Used 2012 Chevrolet Traverse Consumer Reviews
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This engine holds a bad secret
Domonic Webster, 04/14/2018
2012 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
154 of 159 people found this review helpful
While this vehicle has many great features it hides a bad thing that will sink you. The engine has timing chains that have a known defect. I wish I knew this before I spent my money. The repair cost is a new engine which will cost about $5,000 and takes about 8-15 hours to replace. When all is said and done you will spend $10,000 to repair. If you own a earlier version 2007-2009 it’s covered. If you buy a 2012 it will not be.
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Just Another Traverse Horror Story
HJP, 01/31/2019
updated 08/02/2021
2012 Chevrolet Traverse LT 4dr SUV w/2LT (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
47 of 48 people found this review helpful
Words will fail to express the complete disappointment we have for this vehicle and for GM's unwillingness to do anything about it. Bought it used in the Fall of 2014. Gave us some hiccups over the 4 years and e.g., @ ~50K miles we drove it e.g., power steering pump failed completely (not uncommon for these vehicles). Otherwise great car up for the spouse. Good size, handled well in modest snow. MPG was horrible but an overall smooth, quiet comfortable ride. She loved it.....Up until the transmission failed catastrophically and w/o warning late in the fall of 2018 @ ~115K miles. As described in other posts and throughout the web the car - again w/o power warning decelerated the dash lit up with all types of warning messages and pretty little lights. Door locks began to lock and unlock and warning chimes started sounding. Was not sure if the car needed a mechanic or a priest to perform an exorcism. This car has been faithfully maintained with the same dealer for all 4 years. Was initially told the original battery may have done bad things to the transmission control unit which in turn smoked the tranny. Replaced the battery since that was the recommendation ~$450!. Yup - tranny was smoked. Still owed 18 mos on the loan so - after much deliberation and saving for the repair - we elected to replace to the transmission. Some headaches with the install - getting the new TCU to talk to the main computer. They get that solved and dealer tech takes the car out on the road to test the repair and the motor seizes up! Again no warning, nothing!. Mechanic tells me he is sorry and is sympathetic and advises me to call GM.... something about how the transmission must have stressed the motor even though there was not data to support the engine over revving or otherwise being stressed. I am now $4K into a repair with nothing to show for it and now looking at another $7K to replace the motor... and, oh, we still owe $6K on the original loan. So, all in, looking at $17.5K on a 7 year old vehicle. BTW $17K was was we paid for it in 2014!!!! Not holding out hope that my good friends at GM Customer Service (the incident is now at Tier 2 Cust Service) will do anything - why would they, right? I am a 5 time Chev owner - just bought a Silverado from them.... There is just no way that a vehicle at this age and miles should have failed so completely - not in this day and age. GM should be ashamed!
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Traction DANGER!!!
Cece, 09/10/2018
2012 Chevrolet Traverse LS 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
58 of 60 people found this review helpful
Today 9/9/2018 I was on my way to church this morning. I get not even a third of the way there and my car takes me from 45 mph to a quick 15 mph without warning!!!!!!!!!!!! I pulled over and just shut my car off because I was scared. This is not the first time that this has happened to me. The last time it happened I was on the highway coming back from chemotherapy and I had my kids in the car. THIS IS NOT SAFE!!!!! Whenever I did call my dealership and took it up there for them to see, I could not duplicate the issue. I do not feel safe in my car and I honestly don't want it anymore. I need to have a car that I can depend on to get to my appointments. I have already had to fight one HUGE monster with my health, I surely don't need anything else to happen to me or my children.
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GM should be embarrassed.
Jeff Chyko, 02/01/2019
2012 Chevrolet Traverse LS 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
25 of 25 people found this review helpful
I purchase vehicles for long term. I am currently driving my second Chevy 2500 series truck with over 200k miles. Could never say anything bad about the trucks. So, I had no problem agreeing to purchase our 2012 Traverse as certified pre-owned from a dealer in 2013 with under 20k miles with the hopes of driving it to 200k miles. Not the case. Well before 100k miles we loose AWD and have to replace the entier rear end. We opted for a 7000 mile salvage rear end ($1800) over the dealers (chevrolet of Wasilla)($3600) rear end. Work is done by Chevrolet of Wasilla with salvaged rear. Before a year goes by my wife comes home from a dealer oil change with a $3500 estimate to replace the entire power steering system. I’ve never had to replace an entire steering system on any vehicle, pump maybe. Come to learn this is a common defect in GM vehicles dating back to 2009. GM does a “hush” special warranty but our vehicle is not covered even though the system is still garbage. 10 months and 13,000 miles after our rear end replacement, the new one is leaking fluid. Not covered becuase it’s 1000 over the warranty. Facing $7000 of repairs, I refuse to put any money to such a bad vehicle. Starting to learn Traverses have a bad reputation as money pits. I’m really hoping the dealer will step up to help us out of the vehicle and into a Tahoe. Also hoping that Tahoe’s are still reliable. Shame on GM for producing such garbage and not standing behind it. Is that the thanks tax paying citizens get from a company who needed a bail out to keep going? You can’t produce a vehicle that can make 200k miles with regular maintenance and minor repairs.? When you design a bad steerign system you don’t attempt to correct it? Embarrassment to America, nice job.
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2012 Traverse 30-Day Review
nurseratched, 07/08/2012
2012 Chevrolet Traverse LT 4dr SUV AWD w/1LT (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
65 of 72 people found this review helpful
This is my daily commuter from the mountains to the city. The Traverse is exceptionally comfortable to drive and handles the steep and curvy mountain roads with ease. Plenty of passing power and, despite some of the other complaints, I think the visibility to the side and rear is fine. I've never been in a quieter car...little to no road or wind noise. Everything is within easy reach and the interior is cavernous! Even though there is seating for 8 I don't use the 3rd row. The rear is strictly used for cargo and comes in handy with monthly trips to Costco! I looked at several other models and decided the Traverse topped them all.
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