2016 Chevrolet Traverse: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 21, 2026 · Acceleration, Brakes · NJ

My 2016 Chevy Traverse LT with 108,750 miles had issues with the rear brake lights, and the Traction Control light would come on and the Traction Control turns off. A message appears on the dash that shows Service StabiliTrak. When I drive the vehicle to accelerate it shakes, jerks and shudders, and then it rides fine for a bit but the Traction Control is still off. I also noticed that the cruise control doesn't work either. I decided to wait a few more days hoping it would clear out, which it did for a day but the problem returned. I took the Traverse to AutoZone to use an OBD2 scanner and it showed that there is an issue with the braking switch (code C0161-00 ABS Brake Switch Circuit). A local mechanic replaced a fuse and the brake switch but the Traction Control/StabiliTrak issue hasn't been fixed. He's tried everything but the problem won't go away. Apparently this an ongoing problem with many Traverses.

Filed Dec 3, 2024 · Acceleration, Engine · CA

The big problem when I drive is that it is not safe, it jerks when I start to accelerate. I took it to the nearest dealer to have the problem fixed. And they do not want to fix the problem and now I just want to get this vehicle off the roads. I do not want to cause an accident and put my family at risk.

Filed Nov 25, 2021 · MO

Vehicle has had 3 separate occurrences - January, October and November of 2021 - the vehicle suddenly losing its "power" by not accelerating over 40 mph, hard shifting to where it jerked uncontrollably. The dash board message center would say "service stabilitrak" "service traction control" "traction control off". The orange traction control light was also Illuminated on the dashboard. No check engine light was presented, and no codes were stored in the computer. 1s occurrence dealership changed battery, 2nd occurrence could not find an issue, customer refused vehicle back so dealership cleaned ABS tone rings. On all occurrences the customer was close to being rear ended on the major interstate due to losing sudden power. Dealerships are only able to "guess" on repair, due to no codes being stored in the computer. Many complaints for the same issue can be found in a Traverse Facebook group, on Google, and many other personal Traverse owners. There needs to be an open recall and investigation with this issue. None of these fixes are covered under the warranties, and customers must pay out of pocket as the dealership has it coded under "maintenance".

Filed Jan 6, 2017 · Acceleration, Airbags · 12,000 miles · NE · crash · 1 injury

12/21/16 first, I pulled out of driveway and the vehicle would only go about 1-2 miles an hour for several blocks...pulled over and put in park and revved the engine a little and pulled out again. It still wouldn't accelerate at first, then gradually picked up speed and rode the remainder without incident. On 12/22/16, one second I was parking my car in front of the store I work at, and was almost completely stopped with my foot on the brake, when all of a sudden the car lunged forward into the brick wall of the building. The airbag in the steering column deployed. The car bounced back and shut down I think). I reached up and turned the key off & l opened the door & the radiator was leaking onto the lot.. My knees were hurting really bad, both my hands were sore and my left arm. The car front was all damaged with part of the fender on the sidewalk. We called my husband to come and take me to get checked out because I thought I might have cracked both my kneecaps. We contacted our insurance company and they told us to have the car towed to our preferred body shop, which we did. The dr x-rayed my knees and determined they were not broken, just badly bruised. On dec 26th, I went back to the dr because I started having some pain in my neck/shoulder and they did numerous tests, finding what they thought was a fracture in my neck. I had to wear a brace on it for a week, then more testing determined that what they saw was actually a previous injury that had never been caught. I need physical therapy on the neck issue. I have since found that there are several complaints of these cars suddenly lurching forward when the brake is applied, over a span of 7 years. I am not only thankful I wasn't injured worse, but that there wasn't a person in front of me when this happened. I am very concerned that it could happen again and the outcome could be much worse.

Filed Mar 29, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 800 miles · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet traverse. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the was jerking and decelerated independently before stalling. The vehicle was able to restart but the failure recurred. In addition, the contact mentioned that the fuel gauge in the instrument panel failed to indicate the accurate fuel level. The contact further stated that various warning lights illuminated. The vehicle towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission system and engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 800.