2019 Chevrolet Traverse Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 401 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 3 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2019 Chevrolet Traverse receives a 4.5/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 401 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 3 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports with a median failure point at 42,000 miles (IQR: 30,283 – 60,375 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $1,400 – $3,800 .
33.4 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
3 Active / Free Remedies
2019 Traverse Failure Distribution by Vehicle Subsystem
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“My transmission is said to be failing. I plan to get it looked at again this week. Safety of me and my two children are at risk when driving. The car shakes and could lose control. An independent I tried reporting it to my insurance but they told me to go to a mechanic and the...”
“My car WILL not register that it is in park even though the dash says it’s in P and my gear shift is pushed all the way up in the park gear. It has taken hours some days for it to finally acknowledge that it is indeed in the park gear. I do NOT have time for that! And if it ge...”
“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 transmis...”
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“My car WILL not register that it is in park even though the dash says it’s in P and my gear shift is pushed all the way up in the park gear. It has taken hours some days for it to finally acknowledge that it is indeed in the park gear. I do NOT have time for that! And if it ge...”
“The car will be placed in park but keeps saying shift to park. Then I have to turn the car on and off clicking the shift button till it will finally shut off. One time it took ten minutes. This needs to be a recall!!! Specifically since it seems to be affecting many of the car...”
“The shift to park sensor is broken. It will keep my vehicle on and beeping for hours saying “shift to park” although my vehicle is in park and shut off.”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“The exhaust clamp rusted and broke, causing a hole in the exhaust which set off the engine light and eventually poisoned my catalytic converter costing $4000 to replace. GM's extended warranty exception for the admitted defect is to replace the clamp and flex pipe only, about ...”
“The contact owned a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an inspection, where a leaking oil pan gasket was diagnosed. Although the vehicle had been taken to the dealer two months prior, the dealer did not find th...”
“My 2019 Chevy Traverse prior to "The Storm" when I left work and approached my vehicle someone left a not in my windshield wipers stating that my horn was honking every 15 seconds it was a long shift so by the time I got to my vehicle my battery was dead. I got a jump from a c...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“I bought my traverse in 2024 it’s now two year later and my entire transmission needs replaced no longer shifting between 1000& 2000rpms this is a known issue with these vehicles and there hasn’t been a recall yet. Also the button in my shift knob tells me it is not in park (s...”
“My 2019 Chevy Traverse prior to "The Storm" when I left work and approached my vehicle someone left a not in my windshield wipers stating that my horn was honking every 15 seconds it was a long shift so by the time I got to my vehicle my battery was dead. I got a jump from a c...”
“Exhaust bracket broke, created a hole in pipe, which then resulted in cracked catalytic converter. Dealership and GM denied repairs due to the hole being on the "wrong pipe" but the same bracket that is covered broke resulting in the consequential damage. Check engine light ca...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“The car will be placed in park but keeps saying shift to park. Then I have to turn the car on and off clicking the shift button till it will finally shut off. One time it took ten minutes. This needs to be a recall!!! Specifically since it seems to be affecting many of the car...”
“My 2019 Chevy Traverse prior to "The Storm" when I left work and approached my vehicle someone left a not in my windshield wipers stating that my horn was honking every 15 seconds it was a long shift so by the time I got to my vehicle my battery was dead. I got a jump from a c...”
“The car started locking up my steering wheel. I took it to the mechanic and they ran the codes and said it is the ABS control system module. I called the dealer to get the part and they said it is on back order nationally and it may be months before they can get the part. The ...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“Driver's side airbag. A car crashed into the driver's side at a 90 degree angle that caused damage starting right behind the driver's door and continued all the way to the rear of the vehicle. The damage was severe enough that the driver's side passenger door, the rear wheel, ...”
“Safety restraint system is on the screen and the airbag icon is on the dash. All of a sudden No accident occurred”
“I purchased a 2019 Chevy Traverse brand new off the lot as single owner and kept up with maintenance. The transmission just went out while I was on the highway and abruptly begin reducing speed and I was unable to accelerate. This was dangerous as no warning lights came on pri...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“I keep having emission problems. The first time I took it to the dealership they fixed then it messed up again had that fixed about three months later check engine light was on again same thing had it fixed for the third time check engine light went off and of course came back...”
“On ..., my 2019 Chevrolet Traverse (VIN ... ) experienced a complete transmission failure. The vehicle began to hesitate, jerk during acceleration, and then completely lost the ability to shift or drive. It had to be towed, and the dealership confirmed that the transmission mu...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, who determined that the canister purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (3)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary: 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.
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Summary: General 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.
AIR BAGS
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2019 Chevrolet Traverse
Before purchasing a used 2019 Chevrolet Traverse, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 3 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2019 Chevrolet Traverse
Is the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse a reliable used car?
The 2019 Chevrolet Traverse earns a 4.5/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 401 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse?
The leading complaint category is Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports, with a median failure point around 42,000 miles (IQR: 30,283 – 60,375 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse?
Yes, the NHTSA records 3 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.

