not shut off. Shift to park indicator turns on. Frequently have to park on incline and worried the vehicle will roll. The vehicle will not completely turn off and this has caused the steering to lock. When the vehicle finally turned off, then turned it back on we couldn’t get the steering wheel to unlock. Had to drive it with what felt like no power steering for a period of time. Shift to park indicator blinks and warning light appears that says no remote is detected, yet the remote is in the vehicle. Been in a situation where had to quickly get in to a Dr but the vehicle wouldn’t turn off so had to leave the vehicle running. At that point anything could happen, but had to take care of a sick child.
NHTSA complaint #11664488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I began hearing a rattling noise from my engine area recently. I made an appt with my local Radley Chevrolet dealer. It was noted by the technician that the front exhaust pipe bracket that connects the 2nd front exhaust pipe is broken and tapping against each other causing the noise concern. They listed for me to replace the front exhaust pipe that goes from under the oil pan to the catalytic converter. Upon researching this issue, this appears to be a known issue for my specific year and make and model. However, upon calling GM they have nothing listed under my specific VIN number. I believe this to be an issue that should be covered under a special coverage or recall given the amount of owners having this same issue.
NHTSA complaint #11662281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.