Mechanic Says This Popular SUV Is a "Ticking Time Bomb"

Any vehicle on the road can expect to run into issues on occasion. However, as one of the more significant financial investments a person can make, it always helps to do some research before you inadvertently drive away with a car that isn’t built to last. Mechanics are experts regarding which makes and models tend to be the least reliable—and if you want to avoid any potential time and money pits, they say there’s one popular SUV that’s particularly problematic.

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Mechanics say the Chevy Traverse is like a "ticking time bomb."

Considering heading out to the dealership for a new ride soon? In a recent TikTok post, a team of mechanics from Orozco’s Auto Service in California runs down which specific vehicles can’t seem to make it to the 100,000-mile goalpost. The pros cite several different brands, including “any BMWs,” “any Range Rovers,” and even Mercedes C-Class sedans. But one particular SUV came up among the crew: The Chevy Traverse.

“That one just doesn’t make it [to 100,000 miles],” one mechanic says in the helpful clip. “I don’t know why. Those things are like ticking time bombs for some reason!”

Some customers have reported issues with the transmission.

Social media is also filled with examples from drivers of just how quickly the vehicles can develop serious issues. In a post last August, TikTok user @CarlosMoore853 showed two of the SUVs lifted up in a garage while being repaired.

“Brand new, and both need new transmissions,” he wrote in the caption, along with a garbage emoji.

Another driver reported the same issue: TikToker @SansUserName2 says their Chevy Traverse suffered a failed transmission at just 1,500 miles in the middle of a road trip, saying that the “snap ring” in the vehicle failed.

The problems are turning some customers off the brand.

In another recent video, TikToker @LorianneKol said that after a “month of being naive,” she would now no longer recommend the Chevy Traverse to potential buyers. She warns that the vehicle has had major issues with the brakes, in particular, having run down the front pads to 45 percent after just over 7,000 miles of driving, and she even cited a major recall that affected the vehicle.

And while she does give the model credit for having ample space, she also claims the third row of seats creates a problem for cargo because they “won’t go down.”

Other major issues have mounted up, including her complaining that “it’s ridiculous I need a new transmission at 2,000 miles,” adding that the vehicle has “broken on its own” twice.

“Anytime someone asks me about the vehicle, I tell everyone that it’s a piece of [expletive] and I do not recommend it,” she says in the video. She adds that despite having driven Chevy and GM vehicles her entire life, “truly, I am done with GM and Chevy” after her experience with the Traverse and the related maintenance and loaner vehicle issues.

In their video, @SansUserName2 listed even more issues he’s experienced since replacing the transmission. They range from problems with the vehicle's AirPlay system, strange warning and check engine lights, and strange noises from behind the dash after turning off the ignition.

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Experts noted how loud the engine was in professional reviews.

Even if the car is running, you may not be able to expect the smoothest rides once you’re on the road. In a recent review of the 2024 Traverse LT all-wheel drive model, Consumer Reports discovered another potential drawback with the engine, calling it a potential “dealbreaker” for some drivers in a TikTok discussion.

“The engine is so loud, especially anything above 2,500 to 3,000 RPM,” they said. “It presents as a tiny engine screaming and reverberating inside a giant echo chamber,” with one other reviewer leaving a note that it “sounds like a metal box filled with rocks.”

Still, other reviews in the clip said the sound wasn’t always an issue, especially compared to other similarly built 4-cylinder SUVs.

The takeaway.

Drivers be warned: Mechanics say the Chevy Traverse may not be the most reliable SUV on the road, especially due to issues with the transmission. Some customers have also taken to social media to warn potential buyers, citing issues before the vehicle passes 2,000 miles on the odometer.

Despite boasting a spacious interior, other potential issues include an unusually loud engine, brake problems, and unreliable warning and check engine lights.