When I accelerate at a stoplight the car shuddered and slammed into gear then it shop the rpms up to 8000 and back down i was barely able to make it home and when I arrived at home I tried to park and it would not go into reverse tostraighten my vehicle. I had it towed to a shop the next morning and they informed me I needed a new transmission that would cost $12400.00 to repair. This is a car that is only 5 years old and this is a catastrophic failure that I can't afford to fix and in a car that is 5 years old.
Chevrolet Traverse harsh shifting problems
34 of the 5,528 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Traverse describe harsh or hard shifting, most of them for the 2009 model year.
- owner complaints
- 34
- worst model year
- 2009
- typical mileage
- 68,900
Is there a fix? There are 6 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20252
- 20242
- 20232
- 20212
- 20201
- 20194
- 20182
- 20171
- 20162
- 20154
- 20131
- 20123
- 20112
- 20101
- 20095
Often reported together
Check engine light 8Transmission failure 6Loss of power 5Jerking 5Shudder 4Stalling 3Hesitation 3Warning lights 2
Trouble codes mentioned
P0797 1P0746 1P0700 1
What owners say
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an odor of rotten eggs inside the vehicle. The odor was discovered to be Hydrogen Sulfide that was entering the cabin of the vehicle from the overcharged batteries. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed with PCM failure. That contact stated that the failure caused rough shifting and a loss of control voltage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.
I own a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving, the vehicle suddenly began jerking very hard during acceleration and shifting. The Check Engine Light illuminated, and the vehicle became unsafe to drive because the transmission was not operating normally. I was concerned that the vehicle could suddenly lose power or fail while driving in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash. I took the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealership for diagnosis. The dealer found the transmission fluid was burned and diagnosed transmission trouble codes P0797 and P0700, indicating an internal transmission problem. Transmission .PDF Before the failure, I experienced harsh shifting and jerking that became progressively worse until the warning light came on. The problem has been confirmed by a Chevrolet dealership. The failed transmission is available for inspection upon request. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this transmission failed prematurely at approximately 68,933 miles. I am concerned that other owners may experience the same failure, creating a serious safety risk if the transmission loses power or fails while the vehicle is in motion.
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced hard shifting. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was examined, and the contact was informed that the transmission or the transmission valve body had failed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in an extended warranty coverage related to the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
2020 Chevrolet Traverse started to shudder and hard shift between 25 to 30 miles per hour. Vehicle only has 64,925 miles on it (4,925 miles above warranty). Vehicle was taken to garage and told the torque converter along with valve body was needed to be replaced. The torque converter malfunctioned right after warranty expired due to mileage and could have left my family stranded on the side of the road. The components have been inspected by Chevrolet manufacturer and they deemed they needed to be replaced and replaced them. No lights or anything came on the only sign was the shudder and hard shift which if not taken in immediately could put the owner past the warranty mileage. Vehicle was purchased brand new and routine maintenance conducted.
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds over a bumpy road, the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound. The contact stated that the sound became louder over time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed. The dealer determined that the front lower control arms and the front suspension sway bar links needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
Started 09/17/25: While braking, a front-end clunk or thud occurs. Directly afterwards, a cluster of warning lights appeared including Brake, ABS, Collision avoidance/forward collision, and Stabile track stability control) Brake pedal is now inconsistent and soft. Every time the brakes are activated, the thud or clunk occurs. When I start the vehicle, I get warning messages of Service Brake Assist, Service ESC on the dash that I must acknowledge. Called Hendricks Chevy Columbia SC on 9/18/25. Told to bring into dealership on 9/19/25. Dealership attempted diagnosis but could not. They bled brakes and reset all warning lights. I drove car approx. 10 miles and symptoms reoccurred, including all warning lights and thud/clunk. Called Dealership again and told to bring into on 9/22/25. It is now 9/23/25 and they have not diagnosed it yet. I was assigned a loaner car for 5 days.
2024 Chevy Traverse transmission failed at 5,200 miles while exiting a major interstate. Vehicle struggled to downshift and switch gears. Transmission fluid leaked excessively while driving and parked. The vehicle was not drivable after failure. Unreliable and clunky acceleration and slowing down put passengers, including children - especially those in the rear-most seat - in danger. The problem was confirmed by the dealer. No further inspection outside of the dealership has occurred. There were no warnings prior to the failure or even during the failure. It wasn't until 20 minutes after the first observation of unusual handling, when an attempt to put the vehicle in reverse was made, that the notification was on the dashboard. When starting the vehicle 18 hours later to take a photo of the exact mileage, no alert was on the dash at all.
The component/system that is malfunctioning is coding P-0826. Dealership says replace Transmission.Based on my experience with the vehicle, the transmission is not the main issue. There are symptoms of an electrical issue that is causing the vehicle to lose power, rough shift, stutter and hard shift. This situation began when traveling back from GA to NC. After having stopped at a rest stop, I proceeded to get back on the highway and the vehicle hesitated to accelerate as I merged on to the highway. There were no warming lights, dashboard signaling or anything that happened prior to this to warm of this unsafe issue. With traffic behind me already at speeds of 70mph+, this situation could potentially have caused an accident in which I would have been unable to avoid because the car decelerated, hesitated and did not leave me with anyway to maneuver out of the lane. I fortunately was in the merge lane, which I had to constantly tap on the accelerator in order to get the vehicle to shift into the next gear and finally surpass 40 mph so that I could get back on the highway, potentially being able to maintain a safe speed. The vehicle then jolted after reaching 40mph and then after tapping the accelerator again, I was able to increase my speed. Upon returning to NC, I sought mechanical services from the dealership. They had last serviced the vehicle in October 2024, an oil change and put an additive in the engine. The dealership not only was not helpful, but they were unable to diagnose an issue because the vehicle had no check engine light or any dashboard warnings during the entirety of this issue. It was suggested that I get the spark plugs changed, since they considered it may be a misfire within the system. The spark plug change made it worse, eventually the car shook violently while at a red light and the dashboard lights came on and the car did not exceed 15mph. The car was serviced again and the coils were replaced. The problem still persists.
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting to reverse(R), the vehicle made an abnormal, loud clunking sound. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift out of first gear, and the engine was revving. The vehicle was towed to T&T Automotive, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. Additionally, the contact stated that upon shifting to park(P) and attempting to turn off the vehicle, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic, where the failure was related to an unknown TSB. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.
- Risk
- A half-shaft disengaging from the transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GMC's number for this recall is N222389310.
Recall number 23V172000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse vehicles. The left-side half-shaft assemblies may be missing a retaining ring.
- Risk
- A missing retaining ring on the half-shaft can cause half-shaft inner joint separation, resulting in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the left-side half-shaft assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is N222390180.
Recall number 23V042000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Traverse wheelchair accessible vehicles with Power In-floor Ramp conversion. The screw and clip that hold the inner wheel-well plastic shroud in place may chafe against the transmission case, possibly resulting in a transmission fluid leak.
- Risk
- A transmission fluid leak can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, a leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the screw and clip, and inspect for signs of contact with the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1‑800‑488‑0359.
Recall number 21V817000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑888‑988‑7267, Buick Customer service at 1‑866‑608‑8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
Recall number 20V668000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
- Risk
- If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
- Remedy
- General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Buick owners at 1‑800‑521‑7300, and GMC owners at 1‑800‑462‑8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.
Recall number 14V092000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully engaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park".
- Risk
- The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2009. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 and saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 09V073000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chevrolet Traverse harsh shifting
Which Chevrolet Traverse years have harsh or hard shifting problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2009 (5 complaints), 2015 (4 complaints) and 2019 (4 complaints).
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