Sudden slamming on the brake automatically when in reverse and there is nothing around the car to cause this. Has happened many times The car will alert that something is too close when turning right by there is nothing there. It is intermittent. When you start the car it the motor reves up very high and will stay there until you push the gas and then it quiets down. This is usually the first start of the day. High and rough idle Super hard intermittent transmission shift or down shifting while normal driving. It jerks really hard and sometime it’s so hard it throws you forward like the brake is being applied. Symbol intermittently shows up on dash. Then goes away after the car has been turned off and restarted. Brakes squeal bad. Acceleration reduction message then check engine light came on 8/30. Roaring loud noise before the light came on. Put 1 gallon coolant in it and light went off. Now runs and idles high.
Chevrolet Traverse misfire problems
53 of the 5,528 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Traverse describe misfire or rough idle, most of them for the 2009 model year.
- owner complaints
- 53
- worst model year
- 2009
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,200
- typical mileage
- 84,116
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 32Loss of power 12Stalling 8Jerking 4Hesitation 4Shudder 3Power steering loss 3Oil consumption 3
Trouble codes mentioned
P0300 5P0496 2P05CD 1P050D 1P0306 1P0305 1P0304 1P0303 1P0302 1
What owners say
electrical, drivetrain, powertrain. While driving the vehicle a message popped up on the speedometer saying service battery chargeing system and battery saver mode. the is the second time that those messages have come up in the four years of ownership with the first time being in 2024. The second issue we have had with this vehicle was injectors going bad and causing a bad misfire making driveability rough. We have gone through three O2 sensors in the past 4 years. we have replaced the alternator and are fixing to replace it again. the driverside axle seal leaked. transmission slips bad. there is a current random misfire. Back in may of 2025 we were driving to Florida from missouri and had to slam on the brakes and when we released the brake the car refused to move and when i pressed the gas harder there was a loud bang like we had been hit but it was like the brakes had locked up completely. It shudders bad when starting. Two months ago the steering locked up while driving. Vehicle has been inspected several times by the dealer we bought it from but driving this vehicle is becoming my families worst nightmare.
I own a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse RS, VIN [XXX]. This vehicle has repeated safety-related failures involving the engine/cooling system, fuel-injector/misfire system, steering-assist warning system, and electronic parking brake system. The vehicle is currently at AutoNation Chevrolet West Austin, dropped off on XXX, and is available for inspection. Soon after delivery, the vehicle began losing coolant and overheating. This was not isolated. Before the engine was finally replaced, there were at least four documented coolant/overheating-related dealer visits or repair notes: XXX. The problem repeated again on XXX, becoming the fifth coolant/overheating-related visit and resulting in GM/dealer-authorized engine replacement after internal coolant-related findings. Dealer records show low/empty coolant reservoir, overheating, fan-running symptoms, almost one gallon of coolant added, no external leak found, coolant dye added, GM TAC involvement, and internal coolant findings. After engine replacement, the vehicle continued to fail. In February 2026, it displayed check-engine light and “Steering Assist Reduced / Power Steering Reduced.” The dealer confirmed misfire and replaced cylinder 1 fuel injector. In April/May 2026, the vehicle displayed a service parking brake warning; the dealer documented left rear parking brake actuator high current. Now, on XXX, the vehicle is again at the dealer for blinking check-engine light, and the dealer advised the code shows another engine misfire. My family’s safety is at risk. Repeated overheating, engine replacement, steering-assist warning, parking brake warning, and recurring misfire create unsafe drivability risk, especially on highways, merging, intersections, or long trips. I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am filing this complaint regarding a persistent and unresolved defect with my 2024 Chevrolet Traverse, VIN: [XXX] . The first occurrence of this issue was in June 2025. Since then, the vehicle has repeatedly experienced a “Check Engine” warning, engine misfires (cylinder misfire), loss of power while driving, and severe engine shaking. These symptoms make the vehicle unsafe to operate. The vehicle has been taken to an authorized Chevrolet dealership approximately 20 times for the same ongoing issue. Despite multiple repair attempts, the problem has never been permanently resolved. In total, the vehicle has spent about three months out of service at the dealership. As of January 14, 2026, after the vehicle has been at the dealership for over two weeks, I was informed that the dealer is unable to repair the vehicle. They have escalated the case to the manufacturer, General Motors, because they cannot identify a permanent solution. The current mileage of the vehicle is approximately 41,700 miles. This ongoing defect makes the vehicle unreliable and unsafe for normal use. The repeated failures to repair suggest a potential manufacturing or design defect rather than an isolated incident. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency review this matter and determine whether an investigation or further action is warranted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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.
Owned brand new vehicle for 48 hours. Fuel injector failure on cylinder 4 at 120 miles on the dash. Check engine light was on. Vehicle is currently at dealership. Engine unreliable/unsafe. Dealer confirmed. Dealer stated up to 10 days waiting on parts. Unknown if further damage has been caused. Wife states vehicle had a rough idle. Diag code P0300, P050D.
