What 451 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse

2018 Chevy Traverse purchased from Carvana caused carbon monoxide exposure to my family in military housing. Vehicle locked itself while running in the garage (garage door open), and CO entered the home where my children were standing near the interior door. Fire dept forced entry into the vehicle and cleared the home. All family members required oxygen at the hospital; all 3 children had elevated COHb levels. Mechanic confirmed catalytic converter failure and exhaust defect. Full Description: On 6/7/26, our Traverse turned on and locked itself while running in our garage (door open) as we were preparing to leave. Exhaust was blowing toward the interior door of our military home, and CO entered the house. My children were inside near that door and became exposed. We could not unlock or shut off the vehicle. Fire dept forced entry, confirmed high CO levels, and cleared the home. At the hospital, all of us required oxygen; all 3 children had elevated COHb. A mechanic later confirmed catalytic converter failure, exhaust defect, P0171, and incomplete catalyst monitor—stating this can cause ongoing CO exposure. A Build Verification sheet found in the glove box (not disclosed at sale) showed pre‑existing issues: exhaust rattle, check engine light, and multiple mechanical reworks. Carvana refuses to assist. This vehicle is unsafe to drive or idle.

NHTSA ODI 11745280

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the driveway was on a slope, and his wife was attempting to reenter the vehicle while it was in parked and the engine was running, and in the process the vehicle began to roll forward down the contacts driveway, the contacts wife was injured in the process receiving bruises to her left leg and right hip, medical attention was required for the contacts injuries. The vehicle was brought to a stop upon crashing into a lawn mower trailer and the contact's garage with the vehicle's front passenger side quarter panel. Property damage was reported. The vehicle was going 5 MPH at the time of the crash. The contact confirmed that after the incident, the vehicle was still in the parked position after the crash. The vehicle was not towed. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. The local dealer was contacted, however the vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

NHTSA ODI 11670496

I was driving and just passed a vehicle while accelerating when I heard a pop noise, saw a lot of white smoke through my rear view mirror, had the engine light go on and the vehicle stopped working. I slowly pulled over to the side of the road and placed the vehicle in park followed by turning off the car. A person driving by stopped and advised me my vehicle was on fire under the undercarriage. I popped the hood and the engine was also in flames. I was unable to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher and the local fire department and law enforcement agencies helped to put out the fire. The vehicle was a complete loss. If it were not for the passer by person telling me the undercarriage of the vehicle was on fire, not sure if I would have known in time to get out of the vehicle safely. The root of the cause is under investigation by my insurance company. 2018 Chevrolet Traverse LS

NHTSA ODI 11580277

WE PARKED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE (TURNING IT OFF) ON A SLIGHT GRADE AS WE NORMALLY DO IN THE FRONT OF OUR HOUSE ON A PUBLIC STREET. WE AWOKE THE NEXT MORNING TO DISCOVER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ADVANCED OR SLID FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 15' COMING TO REST AGAINST A TELEPHONE POLE ADJACENT TO OUR CORNER PROPERTY. IF THE TELEPHONE POLE WAS NOT IN THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE IT WOULD HAVE CROSSED A SIDE STREET AND COME TO REST IN OUR NEIGHBORS FRONT YARD. UPON VIEWING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE DRIFT FORWARD, BEFORE ENTERING THE VEHICLE WE COULD SEE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CLEARLY IN PARK AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD (1) PREVIOUS SERVICE BY A DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11388652

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOTALED; UPON IMPACT NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND ONSTAR DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BILLY BECK TOWING AND RECOVERY (2455 HIGHWAY 70 MOREHEAD CITY NC 28557 252-728-2571). A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,887. *LN*JB

NHTSA ODI 11387244

ON 9/16, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH LEAD TO MY CAR BEING TOTALED FROM APPX $30,000 IN DAMAGE. TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP ON THE INTERSTATE AND I ENDED UP REAR ENDING A CAR WHICH CAUSED THE FOLLOWING DAMAGE: ENGINE WAS RIPPED FROM MOTOR MOUNTS AND SHOVED INTO FIREWALL, CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK, WHOLE FRONT END OF CAR WAS DAMAGED INCLUDING SIDE FENDERS AND DRIVERS DOOR UNABLE TO OPEN SMOOTHLY, CRUSHED A/C COMPRESSOR, AND MANY OTHER ITEMS UNDER THE HOOD. (I HAVE MORE PICTURES FROM THE COLLISION CENTER UPON REQUEST). WITH THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE, THERE IS NO DOUBT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG WENT OFF IN THIS VEHICLE. I CAN PROVIDE ESTIMATES FROM THE COLLISION CENTER WITH ALL ITEMS DAMAGED ALONG WITH PICTURES. I WOULD HAVE ATTACHED BUT SIZE LIMITS PREVENT ME. I'M LUCKY I WAS NOT INJURED BUT SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT NOT BE AS FORTUNATE AS MYSELF.

NHTSA ODI 11373486

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A STEEP CITY STREET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNING LEFT. VEHICLE WENT TO MOVE FORWARD AND TURN LEFT AND IT SHUT OFF AND ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE STEEP HILL. WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED, BRAKES COULD NOT BE PRESSED, WHEN GAS WAS PRESSED IT DID NOT GO FORWARD, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS IT WAS LIKE IT SHUT OFF AFTER BEING IN AUTO STOP MODE. PARKING BRAKE ASSIST CAME ON AUTOMATICALLY AND VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A CEMENT POLE. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE. HAD TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE, RESTART AND TRIED TO RELEASE PARKING BRAKE 5 MORE TIMES BEFORE IT RELEASED. THIS VEHICLE OFTEN ROLLS BACKWARDS AFTER BEING IN AUTO STOP MODE AND THE GAS NEEDS TO BE PUSHED HARD IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO FORWARD. THIS VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT SLOWS DOWN WHEN PRESSING THE GAS AT TIMES AND YOU NEED TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL HARDER. THE BRAKES SQUEAK OFTEN WHEN WET AND COLD AND SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PUSH IT DOWN, YOU HAVE TO PUSH IT SEVERAL TIMES, LET UP AND PUSH IT AGAIN BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START.

NHTSA ODI 11276883

2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO AFTER GETTING INTO A MINOR ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AS *TR

NHTSA ODI 11174174

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, DROVE FORWARD, AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER DRIVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. *TT *JB

NHTSA ODI 11139948

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE BLIND SPOT WARNING INDICATOR NOTIFYING THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT SITUATED IN THE BLIND SPOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.

NHTSA ODI 11120976

MY WIFE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE HAD 3000 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE HAD A SEAT BELT ON BUT WAS STILL INJURED. . ALSO ON STAR NEVER CAME ON. AN INVESTIGATOR FROM GM WAS HERE TODAY,AND SAID I SHOULD GET A COPY OF HIS REPORT.

NHTSA ODI 11091612