2023 Chevrolet Traverse Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse most often describe transmission problems: shuddering, jerking, slipping, delayed or harsh reverse engagement, and in some cases sudden loss of power or a locked driveline. A second cluster of complaints covers electrical faults, including alternator failures that leave the vehicle in battery-saver mode, instrument-panel blackouts, and infotainment or module failures. Exhaust leaks and broken exhaust brackets, brake caliper and brake-sensor issues, and reduced steering assist with warning lights also recur in the sampled complaints.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, slipping and loss of power

   • 22 complaints (23%)
   • median 66,200 mi at 3.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe hard jerking and shuddering during light acceleration, slipping that feels like neutral, delayed or banging engagement when shifting into reverse, and occasional sudden loss of motive power, sometimes with the check engine light on. Several complaints mention burned transmission fluid, torque converter or solenoid diagnoses, and dealers quoting transmission replacement. A few owners say the dealer could not duplicate the problem or that a fluid change did not resolve the shudder. Reported from as low as a couple thousand miles up to roughly 125,000 miles, with many complaints between about 60,000 and 90,000 miles and a few under 25,000 miles.

   Recall 23V172000Recall 23V042000

   What to check: Ask for the transmission service history and whether any recall work under 23V172000 or 23V042000 was completed. On a test drive, accelerate gently from low speed and try reverse engagement to check for shudder, delay or clunking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The transmission. It is disengaging while driving down the road. It literally has basically stalled out in the middle of intersections, the highway, etc. There is a recall for this exact problem just not with my vin for some reason. I tried to get a dealership to look at it and see if they can fix it they say they will not. I am not safe nor are others with this malfunction.”

   NHTSA complaint #11673797, filed 2025-07

   “It started when I put my car in reverse and it would delay and jerk back before reversing off and on. About a month later, I started my car in the street and accelerated and it jerked and shut off in the middle of a street. I restarted it and accelerated it again and it jerked and shut off again. It's a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse with 61,570 miles. I towed it back to dealer and they are stating it's an issue with the transmission and want to charge $9800. I can send the email Chevy sent for the repair estimate. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11735949, filed 2026-05
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Alternator and battery-saver mode / electrical shutdowns

   • 33 complaints (35%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 2.4 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe a battery-saver message appearing while driving, voltage dropping into the low 10s, and the vehicle stalling or losing power steering and power brakes. In several cases the dealer or a roadside technician identified the alternator as the cause, and some owners report the part was on backorder. Others describe screen blackouts, warning lights for multiple systems, and control modules needing replacement. Reported from very low mileage up to about 45,000 miles, with several complaints filed in the first year of ownership.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the battery and charging system tested before purchase and ask whether the alternator or any control module has been replaced. Check that warning lights illuminate and clear normally on startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car the steering gets hard to turn I have to turn car off and bk on also at light it lose power and roll and come back on sometimes things work and some times it don’t I have to shut off car and restart for things to work correctly and sometimes it work for a little bit while then start doing it again also feel funny when driving”

   NHTSA complaint #11769984, filed 2026-10

   “To make a very long story short, I was having major software issues with my vehicle. I had the car blackout lights screens and everything turn off then when it powered on i would have service lights on for my brakes. I also had my reverse camera go out a few times and my lane assistant light on dash say its not working. All to find out i had a faulty rear control module. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11744334, filed 2026-06
3. 3
   Engine

   Exhaust leak, broken bracket or detached exhaust

   • 14 complaints (15%)
   • median 49,500 mi at 3.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners report exhaust fumes entering the cabin, a loud noise from underneath during acceleration, and in one case the exhaust system detaching after scraping the underside. Complaints mention corroded or cracked front exhaust pipes, a hole in the exhaust, and broken exhaust brackets, with dealers quoting pipe or Y-pipe replacement. Mostly reported between about 18,000 and 84,000 miles, with several complaints in the 44,000 to 55,000 mile range.

