2012 Chevrolet Traverse: sudden loss of power

Filed Nov 24, 2024 · Electrical, Fuel system · KS

When driving the vehicle it will lose power and flash service stabilitrack and low engine mode enabled without warning. This has happened many times since 2016. When the conditions cannot be replicated gm/chevrolet has not been concerned but to refer to dealership. The dealership replaced ECM due to warranty conditions. Issue with emissions and electrical modules continued to cause intermittent power loss. Corrosion was found in the internal fuse box due to poor sun roof drainage emptying into glovebox and onto internal fuse box. GM and Chevrolet describes this as a known issue but insists my VIN is not affected. The issues continued to persist leading to frequent battery replacement that was ultimately due to contamination of electrical components. Fuel system parts were all assumed faulty only to find it was ultimately the fuel control module, another electronic component listed faulty but GM/ Chevrolet assumes my VIN is not affected. This car was purchased to be a family vehicle, but had proven to be an unreliable death trap. The first incident that caused concern was 2/14/2017 on the highway with speeds up to 70mph. Thankfully, that day was full of heavy traffic that did not allow drivers to reach high speeds. If I had been going that fast when the engine lost power I can only imagine what that would have meant for me and my family. I know I am not the only owner of a Chevrolet traverse with these concerning issues. I find it irresponsible for GM/Chevrolet/Buick to mass produce vehicles with these issues and fail to acknowledge the hazard they represent. Knowing they have produced a lemon that cost the sticker price, repair cost, and potentially human lives and failing to remedy the issue astounds me. I urge you to please investigate this concern.

Filed May 15, 2022 · Airbags, Electrical · NC

First I already had to rebuild the transmission which is showing the beginning signs of failing again. Then around the same time I started having another issue that I find a lot scarier as the driver. It started giving me severely Reduced engine power, traction control off and stabilitrak messages with the ABS warning light lit up like a Christmas tree. This is by far the most dangerous of any issue I've ever experienced with all of my vehicles I've ever owned. It starts with a huge jump I cant stop or control to a car behind me it seems like I'm really getting on it and speeding up. But in a split second too quick for any human to process what is happening it just drops out big time. It then wont go above roughly 30 mph and the engine is revving very high to even get it to that. All the while it is heavily shuddering and jumping back and forth at a very fast rate and it does this with a high force to it. I have no control over it either. Before I could hit traction control off and it would all stop. However today it did this again for the first time in a long time and man was it 20 times worse than anything I had ever seen before. By the time I decided to turn back and go home (which I wasn't any further than a half mile into my drive to begin with) I made it maybe another quarter block and that is when the bottom fell out. It stopped moving at all at that point. Nothing we did to correct it that had totally controlled it in the past would help for the first time. In the end my husband hooked an o2 sensor to it and reset the codes and now it's back to driving beautifully. The reason I feel this needs recalled is it's a huge danger to myself and anyone else around me. When this starts you have no prior warning what so ever and then bam your all the sudden in a car that is jumping back and forth and its visible to other drivers then its starting like it's going to really go but it malfunctions so fast no one behind you would have time to react to such a sudden drop.

Filed Apr 30, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 165 miles · FL

Dash is throwing different codes such as service and check traction control, stabilitrack, air bag, and at times while driving it will say reduced engine power and my foot would be on gas not wanting to barely move. One time I almost got hit. Other several times I was able to pull over and we would have to disconnect battery wait a little and car would be ok again. I have been experiencing problems with this car that it makes me not want to drive it and thank god we have another car. I am also experiencing catalytic converter issues for the 4th time. Car feels at times like it is bogging when on gas peddle as if something had a clog in it and starts pulsating. Check engine light is also on.

Filed Mar 8, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · 110,000 miles · IL

While driving the vehicle will shudder and lose power, occasionally the vehicle will stall almost like it is attempting to grab gears while down shifting and it will cause the whole vehicle to shake, it has happened so hard I have had to exit the interstate for worry of mine and my passengers safety. The vehicle upon entering will slam into gear and when driving in rural areas the transmission even feels like it is slipping and the car will jerk back and fourth until it grabs a higher gear. I purchased the vehicle in 2018 with just over 100,000 miles and even now the vehicle is only sitting at roughly 132,000 miles and has has regular services to maintain the vehicle. Upon further investigation, the traverse has several complaints of this same issue including older and newer vehicles, and most have resulted in torque converter/transmission replacement. The vehicle has stalled completely in the middle of intersections while attempting to downshift for take off and has also done so while attempting to merge onto the interstate. The issue was originally noticed towards the end of 2019- to early 2020 and has proceeded to get so bad we no longer trust the integrity of the vehicle for family trips or even to routine doctor appointments for fear of the vehicle stalling in heavy traffic.

