RoadVitals

2012 Chevrolet Traverse Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Oct 9, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 354 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel systemSuspension
Filed Oct 9, 2025

The car feels like it’s bouncing everywhere on any kind of surface and now there is a loud very loud rattling noise coming from underneath the car and the car starts shaking excessively if you try to accelerate

NHTSA ID
11692458
Incident
Oct 1, 2025
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 4, 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle stopped abruptly. The check engine, traction control, stability control, and air conditioner warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined the failure was due to the throttle body. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The throttle body was previously replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID
11640608
Incident
Feb 4, 2024
Mileage
120,000 mi
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 24, 2024

When driving the vehicle it will lose power and flash service stabilitrack and low engine mode enabled without warning. This has happened many times since 2016. When the conditions cannot be replicated gm/chevrolet has not been concerned but to refer to dealership. The dealership replaced ECM due to warranty conditions. Issue with emissions and electrical modules continued to cause intermittent power loss. Corrosion was found in the internal fuse box due to poor sun roof drainage emptying into glovebox and onto internal fuse box. GM and Chevrolet describes this as a known issue but insists my VIN is not affected. The issues continued to persist leading to frequent battery replacement that was ultimately due to contamination of electrical components. Fuel system parts were all assumed faulty only to find it was ultimately the fuel control module, another electronic component listed faulty but GM/ Chevrolet assumes my VIN is not affected. This car was purchased to be a family vehicle, but had proven to be an unreliable death trap. The first incident that caused concern was 2/14/2017 on the highway with speeds up to 70mph. Thankfully, that day was full of heavy traffic that did not allow drivers to reach high speeds. If I had been going that fast when the engine lost power I can only imagine what that would have meant for me and my family. I know I am not the only owner of a Chevrolet traverse with these concerning issues. I find it irresponsible for GM/Chevrolet/Buick to mass produce vehicles with these issues and fail to acknowledge the hazard they represent. Knowing they have produced a lemon that cost the sticker price, repair cost, and potentially human lives and failing to remedy the issue astounds me. I urge you to please investigate this concern.

NHTSA ID
11627098
Incident
Feb 14, 2017
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 23, 2021

I was driving to the store and my car dinged and a message saying something like service stabilitrack flashed. The car slowed and I pulled over and turned off the car. Eventually I turned the car on and it was back to normal speed but then it sputtered like it was out of gas. That was 2 months ago. I've had it in the shop 2 times and my husband has been trying to replace every part suggested by gm and any other mechanic. The car continues to misfire and turn of at times during driving. This feature makes this vehicle completely unsafe. Any vehicle that simply cuts power should not be on the road as it poses unnecessary risk. Please do something.

NHTSA ID
11430066
Incident
May 12, 2021
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Apr 30, 2021

DASH IS THROWING DIFFERENT CODES SUCH AS SERVICE AND CHECK TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITRACK, AIR BAG, AND AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING IT WILL SAY REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND MY FOOT WOULD BE ON GAS NOT WANTING TO BARELY MOVE. ONE TIME I ALMOST GOT HIT. OTHER SEVERAL TIMES I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND WE WOULD HAVE TO DISCONNECT BATTERY WAIT A LITTLE AND CAR WOULD BE OK AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAT IT MAKES ME NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT AND THANK GOD WE HAVE ANOTHER CAR. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUES FOR THE 4TH TIME. CAR FEELS AT TIMES LIKE IT IS BOGGING WHEN ON GAS PEDDLE AS IF SOMETHING HAD A CLOG IN IT AND STARTS PULSATING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALSO ON.

NHTSA ID
11414663
Incident
Apr 30, 2021
Mileage
165 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 22, 2020

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR CUTTING OUT/STALLING FOR 2 YEARS NOW. I KEEP TAKING IT IN TO MECHANICS TO GET IT FIXED AND IT SEEMS TO WORK THEN RANDOMLY LEAVES ME AND MY DAUGHTER STRANDED. SOMETIMES IT WILL STALL ONCE AND KEEP GOING... OTHER TIMES IT HAS TAKEN ME 3-4 HOURS TO GET HOME. I'VE HAD A MAJOR TUNE UP DONE, REPLACED THE FULE PUMP, FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR, MAP SENSOR, PURGE VALVE CANISTER, CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, AND REPLACED RELAYS. IT HAS STALLED ON FREEWAYS, AND MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC LEAVING ME STUCK IN UNSAFE LOCATIONS. SIMILAR MODELS HAVE RECALLS BUT NOT MINE. GUESSING THEY PICK AND CHOOSE HOW MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES THEY ARE WILLING TO FIX.