   What to check: Listen for exhaust noise at idle and under acceleration, and look for exhaust smell inside the cabin. Ask whether the exhaust pipe, gaskets or brackets have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am filing this complaint due to a recurring exhaust leak in the front exhaust pipe of my 2023 Chevrolet Traverse, which poses a potential safety hazard. During the vehicle’s bumper-to-bumper warranty period, Freedom Chevrolet in San Antonio replaced a leaking front exhaust pipe (receipt attached), a known issue covered by a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for earlier model years (2018–2022) but not for the 2023 Traverse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11659316, filed 2025-05

   “The exhaust pipe, gaskets and muffler. Yes, at times we do smell the exhaust inside the vehicle and a loud sound coming from the engine when the vehicle is in motion and on standby. Yes they were notified and are still waiting for parts to have it repaired. They advised to continue driving my car and refused to provide a rental to use during the downtime due to my ‘issue’ not covered by my warranty or extended warranty because my vehicle is over 36k miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11579788, filed 2024-03
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake drag, hot rotors and brake warning messages

   • 15 complaints (16%)
   • median 23,000 mi at 2.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe vibration and a burning smell at highway speed, with brakes found extremely hot and pads and rotors destroyed; owners say mechanics identified sticking calipers or shrunken piston seals with corrosion. Others report hard brake pedals, a service brake warning, and reduced braking ability, and some describe ABS or stability-control warning lights tied to the electronic brake control module. Reported from roughly 25,000 to 34,000 miles in the sampled complaints, typically during highway driving.

   What to check: After a road test, feel each wheel for uneven heat and look for brake dust or scoring on rotors. Ask whether calipers or the electronic brake control module have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on the highway all of a sudden the vehicle started to vibrate and smell like metal burning . Merged off the highway to find my brakes where super hot. Pulled over for a little bit and drove home very slowly . Mechanic said the pads were locked on the rotors and completely destroyed both pads and rotors. Will be taking vehicle to chevy dealer because I dont feel safe driving my family .”

   NHTSA complaint #11750730, filed 2026-07

   “The first major safety issue occurred on 4/2/2025 when we had brake malfunction. Brakes did not work properly creating a very dangerous situation when the vehicle wouldn’t stop when applying pressure on the brakes. The brakes made a strange noise, felt hard, and didn’t slow the vehicle as they typically do. At the time we received a service brake sensor notification. Car was “repaired” at the Elco dealership where the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle had 25,597 miles on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11680781, filed 2025-08
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Reduced steering assist and warning lights

   • 10 complaints (11%)
   • median 16,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe the steering becoming heavy or nearly locked while driving or backing out, often alongside a reduced-steering-assist message and disabled driver-assist features. Some report that restarting the vehicle temporarily restores normal steering, and others say the vehicle sat at the dealer awaiting diagnosis. Complaints frequently group this with other electrical symptoms such as flickering lights or stability-control messages. Reported at various mileages including low-mileage vehicles, often during low-speed maneuvering or highway driving.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test steering effort at low speed and while parking, and confirm no steering-assist or stability-control warnings appear on the dash. Ask whether any steering or electrical diagnostics have been performed.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The second major safety issue with this vehicle occurred on 5/15/2025 when we lost control of the vehicle while traveling on the highway. During this time, the windshield wipers went halfway up and stayed up. The radio randomly turned on and off. The horn randomly honked. The air didn’t work. There was no ability to turn on hazard lights to warn other drivers. We had no ability to brake as the brakes felt hard and didn’t slow the vehicle. Steering was nearly impossible as the wheel felt locked in place and barely moved to either side. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11680782, filed 2025-08

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a transmission test drive, a charging-system check and a look underneath for exhaust condition is worthwhile on this model year, and ask for documentation that recall 23V172000 and any transmission-related repairs were completed. Complaint volume on a relatively new vehicle means a service history is more informative than mileage alone.

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.