Filed Mar 4, 2021 · Airbags, Electrical · 130,000 miles · NM

After replacing every code thrown at me on my 2012 traverse, it continues to sit in my driveway un-working. Last time I had it "repaired", while driving home from the mechanic, the check engine light came on, the vehicle started losing power with lights visibly dimming. I pulled off the freeway and pulled over and checked the battery cables. It was working fine. I get back in the vehicle to drive the rest of the way home and the traction control started toggling on and off and a check air back message came up. Just then I started feeling like I was being shocked by my driver seat!!! Since the dealership or privateechamics can not figure out what is wrong with it, I had a friend get me all the information on this vehicle. There is zero recalls on my vehicle but I found a recall for the wire harness under the driver and passenger seats and also under the dash, calling to replace and splice those wires. My vehicle has the yellow harness that was recalled buy the dealership says my VIN is not included. It's been 2 yearssince all this has begun and that I have been without a reliable vehicle. (my ex who co-signed but did noy pay for it, refuses to sign the title over). Just save yourself the headache and buy non gm. You would think they would be willing to fix something that is so unsafe to it's customers. Electrical faults, engine faults causing failure while driving full speed (with my daughter in the vehicle), and fuel pressure issues leaving me stranded on multiple occasions which even helped lead to a job loss. This vehicle has put our safety and livelihood in jeopardy one too many times.

Filed Sep 14, 2020 · Engine · 65,600 miles · NY

We purchased our 2012 chevy traverse brand new in april of 2013. I had the extended pip warranty 6 years, 60,000 miles. The mileage is 65,674. On 9/12/2020 while driving rural state road at 55mph the engine stalled losing power steering and brakes. We safely pulled to the side. The engine started back up with the check engine light on and an obvious knock. Towed the traverse to the dealership for service monday when they opened. Drivers village dealership cicero ny checked vehicle and confirmed 'very bad knocking when vehicle is running, noise changes with rpms. Scanned and found p0016 crank cam.' diagnostic repair fee of $250 determined the #1 bank rod broken- need engine replacement. They also reported oil level full and clean with 57% life remaining. The oil has always been changed at the 3,000. I was presented with two quotes to install a gm new engine or a rebuilt engine. Both options are over $8,500 to repair.

Filed Jan 23, 2020 · 100,132 miles · NY

The check engine light popped up in the morning and two hours later the car was idling and started to shake while idling. The traction control light turned on and the check engine light started to flash and the message center said service the stabilitrak and then the vehicle stalled. As I am driving down the road you can feel the vehicle losing power.

Filed Dec 27, 2019 · Driver assistance, Seats · 100,000 miles · KY

I was driving at about 50mph the check traction control lights came on the check stabilitrack came on then it said traction control on then off my vehicle lost power and I couldnt steer. Luckily no cars were coming on the dark winding road I was on as I was stuck no lights or anything.

Filed Dec 16, 2019 · Engine · 116,640 miles · NJ

My wife was driving on the highway when it lost significant power and started rattling violently. She was able to pull into a business parking lot. Stabilitrak system, traction control, check engine lights all came on. After sitting for about 10 minutes, it started back up with less violent shaking but still with reduced power, she was able to 'limp' to the pellegrino dealership in williamstown, nj. It had fault codes p0300 and p0303 for random engine misfire and cylinder 3 misfire. They diagnosed as "minimally needing cylinder #3 fuel injector plus additional diagnostics afterwards to determine full extent of issue" first threshold would be $1500 and possibly several thousand possibly including an engine replacement. They offered $2000 trade-in toward another vehicle there. With hardly any diagnostics, I was surprised of 'possible engine replacement' diagnosis, so I took the vehicle to another shop to do the fuel injector replacement plus check plugs, coils (all good), clean remaining fuel injectors and intake manifold for a fraction of what the dealership quoted. Cylinder compression was good, but the same random misfire p0300 code and p0303 codes still come up and idles very rough with engine noise and significant reduced power. Clearly, the injector was not the root cause of the problem. If fuel is given more aggressively, all the stabilitrak lights come back up. In doing additional research online, it appears to be a common issue. Oil changes were performed routinely at the dealership since we had a "lube for life" contract. Mileage is 116,640.

Filed Nov 1, 2019 · Engine · 102,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact's husband owns a 2012 chevrolet traverse. While driving 25 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle lost power. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the road and placed the gear in neutral. The vehicle would not restart. The insurance company towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the timing belt was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to harpel brothers (2305 east 10th st, glencoe, minnesota 55336, 320‑864‑5181) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000. The VIN was unknown.

Filed Sep 16, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MO

I am on my 3rd engine since purchasing this vehicle. Since day 1 I have had issues with the traction control and stabilitrac. Randomly service lights come on for those as well as reduced engine power while driving. The engine has locked up on me twice. I have had numerous electrical issues with the vehicle. When the car idles or I'm stopped at a light my service lights come on. My transmission is now an issue. I have spent over 15k on repairs for a vehicle I bought for 17k..I was lied to when I purchased the vehicle being told I was the 2nd owner instead of the 5th. The passenger air bag has a code. The AC doesn't work, the heat would blow all the time even if off and on cool, now the blower doesn't work at all. The windows don't open.

Filed Aug 22, 2019 · Driver assistance, Engine · 148,000 miles · MA

I have a 2012 chevy traverse, ive only owned it less than 2 years and had issues with service stabilitrack/traction control at least 6 times. When this happens the car looses power, my check engine light comes on, ive even had black smoke come out of my hood and tail pipe trying to keep it running on the highway so my family and I werent killed. I have taken it to the dealership and the codes it throws makes no sense . After they wipe the codes, let it sit its fine for a few weeks. I know im not the only traverse owner with this issue, is it going to take a family dying on a major highway, or a child being killed because their parents lost power in their only car in traffic and a truck hit them. Please please fix this issue. I dont wanna die because I bought a traverse. I cant afford another car payment right now.