NHTSA ID
11350777
Incident
Aug 22, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jun 16, 2020

RECENTLY I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH SHUDDERING WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. FIRST AT 40MPH AND THEN MORE RECENTLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. ALSO TODAY THE STABILTRACK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING THAT IT REQUIRED SERVICE. RPM'S AND SPEEDOMETER ALSO WOULD FLUCTUATE WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE MANY VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE THAT POINT TO THE THROTTLE BODY HAVING OIL BLOW BY THROUGH THE THROTTLE BODY AS THERE IS NO CHECK VALVE TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING. I WILL BE CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO SEEN THAT THE BRAKE POSITION SENSOR COULD BE THE CULPRIT AS WELL. I REPLACED THE IGNITION COILS AFTER SEEING THE ENGINE FLUCTUATIONS, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE SPARKS PLUGS AS THEY WERE RECENTLY REPLACED UNDER 6K MILES AGO. THIS SEEMS TO BE A LONG STANDING AND WIDE DISPERSED ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. MANY HAVE SEEN THE POWER DROP WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THIS BUG COULD CAUSE THE MASS DAMAGE OF A TRANSMISSION IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFT WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY IF IT WERE TO DROP TO 2ND GEAR FROM 5TH OR 6TH ON AUTOMATIC DRIVE. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID
11329166
Incident
Jun 16, 2020
Mileage
178,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Apr 3, 2019

I WAS DRIVING MY TRAVERSE ON AN ON RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DASH SAID SERVICE STABILITRAC, ENGINE POWER REDUCED... JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. I LOST ACCELERATION AND HAD TO TAKE THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID GETTING RUN OVER BY A SEMI THAT WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED! I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ISN'T A RECALL OR SOMETHING FOR THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE!!

NHTSA ID
11193680
Incident
Apr 3, 2019
Mileage
131,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Nov 20, 2018

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2012 CHEVY TRAVERSE, RECEIVED ERRORS "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" AND "TRACTION CONTROL OFF". SHE SAID THE VEHICLE COULDN'T GO ABOVE 20 MPH AND SHE WAS ON A 50MPH ROAD. SHE WAS VERY FRANTIC WITH OUR KIDS IN THE CAR. DROVE IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO TOLD US IT'S A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR ISSUE GOING TO COST $400. STARTED SEARCHING AND FOUND MANY FORUMS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND APPEARS NO ONE KNOWS WHAT'S WRONG. VERY UNSAFE. NEED A RECALL. HAPPENING TOO OFTEN.

NHTSA ID
11152894
Incident
Nov 20, 2018
Mileage
67,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 27, 2018

MY FUEL LIGHT CAME ON SO I WENT TO THE NEAREST STATION TO FILL UP. I ALWAYS TURN MY CAR OFF WHILE PUMPING. WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR AFTERWARDS, IT ACTED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO START. I PROCEEDED TO LEAVE THE STATION. AS I GOT ON THE ROAD MY LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON WARNING ME THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF, THAT THE STABILITY SOMETHING NEEDS SERVICED, THEN SOMETHING ABOUT POWER REDUCED. I QUICKLY WENT FROM 45 MPH TO LESS THAN 20 ON A FLAT ROAD. SCARED ME BC I HAD MY FAMILY IN MY CAR AND ON A ONE LANE ROAD TRYING TO GET TO THE SIDE SO OTHERS COULD PASS ME.

NHTSA ID
11143421
Incident
Oct 27, 2018
Mileage
156,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 29, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. STABILITRACK AUTOMATICALLY GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR INTERSTATE THE SMELL OF RAW GAS COMES THROUGH THE CABIN, VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND STARTS TO STALL. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN NOT JUST ONCE. I HAVE RESEARCHED COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND THERE ARE A TON OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID
11114356
Incident
Apr 10, 2018
Mileage
142,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jun 29, 2018

I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE RD WITH MY TODDLER WHEN UNEXPECTEDLY THE CAR BEGAN TO ABRUPTLY SLOW DOWN. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR THAT SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A MESSAGE ENGINE POWER REDUCED, TRACTION CONTROL OFF, STABILITRACK NEEDS SERVICING. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND WITH CARS FLYING BY IT WAS TERRYING TRYING TO PULL OFF SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED WHEN I PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. AFTER PULLING OFF I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN BUT RECEIVED THE SAME MESSAGES. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR IT STRUGGLED TO MOVE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AGAIN AND THEN WAITED 10 MINUTES. UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT NO OTHER MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3/30/17. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. THE SERVICE ADVISORS CALLED A FEW DAYS LATER AND STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY ONLY NOTED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I PAID BELIEVING THIS WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED AGAIN DRIVING ON A CITY RD AND I WAS NEARLY STRUCK FROM BEHIND AGAIN AND STRUGGLED TO SAFELY GET OFF THE ROAD. THIS TIME MY HUSBAND AND 2 OTHER CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE SAME DASH NOTIFICATIONS AND AFTER GETTING IT STARTED I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP ON 3/17/18. I SHOWED THEM THE PICS AND WAS ADAMANT I WOULD NOT GET IN THE CAR AGAIN UNLESS IT WAS FIXED. THEY ASSURED ME IT WOULD BE FIXED THIS TIME. A FEW DAYS LATER THEY STATED THE FUEL PUMP FUEL LINES AND FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER MY SECOND EXPERIENCE I FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
11104814
Incident
Mar 29, 2017
Mileage
90,155 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 21, 2017

