2013 Chevrolet TRAVERSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
162 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 129 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 162 complaints (32.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 14.8% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 14.8% |
| Engine operation | 22 | 13.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 9.9% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 6.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 53 |
| Engine | 45 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 43 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Power Train | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 18 |
| Steering | 18 |
Electrical System: 53; Engine: 45; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 43; Air Bags: 27; Power Train: 27; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Fuel/Propulsion System: 18; Steering: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 30 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 30; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 33 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 35 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2013: 3; 2014: 14; 2015: 13; 2016: 6; 2017: 19; 2018: 17; 2019: 35; 2020: 23; 2021: 13; 2022: 6; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10630891 · 2014-09-04 (September 4, 2014)
THE REAR SEAT AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING MODULE CONTROLS GET EXTREMELY HOT WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON OR WHENEVER THE REAR UNIT IS IN USE. THE CONTROLS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING UNIT ON THE DASH NEVER GET HOT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TODAY TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THEY CHECKED ALL THE WIRING AND EVERYTHING WAS AS IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE. SO, THEY CHECKED THE SAME UNIT IN ANOTHER TRAVERSE AND FOUND THE CONTROLS IN THAT VEHICLE GOT HOT AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT IS JUST THE WAY THE VEHICLES ARE. THE FACT THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 17,681 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637814 · 2014-09-21 (September 21, 2014)
THE BATTERY FAILED TO RECHARGE, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN (ELECTRICALLY SPEAKING). MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS WERE STUCK IN A CAR WITH NO AC, NO ABILITY TO RECHARGE HER CELL PHONE TO CALL FOR HELP, ON A HOT 100F DAY. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS ABLE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. AFTER 2 DAYS IN THE SHOP AT RON BAKER CHEVY IN SAN DIEGO, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS FAULTY. BOTH THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY WERE REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 18,949 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505540 · 2013-04-03 (April 3, 2013)
WITHOUT WARNING, NO LEAKS, NO NOISES.... AT 55 MPH WHEN I STARTED TO DECREASE MY SPEED TO TAKE A CURVE I LOST MY POWER STEERING. THIS COMES AND GOES WITHOUT WARNING AND IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE DRIVING A TRAVERSE!! I JUST BOUGHT THIS USED VEHICLE ON MAR 6, 2013 AND NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS AND THEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS. WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN INTO PARKING LOTS OR ONTO A SIDE STREET IT JUST HITS AND YOU LOSE ALL POWER STEERING MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS FOR ALL PERSON(S) IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD BY VARIOUS MECHANICS IN THE SUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,504 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10569352 · 2014-03-14 (March 14, 2014)
AS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I HAD NO WARNING AND NO ABILITY TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND THAT A PIECE IN THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN OR BROKEN AND DAMAGED THE PISTON, THE CYLINDER AND THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE. AS THE MECHANIC SAID, IT WAS A "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE." THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE IN T…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,895 miles reported. Look up ODI 10569352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10625813 · 2014-08-17 (August 17, 2014)
I WENT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF EAST HILLS CHEVROLET TO RESPOND TO THE 2 RECALLS THEY HAD ON MY CAR. THEY FOUND SOMETHING ELSE WITH THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO FIX THAT. AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK, IT HAS A NEW ISSUE....IT PERIODICALLY SHORTS OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. I SEEMS LIKE IT STALLS, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD COME ON, BUT THEN IT RECOVERS AND CONTINUES DRIVING. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND AM NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO WILL TURN OFF AND ON FOR NO REASON AND THE DOORS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELV…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10625813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644552 · 2014-10-14 (October 14, 2014)
FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED FUEL BUT VEHICLE STALLED OUT DUE TO LACK OF FUEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10536618 · 2013-08-22 (August 22, 2013)
TRANSMISSION WAS SURGING AND ABRUPTLY SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AND AGAIN FROM FIFTH TO SIXTH GEAR. THE MORE IT WAS DRIVEN THE WORSE IT WAS GETTING. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. WAVE PLATE AND PISTONS AND SEALS GEARS 3, 5 AND REVERSE WERE ALL REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID WHEN HE OPENED IT UP THERE WAS METAL PARTS FALLING OUT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I FOUND 5 OTHERS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WAVE PLATE IS BREAKING APART INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. I EXPECT TO S…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10563448 · 2014-02-07 (February 7, 2014)
IN SNOW OF ALMOST ANY DEPTH, THE VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY ON ACCELERATION FROM 35 MPH UP. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND FEELS LIKE ITS BOGGING DOWN. IT WILL STAY LIKE THIS FOR SOMETIME HOURS THEN IT WILL CEASE. FENDER WELLS ARE CLEAR OF DEBRIS. THE PROBLEM IS IT WILL DO THIS SOMETIMES AT WILL ON THE ROADWAY WHERE I HAVE BEEN ALMOST REAR ENDED TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED, THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE CHEVY TRAVERSE FORUM WEBSITE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR DIE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11155285 · 2018-11-30 (November 30, 2018)
JUNE 2018 I TOOK MY TRAVERSE FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED BRAKES. SI WASN'T EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THEM BUT I AGREED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AS THEY ARE IMPORTANT PART OF THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE. APPROXIMATELY 4 WEEKS AFTER THE NEW BRAKES WERE REPLACED A GRINDING NOISE BEGAN WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES COMING TO A STOP. I HAD NO NOISES COMING FROM MY BRAKES EVER BEFORE THEY WERE REPLACED? I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY COULDN'T HEAR ANYTHING AND BRAKES WERE 100%. THE GRINDING NOISE CONTINUED SO I TOOK IT BACK AND TEST DR…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,705 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10981688 · 2017-05-01 (May 1, 2017)
WHILE EXITING A STORE PARKING LOT ONTO A CITY STREET, AT NIGHT, GOING APPROX. 40MPH , I HAD MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AND MY SUV SUDDENLY LOSS POWER. IT SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, WITH OUT WARNING. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME SEEN WHAT WAS GOING ON AND DID NOT REAR END ME. I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE UP AND IT WANTED TO TURN OVER BUT COULDN'T. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT STARTED TO SMELL OF GASOLINE. THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR BEHIND ME, HELPED ME BY PUSHING MY CAR OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC INTO A PARKING LO…
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10981688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11016069 · 2017-08-17 (August 17, 2017)
I WANT TO REPORT A VERY DANGEROUS AND SAFETY HAZARD THAT WE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED WITH OUR 2013 LTZ TRAVERSE. ON JULY 23,2017 MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80. DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE GOING 70 MPH. ALL OF THE SUDDEN BELLS WERE RINGING AND DASHBOARD ALERTS LIT UP. (TRACTION CONTROL OFF, SERVICE STABILITRAK AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED) OUR SPEED WENT FROM 70 MPH TO 10 MPH IN SECONDS. THE TRAFFIC BEHIND US WERE SERVING ALL AROUND US TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. WE WERE LUCKY NO ONE WAS KILLED. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET OFF THE R…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,940 miles reported. Look up ODI 11016069 at NHTSA ↗