Bought it back in July. Had it taken back that first month for the 3rd row headrest issue. Then the check engine light kept coming on, 1st time they said it was a cylinder misfire code, they rest it and said try getting gas from a different station.. light came on 3 more times, but by the time we took it in, they “can’t replicate the issues”. Then the tire sensors went out, took it in and they had to order a new sensor. Then this past weekend we lost total power steering while driving 40+mph. Then it happened again the next day, but this time we lost complete control, entire car shut down, screens off, no breaks, no power steering, no nothing. We let it coast to a stop then put it in park. Took it to the dealership the following morning. They read a bunch of codes. Said they’d call with an update later that day. Now it’s been 3 days, and they can’t replicate the issues and are at a loss as to why it happened or how to fix it to prevent it from happening again. Said it might be something to do with central computer system.
One year ago the check engine light came on. Diagnosis stated EVAP system leak. Replaced a bad purge valve.now almost a year later the engine light comes back on car also started struggling shifting and shift to park would come on when car was already in park. Diagnosis states a large leak in EVAP system, smoke test determined leak was coming from the fuel canister. Canister was replaced and within two trips engine light came back on and car continues to struggle shifting as well as having a rough idle. Another diagnostic test reported bad fuel sensor. 2019 traverse seems to have a lot of EVAP system issues and have been told as well as read that this is a trending issue with this vehicle. With each diagnosis report it states it would fail fuel omission.
Components related to timing chain failed, and vehicle is currently available with plans to sell to a salvage yard by 10/25/24. My 9 year old and I were at risk of collision when the vehicle failed. I was driving approximately 70-75 mph when we started to lose power. At 65 mph, I managed to cross 2 lanes of highway traffic and stopped on the shoulder. I turned off my vehicle and waited several minutes, hoping it would help reset or cool off a component or something. I had to try a couple of times before it started, and I attempted to drive as safely as I could, made it to 60 mph before it stopped running completely. I had to pull hard on the steering wheel to get to the shoulder again, only this time, the shoulder was pinched off in front of us and around a small blind spot behind us. I had my daughter move to the side closer to the cement barrier while waiting for a tow truck. She became very nervous about how close some of the other vehicles got. Afterwards, the error codes indicated several components pointing to a timing chain problem. I had the timing chain repaired around April or May of 2023 by a certified mechanic. I watched the oil life percentage and oil temperature gauge consistently. Everything indicated as normal, but I had difficulty pulling out the dipstick to check the oil level. Since it was hard to get a good reading, I tried to add some oil and recheck. The oil cap was nearly impossible to open, so I decided to wait for an oil tech to do it. Around 40-50% oil life, I had planned to have the oil changed. In spite of my efforts to maintain proper oil quality, the oil cap had to be opened with a wrench. Smoke rose out and dried out oil residue lined the inner walls. It was about a quart low. I don’t drive hard on it and it had only been around 3,000 miles between oil changes. It had been one year since the timing chain was replaced. Error codes remain and the vehicle runs rough if it stays on long enough after much effort to start it.
So since 8/02/23 when the vehicle had 54,000 miles it began to give electrical problems. I bought the car 01/16/23 it had only 26,000 miles. The service battery charging system light and battery saver mode went on and also the reduced steering light which began to shut the car down I immediately pulled over. Took it to gm dealer they tested battery was dead then charged it checked alternator it failed so they replaced alternator. 7 days later 8/10/23 the car is still running rough idle. Had savi code p0496 evap flow during non purge replaced purge solenoid. The car still the engine slightly was not 100 percent fixed I told them every time it wasn't good. 02/12/24 I took back to dealer engine running rough and every time I put gas it was hesitant the transmission I am assuming check engine light was on code p0496 the gm dealer diagnosised and replaced canister purge solenoid.so 2/28/24 battery saver mode light came on andservice battery charging vehicle stalled out checked alternator failed replaced alternator. 6/25/24 took to another gm dealer and the diagnosised it check engine light was on and told them my car wasn't starting well after I filled my gas and rough engine. Told me to come back 7/03/24 to do evap canister check engine light was on they found evap leak from from evap canister charged me 508 dollars. So I took vehicle from dealer towards hone filled up gas car would not start problem was not fixed called dealer immediately manager said get here before they close I did and manager left but on service guy got the master mechanic to look at it he said it's purge valve the next day they were closed due to 4th of July so was told to take back on 7/5/24 to replace purge solenoid. The gas issue was fixed but now the transmission is worse when I accelerate it stutters bad I been telling both dealers was told they can't look at vehicle unless check engine light was on so 3 faulty purge valves 2 alternators replaced and car stutters worse shift to park light.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Chevrolet Traverse misfire
Which Chevrolet Traverse years have misfire or rough idle problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2009 (12 complaints), 2012 (9 complaints) and 2011 (8 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix misfire or rough idle on the Chevrolet Traverse?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,200 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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