IT IS A KNOWN PROPLEM THAT GM MAKES FUEL PUMPS WITH FUEL SENSORS THAT FAIL RANDOMLY AND OFTEN. I KNOW ONE PERSON WHO HAS REPLACED IT FOUR TIMES. OURS HAS FAILED.. THE FUEL GAUGE NOW DOESN'T WORK, AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL REJECT FUEL. MY WIFE HAS BEEN STRANDED WITH OUR CHILDREN IN ONE HUNDRED DEGREE WEATHER BECAUSE OF THIS. THE DEALER WANTS A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT, BECAUSE THEY INSIST ON REPLACING THE WHOLE PUMP AND DROPPING THE FUEL TANK TO DO IT.

NHTSA ID
11018742
Incident
Aug 21, 2017
Mileage
90,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 16, 2017

VEHICLE WILL DISPLAY "SERVICE STABILITRAK" "TRACTION CONTROL OFF". THEN VEHICLE BECOMES JUMPY. THEN A BURNING AND FUEL EXHAUST SMELL ENTERS THE CAB. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 4-6 MONTHS. I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP LAST MONTH AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10945496
Incident
Jan 15, 2017
Fuel system
Filed Mar 5, 2016

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF, CAN'T START ACCERLERATION DROPS. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON THE STREET.

NHTSA ID
10840082
Incident
Mar 5, 2016
Mileage
20 mi
Fuel systemOther / unspecifiedSeat belts
Filed Oct 11, 2014

HELLO. I LEASED A 2012 TRAVERSE FOR 24 MONTHS AND HAD 3 OR WAS IT 4 URGENT/IMPORTANT RECALLS? I MISSED WORK 3 TIMES COSTING ME ALMOST $500.00 DOLLARS BECAUSE I HAD TO CALL OFF ALL BECAUSE "URGENT/IMPORTANT" TOOK THOSE WORDS FOR GRANTED RECALLS. I RECENTLY GOT A 24 MONTH NEW LEASE FROM CHEVY AGAIN AFTER TURNING MY TRAVERSE IN THIS MONTH SHORTLY AFTER I WAS BILLED BY ALLY FINANCIAL ABOUT $600.00 FOR MINOR WEAR AND TEARS FOR THE TRAVERSE I TURNED IN ALMOST 2 WEEKS AGO. I TURNED THE TRUCK IN EARLY AND MADE THE LAST PAYMENT AND IT WAS 8K MILES UNDER. I'M SHOCKED AND APPALLED THAT WITH ALL THE URGENT RECALLS AND HAVING TO LOSE MONEY CALLING OFF WORK TO GET THESE SERIOUS URGENT RECALLS FIXED, ALLY OR CHEVY DID NOT EVEN OFFER ANY INCENTIVES?? THEY SAID REPAIRS FOR RECALLS ARE AT NO CHARGE...WELL OF COURSE THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE AND TO THINK OF MY KIDS AND DRIVING WITH THEM KNOWING A PRIOR URGENT RECALLS AND ONE BEING WAS WITH SAFETY BELTS??,? HMMM MAYBE I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS, I HAVE TO TAKE IT AS A SERIOUS MATTER. I LOST TIME AND MONEY AWAY FROM WORK TO FIX THE CHEVY RECALLS...SO MANY, AND ALLY FINANCIAL IS ASKING ME FOR ALMOST $600.00??? CHEVY NEGLECTED TO RELEASE THESE VEHICLES LIKE THE TRAVERSE WITH SEAT BELT ISSUES BEING DISCOVERED A YEAR AFTER I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT AND WITH THE FAMILY IN IT? WOW UNBELIEVABLE, AND THEN ALLY FINANCIAL ASKING ME FOR $600. FOR MINOR SCRATCHES, SOME NERVES. CHEVY NOT EVEN COMPENSATING NOTHING NOT EVEN A DOLLAR, HAH I JUST HOPE THAT VP [XXX] OF THE GLOBAL VEHICLE SAFETY REALIZES THIS WAS ONGOING THE SECOND MY FAMILY TRUCK TRAVERSE LEFT THE ASSEMBLY WITH THIS IMPORTANT/URGENT RECALL, ESPECIALLY THE SEAT BELT ONE. MY FAMILY RODE IN THIS TRUCK. NO COMPENSATIONS JUST AN APOLOGY, SURE YAH RIGHT GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE...ALLY OWES ME AND CHEVY SHOULD PAY MY DEBT...THE NERVE! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10643991
Incident
Feb 14, 2013
Mileage
4,500 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .