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Chevrolet · Midsize / large SUV

2018 Chevrolet Traverse

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
77 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA459
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA22 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Traverse FWD, is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 459 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Traverse FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202622$3,500
Traverse FWDGasFWD3.6L 6-cyl182721$2,950
Traverse AWDGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl172520$3,100

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39405, 38956, 38960.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

N202321200
108 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.RiskUnsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.
NHTSA campaign 21V246000reported Apr 8, 2021General Motors, LLC
!critical

Power Train

N202313440
194,105 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskMissing 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.FixGM 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V668000reported Oct 29, 2020General Motors LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
459complaints filed

9 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 7 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 31 · 2019: 58 · 2020: 48 · 2021: 37 · 2022: 32 · 2023: 50 · 2024: 67 · 2025: 85 · 2026: 49

Most-cited components

Power Train194
Unspecified103
Electrical System101
Engine84
Service Brakes37
Fuel/Propulsion System29

What owners describe

“Electrical ground problem affecting transmission control is evident by a Shift to Park warning that displays on the driver information center and prevents vehicle from being turned off. GM has this problem so we’ll documented that a TSB exists and is on file with NHTSA. The inability to turn off the vehicle when this…”Dec 31, 2021 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“Shift to Park message displays on the Driver Information Center (DIC) when the vehicle has been shifted to Park and the ignition has been turned to the Off position. This causes alarm chimes to go off when door is opened and the battery to drain.”Dec 15, 2021 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“When driving on a right hand curve with traffic in the opposite direction lane, the forward collision warning system flashed a large red warning flash on the instrument panel near the speedometer. This was alarming and caused me to put on the brakes immediately, although there was no impending crash. This cause the car…”Dec 15, 2021 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Traverse model years

A

2027 Chevrolet Traverse

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Chevrolet Traverse

1 recalls · 22 complaints

A

2025 Chevrolet Traverse

0 recalls · 174 complaints

A

2024 Chevrolet Traverse

0 recalls · 134 complaints

B

2023 Chevrolet Traverse

2 recalls · 87 complaints

A

2022 Chevrolet Traverse

1 recalls · 96 complaints

D

2021 Chevrolet Traverse

3 recalls · 89 complaints

F

2020 Chevrolet Traverse

8 recalls · 224 complaints

D

2019 Chevrolet Traverse

3 recalls · 403 complaints

C

2017 Chevrolet Traverse

3 recalls · 361 complaints

F

2016 Chevrolet Traverse

5 recalls · 291 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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