Problems · by component

2012 Chevrolet Traverse electronic stability control (esc) problems

84 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse cite electronic stability control (esc), 24% of all 354 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
84
24% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electronic stability control (esc)

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle stopped abruptly. The check engine, traction control, stability control, and air conditioner warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined the failure was due to the throttle body. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The throttle body was previously replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 4, 2025Electronic stability control (esc), Engine, Fuel system, gasolineODI 11640608
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY WITH MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN THE POWER WENT INTO REDUCE ENGINE MODE AND THE ERROR MESSAGE STABILITY TREK AND TRACTION CONTROL KEPT BLINKING THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 4 OCCASIONS NOW I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY CHILDREN. I HAVE GOTTEN IT LOOKED AT NOW THE 4TH TIME IT HAS COST ME OVER 2 GRAND SO FAR NOW MY MECHANIC SAYING IT'S MY FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENSOR THIS IS COSTING ME ANOTHER GRAND. IF I COULD AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE I WOULD TRADE THIS TRUCK IN. VERY UNHAPPY AND SCARED WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 CHEVY TRAVERSE LTZ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2020Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11363018
“AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 500YARDS , SPEED NOT A FACTOR, MY ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COME ON WHEN I PUT CODE READER IN OBD PORT IT SHOWS NO CODES. SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF FOR FEW MOMENTS. START IT BACK UP AND THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON UNTIL I DRIVE IT ABOUT 25 YARDS AND THE LIGHTS GO OUT. THE ABS WORKS, I CAN FEEL IT IN THE PEDDLE WHEN APPLIED ABRUPTLY. I CAN ALSO HEAR A SLIGHT GROWLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CONTINUE ON FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 500 YARDS AND BOTH LIGHTS COME BACK ON. I REPLACED BOTH WHEEL HUB ASSY IN THE FRONT, WHICH BOTH LOOKED GOOD . *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2020Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11337275
“RECENTLY I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH SHUDDERING WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. FIRST AT 40MPH AND THEN MORE RECENTLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. ALSO TODAY THE STABILTRACK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING THAT IT REQUIRED SERVICE. RPM'S AND SPEEDOMETER ALSO WOULD FLUCTUATE WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE MANY VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE THAT POINT TO THE THROTTLE BODY HAVING OIL BLOW BY THROUGH THE THROTTLE BODY AS THERE IS NO CHECK VALVE TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING. I WILL BE CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO SEEN THAT THE BRAKE POSITION SENSOR COULD BE THE CULPRIT AS WELL. I REPLACED THE IGNITION COILS AFTER SEEING THE ENGINE FLUCTUATIONS, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE SPARKS PLUGS AS THEY WERE RECENTLY REPLACED UNDER 6K MILES AGO. THIS SEEMS TO BE A LONG STANDING AND WIDE DISPERSED ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. MANY HAVE SEEN THE POWER DROP WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THIS BUG COULD CAUSE THE MASS DAMAGE OF A TRANSMISSION IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFT WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY IF IT WERE TO DROP TO 2ND GEAR FROM 5TH OR 6TH ON AUTOMATIC DRIVE. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2020Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11329166
“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE TRACTION CONTROL TURNS OFF. WHEN THIS MESSAGE COMES ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION PANEL, THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES APPEAR: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND SERVICE STABILITYTRAC SYSTEM. AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER YOU'RE DRIVING 5 MILES AN HOUR OR 55+ MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT IF THE TEMPERATURE IS UNDER 40 DEGREES, IT HAPPENS MORE TIMES THAN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS GREATER THAN 40 DEGREES. I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE TEMPERATURE DIPS VERY LOW. I DRIVE A MINIMUM OF 300 MILES A DAY M-F AND THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FLAW. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OF MY RESOURCES. THE ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO RESET THE TRACTION CONTROL, IS TO PULL OVER, TURN THE CAR OFF, AND WAIT FOR 3-5 MINUTES. THIS WILL RESET THE TRACTION CONTROL BUT IT DOES NOT TURN OFF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2020Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11315609
“WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL TRAFFIC AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES REDUCE SPEEDS ON ITS OWN AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL DROP TO 2ND GEAR. THE SEVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH AND THE DASH WILL READ TRACTION CONTROL OFF. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL ALSO MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES CORRECT ITSELF AND RETURN TO NORMAL DRIVING OR IT HAS TO BE TURNED OFF TO RESET. SOME FORUM USERS SUGGEST REPLACING THE THROTTLE DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP. THIS IS CAN CAUSE CONFUSION WITH A DRIVER WHICH MAY RESULT IN A COLLISION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2020Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11306407

Showing 6 of 84 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.