2012 Chevrolet Traverse: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Sep 14, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · CA · crash

I was driving down the freeway at about 67 MPH when the message "Traction Control Disabled" came on my display & the car immediately went into "limp mode"! By some miracle I was able to muscle the car out of the slow lane, onto the shoulder as I lost my power steering once in limp mode. I waited a few minutes, car started up just fine, so I shrugged it off. Fast forward 1 week later & the same thing happened to me on my way home on a curvy mountain road. The power steering was again non-existent & luckily, there was no one behind me, nor did anyone come around the corner & hit my disabled car. Once again, it started up, no problem; however, this is when the harsh forward thrust started happening, & the transmission seemed to be slipping gears. The RPM's would rev to the 6000 range & immediately fall down to 1500. I took it to the dealer & sadly paid $3,400 for a new tranny on a 5-year-old car. (No warranty, of course). I started having the same issues about 2 years later, only this time the driver was not so lucky as they were mid-curve on the mountain road. Right as the roadway came out of the bend, the car went into limp mode, power steering lost & wheels stuck in a right turn position, car went off the roadway & into a telephone pole, broke that in half due to the angle of the pole in the mountainside & down the steep embankment about 40-50 feet. All airbags deployed & driver was able to walk away (hike away) but the car was a total loss. Driver was traveling 40-45 mph. There was no indication, no warning, just from travel to nothing.

Filed Aug 24, 2021 · Airbags, Brakes · 99,655 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle took a long time to start-up. While driving approximately 20-40 MPH, the vehicle would not accelerate then shifted into limp mode. The ABS, check engine, traction control, and service air bags warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the wheel bearings were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,655.

Filed Oct 22, 2019 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 74,000 miles · VA

For no reason the service stabiltrak light comes on. The gages start going on their own. The vehicle goes into limp mode while driving. It has happened on highways, city roads. I have taken it to a dealership "who said I cant make it reciprocate so I just reprogrammed the TCM, and if that doesnt work I will recommend anew TCM." in short they have no idea. I have taken it to an independent mechanic who was able to trouble shoot it back to the fuel control system module vs comm module. However. I think there is more to it than that. Chevy needs to fix this issue it's a very common issue on traverse forums. Nhsta please do something about this issue someone is going to die.

Filed Mar 15, 2019 · Driver assistance · 30,000 miles · AL

At 30k miles the stability and would put my car in limp mode. This is extremely dangerous onthe interstates. Suddenly dropping the speed to about 30 MPH. I dealt with this by keeping the stabilitrac turned off. Now at 100k it turned on and off by itself. Reeding blogs I have found no fix for this. The vehicle now fills with fumes. I will probably never buy another gm product. I can not use my car. This happens in almost every driving situation.

Filed Dec 20, 2018 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 140,000 miles · MO

The first time I was in a restaurant drive thru but sitting idle. Then several codes flashed on my dash about traction control and stabilitrak and limp mode and it started to stink. We towed it to our mechanic and he could not tell what code was causing the issue so he cleared the codes and it ran fine after that. After a couple additional trips to the mechanic, we did have a couple issues seemingly related and he ended up replacing a coil and all the spark plugs. Now, a few months later, my wife was driving up the road to our house and just before turning into our driveway, the same error messages came up on the dash. She turned off the car and called me. When I got home I started the car and got the same results. We had the car towed to our mechanic again. This time when the tow truck arrived, the car did not start. After it arrived at our mechanic, he could not start it, and he could only read one code and it said nondefining code and he could not determine what the problem is. He then cleared the code and it is running fine again. I am very concerned this is going to happen on the highway with my wife driving and she will be seriously hurt. I have read many other complaints of this same issue and cannot believe a recall has not happened. Just look at this: [xxx] I am not seriously considering trading it in for a non chevy vehicle. *tr parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Oct 29, 2018 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 120,000 miles · VA

Was driving to work on I-95 north in rush hour traffic and all of a sudden hear ding ding ding then loose power and car goes into limp mode. Service traction control light comes on in dash. Vehicles behind me almost ran into me as my car slowed for no reason and no brake lights. It was very difficult and scary to maneuver to the side of the road. Many angry motorists honking and displaying rude gestures as I got to the side of the road. Had vehicle towed and told was a sensor that caused it. Now 3 later same thing driving home from cheerleading practice with 3 young children in car. I have read many cases of same thing with this type car on chevy traverse forums.

Filed Jul 29, 2018 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 142,000 miles · MS

Takata recall. Stabilitrack automatically goes off while driving down the road or interstate the smell of raw gas comes through the cabin, vehicle goes into limp mode and starts to stall. This happens often not just once. I have researched complaints online and there are a ton of people with the same complaints.

Filed Mar 6, 2017 · Acceleration, Engine · 96,000 miles · MN

We were driving the vehicle with two small infants in the car going 70 MPH on the highway when suddenly the vehicle went into limp mode and rapidly lost speed, causing us to swerve into the ditch and other cars behind us slamming on their brakes. The check engine light, traction control light, and stability control light went on. Engine was running rough and needed to be shut off and turned back on in order to restart the vehicle to normal function. The vehicle was brought into a chevrolet dealership where it was determined that the vehicle needs a new throttle body. After contacting general motors, we were told this is a known issue with the 2012 chevrolet traverse, and in some cases an extended warranty has been given. We were then told that our vehicle does not fit that description because the throttle body was made in a different facility as the others. This is the exact same error as the known issue but general motors is refusing to take any action. This is an extremely dangerous issue that needs to be rectified immediately in order to prevent serious injury.

Filed May 5, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 56,900 miles · IL

Major saftey risk: my traverse was well maintained was often filled with soccer kids. The safety failure could have been deadly! While driving, the auto began displaying the following messages in rapid succession: battery saver active, service battery charging system, service traction control, service stabilitrak. I parked the car to drop of my kids, the car would not start again. After a jump, I headed for the dealer which was 4 miles away. Operations appeared ok initially. On the expressway, the car electronics went out. Not just radio and A/C, but all electrical. I realized that the engine was no longer running while in rush hour traffice on a chicago expressway. No hazards, no way to lower windows, I was extremely lucky to find a gap in the traffic to get to the side of the road and park. From the shoulder of the expressway, cars continued to fly past me at high speed. This was absolutely chaotic and dangerous. I waited for aaa to arrive. Aaa was forced to tow (my traverse is front wheel drive) rather than flatbed because without electricity we the car was stuck in park. At the chevy dealer, they quickly read the error codes and presented me with a $1,400 estimate to replace the alternator. Sharing my frustration and pointing out that this type of catastrophic failure was well beyond any reasonable expectation of a presumably safe vehicle, they found a way to lower the cost to $607. (I do respect and appreciate the service department at the dealership.) this clearly should be a recall issue and chevy should correct these issues on their dime. I bought the traverse with the expecatation of safety and reliability. I am now very skeptical and am hessitant to fill this 8 seater with kids the way I used too. Many others have experienced similar failures. This is a potential mortal danger to drivers, passengers and other innocent bystanders!