2013 Chevrolet Traverse Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe losing power or having the engine stall, usually together with traction-control and StabiliTrak warnings and a check engine light, and often say the dealer could not reproduce it. Many also report the airbag warning light coming on, transmission slipping or shuddering, and electrical problems such as batteries draining and dash or radio lights cycling. Most sample reports arrive above roughly 50,000 miles, though some appear early on.

1. 1
   Electronic stability control

   Reduced engine power with traction/StabiliTrak warnings

   Mentioned in 25 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe traction control off, service StabiliTrak and service traction control messages appearing while driving, followed by reduced engine power and a check engine light, with speed dropping sharply. Some owners say the vehicle shut off entirely and restarted after a few minutes; others say it would not restart and had to be towed. Several report the dealer could not duplicate the problem, and a few mention a fuse box or wiring repair or a gas pedal sensor as the explanation offered. Reported across a wide mileage range, most often between about 50,000 and 130,000 miles, at both highway and city speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body, pedal sensor and fuse box have been checked or replaced, and have any stored codes read rather than only cleared. Test drive at highway speed and note whether traction or StabiliTrak messages appear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It happened several times already and couple of times was so dangerous, I had 4 kids in my car. When I drive from Salem, OR to Portland, OR, in the middle of a highway, my car suddenly doesn't drive. On the dashboard signs are traction controll and stability track or something. Please help me. When it happens, car doesn't drive and stops on freeway. It's so dangerous.”

   NHTSA complaint #11550086, filed 2023-10, 134,426 miles

   “I was idling at a stop light when my check engine light came on. I got an error message for loss of traction control and stabilitrack. My engine then completely lost power. I turned off the engine and restarted. My car got me through the intersection when it immediately happened again. This was a recall in the 2010 model- how is it still happening in models three years later?”

   NHTSA complaint #10787478, filed 2015-10, 39,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Service airbag warning light on

   • 27 complaints (17%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe a service airbag or check airbag light that comes on intermittently and sometimes stays on, in some cases after moving the connector under the driver's seat. A few report the passenger airbag indicator showing off with someone seated there, or showing on under a light object. Several say the dealer could not find a fault or pointed to a possible wiring short, and some complaints describe airbags not deploying in a collision. Reported from very low mileage up to around 175,000 miles, with several reports under 40,000 miles and others above 85,000.

   Recall 21V782000Recall 21V246000Recall 14V118000

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light goes out after start-up and stays out, and confirm by VIN whether the airbag and seat belt recalls were completed. Move the driver's seat through its range and see whether the light comes on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Service air bag signs came on when vehicle is started from cold for the first time in the morning. It also happened on 12/06/2014 and 12/11/2014. I took it to dealership and they replaced n-tensioner kit on 12/12/2014. This morning service air bag sign came on again as soon as I started the car. The sign stayed on till at least 30 minutes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10664059, filed 2014-12, 13,820 miles

   “I took my car for service on 2/20/2015 and the next day the service airbag lights came on stayed on even after I turned the car off and back on. The next day it didn't come back on the following day which was 2/22/2015 it came on and again and stayed all day. On 2/23/2015 didn't come on at all then came back on again on 02/24/2015 and remained on until I wrote this complaint. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10690488, filed 2015-02, 35,535 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and intermittent electrical cutouts

   • 46 complaints (28%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $965 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2023

   Owners report batteries that repeatedly go dead or need frequent replacement, with something drawing power while parked; some note the radio, CD player or navigation cycling on its own. Complaints also describe dash lights, headlights and radio cutting out and returning, gauges fluctuating, and charging system warnings, with alternator replacement or wiring repair described in some cases. Reported from very low mileage up to around 140,000 miles, with several complaints within the first few thousand miles.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about battery and alternator replacement history and have the charging system and parasitic draw tested. Note whether the infotainment or navigation unit behaves normally with the key off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Going down the interstate at night, and all of sudden my lights and radio went completely out and then back on. The alternator drop past the 14 v. We have had the battery and the alternator check and they are showing working in good condition. Sometimes the alternator will drop down below the 14 v, and sometimes is stays above the 14 v.”

   NHTSA complaint #11332004, filed 2020-07, 200 miles

   “I turn my truck on to go to work come out of work truck is completely dead then when I try a few times to start service air bag pops up and service charging system as well I have pictures and need Chevrolet to fix these issues cause I have to buy batteries every 3 months it's costing to much money”

   NHTSA complaint #11375476, filed 2020-11, 139,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, slip or harsh shifting

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • median 57,400 mi at 2.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2023

   Complaints describe slipping or delayed shifts on acceleration, shuddering or jerking in second and third gear, and a jolt when the accelerator is pressed. Some owners say the dealer could not duplicate the problem, while others report internal transmission repairs or a torque converter replacement. A few link the behavior to warning lights and say restarting the vehicle temporarily restores normal shifting. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 170,000 miles, with most clustered between roughly 70,000 and 140,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at low speed and under light acceleration from a stop to feel for shudder or a delayed shift, and ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether any transmission repairs were done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this vehicle, 2013 chevy Traverse ls on 5/6/2030, a couple weeks after purchasing the vehicle I noticed the transmission slipping, I brought it back three times to sun used cars, all within my warranty period and they could not duplicate the issue, so now they will no longer fix the vehicle, and I am still having issues with it slipping. I think it may be electrical because when it won't shift and you turn it off and back on again it will shift gears. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11375710, filed 2020-11, 90,000 miles

   “When vehicle is accellerated from a still position, and accelerated to get up to speed, vehicle engine has a constant jerking that vibrates the entire vehicle and once up to road or highway speed, and maintains a constant MPH, the shaking stops. When accelerating again,vehicle does the same thing; jerking / shaking until letting off the accelerator and leveling out at a certain MPH.. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11194684, filed 2019-04, 100,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Sudden loss of power steering assist

   • 12 complaints (7%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2021

   Owners describe the power steering assist cutting out without warning, most noticeably when slowing for a curve or turning into a parking lot or side street, then returning. Some report repeated power steering pump replacements, and others say mechanics could not identify a cause. Reported from around 55,000 to about 110,000 miles in the sample, often during low-speed maneuvering.

   What to check: Turn the wheel through full lock at low speed and listen for noise or feel for a sudden increase in effort, and ask whether the power steering pump or fluid has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Without warning, no leaks, no noises.... At 55 MPH when I started to decrease my speed to take a curve I lost my power steering. This comes and goes without warning and is very dangerous for anyone driving a Traverse!! I just bought this used vehicle on mar 6, 2013 and no signs of any problems and then the power steering fails. When you try to turn into parking lots or onto a side street it just hits and you lose all power steering making it very dangerous for all person(s) in or near the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10505540, filed 2013-04, 60,504 miles

   “Takata recall 2013 chevy Traverse ltz, 109k miles, I'm on my 3rd power steering pump. Bought used in july 2018, replaced the pump back in may 2019, I provided the pump and took it to the dealership where I bought it, they replaced it and charged me $600 for labor and the next day it out out again (turns out it was actually a bad pump, brand new but bad ) so the dealership said they'd swap it out for the cost of labor, I didn't have another $600 to throw away so I replaced it with some help and it worked perfectly, we used the dext. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11230477, filed 2019-07, 109,000 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic scan for stored codes and check the airbag and seat belt recalls by VIN before buying, since owners frequently report power-loss warnings and airbag lights that a short test drive may not reveal. A transmission and charging-system check is also worth the cost on higher-mileage examples.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.