2018 Chevrolet Traverse Safety Report
2018 Chevrolet Traverse Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (427) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 11 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse with 77 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse before buying across this generation. |
Chevrolet Traverse Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Chevrolet Traverse years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Chevrolet Traverse | 366 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Chevrolet Traverse | 349 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Chevrolet Traverse | 198 | 8 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Chevrolet Traverse | 289 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Chevrolet Traverse | 77 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Chevrolet Traverse | 309 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2018 Chevrolet Traverse Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
105 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Chevrolet onlyUnknown Or Other
53 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Chevrolet onlyElectrical System
22 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Chevrolet onlyPower Train,Electrical System
20 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Electrical System issues Chevrolet onlyEngine
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Chevrolet onlyPower Train,Engine
14 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine issues Chevrolet onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
Reliability Score
The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission Issues Transmission problems have been reported, with 105 total reports. This includes issues with automatic transmission in 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Exhaust System Failure Exhaust system failures have been reported, with 13 total reports. This includes cracking in the exhaust pipe and/or muffler assembly. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Malfunctions Electrical system malfunctions have been reported, with 22 total reports. This includes issues like random seat belt buckle failure and dashboard notifications. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brake Issues Service brake issues have been reported, with 14 total reports. This includes problems with the vacuum pump leading to brake pedal issues. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse:
Transmission issues are the most common, with 23% of reported problems.
Electrical system malfunctions are the second most common, with 22% of reported problems.
Exhaust system failures are the third most common, with 13% of reported problems.
Service brake issues are the fourth most common, with 14% of reported problems.
Recall Details for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse by NHTSA:
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
Consequence: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this r...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that upon parking and attempting to turn off the vehicle, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed while the gear shifter was already in park(P). The contact stated that the vehicle responded after several attempts to shift to park(P). The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The f...
When car is shifted into park, it does not register that. It is in park. Therefore the car keeps beeping, and you cannot leave the car in this position. This is the second time that we have had to address this problem once in 2021 and now in 2026 I believe that General motors should fix this problem without the consumer being charged to have it corrected.
The exhaust system on my 2018 Chevrolet Traverse has failed due to cracking in the exhaust pipe and/or muffler assembly. This appears to be consistent with known issues in similar model years where exhaust pipe brackets separate and cause cracks or holes in the exhaust system. The failure has resulted in excessive exhaust noise and potential exhaust leakage. The dealership has confirmed the issue...
I have had this car seat a little over a year and the chest buckle randomly stopped magnetizing. It will appear magnetized but will pop apart. This is absolutely unsafe and these seats need pulled from the consumers.
When putting the vehicle in park it doesn’t recognize it’s in park and keeps saying shift to park.
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
My car has been acting odd and shaking a lot. Was told it could be transmission since i fixed everything else it could be
While driving going home to Deming,NM together with my daughter and son on [XXX] . I was driving over a bridge over path on [XXX] and without warning my electrical power steering gave out on the traverse I could not turn my steering wheel left or right I thought I was going to be in an accident because there was semi trucks going 80 miles an hour behind me we almost got hit by semi’s. Thank God I...
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...
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 ...
After refueling we re-entered I495 Northbound. While traveling in the fast lane of traffic my vehicle shut off. I lost all power, including the ability to use On-Star. The vehicle refused to start for thirty minutes. This problem repeats within a mile of refueling. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer. The first time the said it was a sensor in the stable trak. This last time they claimed a bo...
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, there were exhaust fumes entering the cabin of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the mechanic was notified of a failure with the exhaust manifold. The local dealer was contacted and informed that there was no warranty coverage...
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
I am experiencing and "Shift to Park" notification on my dashboard when my vehicle is in park. This causes my vehicle to stay in accessory mode where ally electrical stays on when I am attempting to turn the vehicle off. Due to the inability of fully turning the car off, my car battery can potential drain out. I have experienced the issue for up to 30 minutes before the notification clears. This i...
My 2018 Traverse has had several issues the past few years such as the electrical components in the car turning on and off randomly, a shift to park message which has been fixed twice, and the most current problem is the transmission. I was out of town 160 miles away with my family of 6 and we were about to drive home when the engine started to sound forced while I was driving. It wouldn't go pas...
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.
Hello this particular vehicle often gives us a message stating that side detection is temporarily unavailable and the main issue is the transmission seems to have severe shufdering issues and sometimes gives a shift to park message ive read others having this same issue being recalled but my vin is not listed! The car is available upon request for any inspections necessary
The shift to park started popping up randomly for a month now does it every time I try to turn my car off. I have to wiggle, push the button and more times than not I have to turn back on the car and move gears to see if that will help (which it doesn't). Super annoying
After shifting from drive or other gear to park, vehicle will not register vehicle is in the "park" gear. Vehicle is in the "park" gear and will not move but is not turning off. "Shift to park" is displayed on the display. Vehicle will not shutdown the display system and keeps beeping. The issues worsens over time and continues to drain the battery. The vehicle is kept on.
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.
Showing 20 of 427 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
Has the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE been recalled?
Yes, the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE have?
The 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has 427 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 9 involved crashes. 2 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
The 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE involve power train (105 complaints), unknown or other (53 complaints), electrical system (22 complaints). Other affected components include power train,electrical system, engine, power train,engine.
How many crash reports does the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE have?
There are 9 crash reports associated with the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE out of 427 total complaints (2.1% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE have?
There are 2 fire reports for the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE out of 427 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE.
How many injuries are reported for the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
2 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 427 complaints, 2 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
The components with the most failures on the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE are: 1. POWER TRAIN (105 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (53 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (22 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (20 complaints), 5. ENGINE (16 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 105 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
Be cautious of transmission and electrical system issues, as they are the most common problems reported. The 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has 427 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
The 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 427 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 11 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Transmission Issues and Exhaust System Failure.
What are the known issues with the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
Known issues with the 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE include: Transmission Issues, Exhaust System Failure, Electrical System Malfunctions, Service Brake Issues. These are based on patterns found across 427 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
Transmission and electrical system issues are the most common, with 23% and 22% of reported problems respectively.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
Yes, there are recalls for transmission and automatic transmission issues in certain models.
What should I do if I experience a 'Shift to Park' error?
Check the transmission and ensure the vehicle is in park. If the issue persists, consult a professional mechanic.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of transmission and electrical system issues, as they are the most common problems reported.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The data includes 427 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 9 reported crashes, 2 fire incidents, 2 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-14