Problems · by component

2019 Chevrolet Traverse power train problems

170 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse cite power train, 41% of all 412 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
170
41% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“in 2019 GM put out a Bulletin No.: 19-NA-206 to fix an error message for shift in park which means the car thinks it is not in park when it really is. All covered under warranty. in 2022 I had this error message but only the harness was part of the technical bulletin. my extended warranty covered it for the harness. in 2024 GM revised the bulletin to include the shifter console. in 2026 I get the same error message and now GM won't cover the console included in the revised technical bulletin. they knew this was a bad part since they revised the bulletin to include the console. now I'm out of warranty and the GM Customer Assistance denied any responsibility of the incomplete bulletin fix in 2022. GM needs to issue a recall on this part that they know is defective and leave us stranded.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2026Power trainODI 11767983
“The contact owned a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving 3 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The vehicle decelerated, and the vehicle was uncontrollable. The vehicle crashed into the brother's vehicle parked in the driveway and pushed the vehicle forward. The vehicle then crashed into a desk before stopping. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while parking the vehicle in the driveway at the brother’s residence. The contact and her husband were inside the vehicle at the time of the failure. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact was taken to the local medical center. The contact sustained pain in the right knee. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance company and deemed a total loss. A Police report was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 60,324.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2026Power train, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11764051
“While parking the vehicle, after putting the transmission lever to park, and turning off the ignition, the doors unlocked and I started to exit, at that moment the vehicle started to roll backwards. I was able to avoid running over myself and got back into the driver's seat when I saw a "shift to park" message on the dashboard display. It took multiple cycles of restarting and stopping the engine and shifting to park to actually have the transmission shift to park. The problem continues and is becoming much more frequent and taking more attempts to actually put the car in park. This is obviously a safety issue, because drivers may exit their vehicles and may or may not realize that the ignition is on, that the battery can run down and strand them, possibly in a dangerous location, or the vehicle can move, injuring themselves or others. Also the door locks won't work. This is a well-known problem among multiple General Motors models. It is a systemic design flaw of the switch, not a random breakdown and not caused by abuse or misuse. Some vehicles have been recalled, some of the same model and year as mine. But, the recalls are specific according to VIN, and yet…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2026Power train, Electrical systemODI 11763492
“When driving at about 50 mph on a highway, there was a loud noise from the rear of the vehicle (something breaking) and the vehicle immediately veered into the oncoming lane (thankfully there was no traffic coming towards us, it is typically a busy road). While braking, I was able to steer it back towards the right, but soon after lost complete control of the vehicle and could not steer. The traverse went into a ditch and rolled with myself and two young passengers. Two vehicles that were behind us stopped to aid. The driver immediately behind me said there was nothing unusual (no smoke, sparks, etc) until we lost control. He checked the roadway where it happened and found a sheered off bolt. When we got the traverse to the wreckers, they lifted it up and within a minute or two found the location the bolt came from. It was the rear passenger side upper control arm knuckle bolt. I didn't see any recalls on something like this, but I do not believe something like this should have happened in a vehicle that has just 49,510 miles and barely any rust on it. I need answers. My family and friends could have been attending a funeral this week had circumstances been…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2026Steering, Power trainCrash reportedODI 11760075
“When driving at about 50 mph on a highway, there was a loud noise from the rear of the vehicle (something breaking) and the vehicle immediately veered into the oncoming lane (thankfully there was no traffic coming towards us, it is typically a busy road). While braking, I was able to steer it back towards the right, but soon after lost complete control of the vehicle and could not steer. The traverse went into a ditch and rolled with myself and two young passengers. Two vehicles that were behind us stopped to aid. The driver immediately behind me said there was nothing unusual (no smoke, sparks, etc) until we lost control. He checked the roadway where it happened and found a sheered off bolt. When we got the traverse to the wreckers, they lifted it up and within a minute or two found the location the bolt came from. It was the rear passenger side upper control arm knuckle bolt. I didn't see any recalls on something like this, but I do not believe something like this should have happened in a vehicle that has just 49,510 miles and barely any rust on it. I need answers. My family and friends could have been attending a funeral this week had circumstances been…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2026Steering, Power trainODI 11760078
“My transmission is said to be failing. I plan to get it looked at again this week. Safety of me and my two children are at risk when driving. The car shakes and could lose control. An independent I tried reporting it to my insurance but they told me to go to a mechanic and they won’t do anything to help me. There are no warning signals or lights or anything. It just started shaking and it’s scary to drive. I was told by an independent mechanic that it is my transmission. There was a recall in 2020 for transmission and he thinks it was never fixed and that’s most likely the issue. I have not gotten it fixed yet. It’s sitting in my driveway because I’m scared to drive my kids in it and it’s too expensive. So we had to get a rental car.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2026Power trainODI 11752996

Showing 6 of 170 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: automatic transmission

Free remedy

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.

Power trainReported Oct 29, 2020NHTSA 20V668000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026

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