YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Traverse Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 46 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, 13% of that year's 354 total complaints. Owners typically reported failures around a median of 87,000 miles, with issues like unexpected lurching, transmission replacements, and power loss with no related recall filed.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
46
13% of 354
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
87,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle unexpectedly lurches forward or backward when shifting between reverse, drive, and park, even on flat ground.
  • Loss of power and 'reduced engine power' or 'stabilitrak/traction control' warnings appear suddenly at highway speed, causing the vehicle to slow sharply.
  • Transmission control module (TCM) issues, including broken internal wires, leading some owners to have the transmission replaced entirely.
  • Vehicle stalls or drops into what owners describe as limp mode, sometimes accompanied by a burning or fuel-like smell in the cabin.
  • Dealers reprogram or replace the TCM control solenoid valve after reports of erratic shifting behavior.

When 2012 Chevrolet Traverse transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 25, 2014, latest Nov 24, 2024.

2012 Chevrolet Traverse transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2014Oct 2015Jul 2017Apr 2018Feb 2019Nov 2019Nov 2020Jan 2022
46 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2014 to Nov 2024; peak Oct 2018 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Traverse model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200958 (13%)
  2. 201066 (10%)
  3. 201179 (13%)
  4. 201246 (13%)
  5. 201328 (17%)
  6. 201436 (7%)
  7. 201523 (7%)
  8. 201637 (13%)
  9. 201718 (5%)
  10. 2018195 (42%)
  11. 2019167 (41%)
  12. 202039 (17%)
  13. 202115 (17%)
  14. 202243 (44%)
  15. 202329 (33%)
  16. 202418 (13%)
  17. 202513 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse have?
NHTSA lists 46 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Traverse, which is 13% of the 354 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse transmission?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for Transmission & Powertrain issues on the 2012 Traverse.
At what mileage do 2012 Traverse transmission problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 87,000 miles.
What do owners report about 2012 Traverse transmission failures?
Owners describe sudden lurching between gears, loss of power with stabilitrak and traction control warnings, and TCM wiring or solenoid failures, in some cases requiring full transmission replacement.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.