2018 Chevrolet Traverse: Problems & Reliability
YEAR TO AVOIDThe 2018 Chevrolet Traverse has 465 NHTSA owner complaints, 1,106 manufacturer service bulletins, and 2 recall campaigns on federal record, led by power train and unknown or other issues. Among the 12 Chevrolet Traverse model years with federal records, it ranks 1st by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid.
Sources: NHTSA complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-11-05 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
465
NHTSA complaints
1,106
Service bulletins
2
Recall campaigns
—
Avg. buyer-paid
Most-reported problem areas on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
Power Train — 196 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Unknown Or Other — 105 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Electrical System — 102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
How the 2018 compares to adjacent years
| Model year | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 361 | 999 | 3 | — |
| 2018 (this page) | 465 | 1,106 | 2 | — |
| 2019 | 412 | 816 | 3 | — |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Chevrolet Traverse years to avoid.
Know what to pay for the right 2018 Chevrolet Traverse — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse has 465 NHTSA owner complaints, 1,106 manufacturer service bulletins, and 2 recall campaigns on federal record, led by power train and unknown or other issues. Among the 12 Chevrolet Traverse model years with federal records, it ranks 1st by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse?
The most-reported problem areas for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse in NHTSA owner complaints are power train, unknown or other, electrical system. Service bulletins (1,106 on file) show what the manufacturer issued repair guidance for.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse have recalls?
Yes — 2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. Recall completion is VIN-specific: run the exact VIN to see whether the work was actually done on the car you're considering.
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse a good year to buy?
The 2018 is one of the Chevrolet Traverse years to avoid by complaint and bulletin volume — the 2023 and 2021 model years show cleaner records. If the price reflects the risk and the specific car checks out by VIN, informed buyers still do fine; just don't pay clean-year money for it.
How do I check a specific 2018 Chevrolet Traverse before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.