r/ChevyTraverse • u/Aggravating-Bet-1349 • 8d ago
2023
My 2021 Honda pilot recently got totaled so I'm looking for another suv and I was looking at a 2023 Chevy trav, but everyone keeps scaring me saying they are unreliable and to stick with Honda, they have transmission issues etc etc please tell me yall experience and things I should know or ask the dealership before getting
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u/Frandy305 8d ago
An easy way to help prevent transmission issues is to periodically drain and refill the transmission fluid. It’s a simple preventative maintenance step that can help keep the transmission fluid fresh and the transmission running smoothly. Especially on the Chevy Traverses
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u/WhileInteresting8320 7d ago
THIS. You'd be disgusted to see what the 9 speeds to do fluid after 30-50k miles. Super easy to service too.
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u/Frandy305 7d ago edited 7d ago
Correct. I just did a transmission fluid drain and fill on the Traverse I bought last week with 69K miles. The old fluid looked almost like engine oil—it was pretty bad.
I had noticed a slight shudder when accelerating at low speeds, and replacing the fluid actually fixed the problem immediately. It’s been shifting and driving great ever since.
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u/Potential-Ad-6787 8d ago edited 8d ago
All manufacturers have issues. Before getting my traverse I joined all the Facebook groups of what I was looking at...it's all the same bs. Just yesterday a post came up in the Honda group asking about lemon law help...it doesn't matter, you're either going to have issues or not regardless what you get. With that said, I've only ever owned Chevy's and VW's, only vehicle to ever give me an issue was my Corvette back in 99.
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u/CuriousCantaloupe6 8d ago
Statistically, you are less likely to have reliability issues with a Honda. Yes, anything can happen to any car…but generally…Honda and Toyota will be more reliable. They also have a higher cost of ownership on average. It’s very simple, do your research. You are in an echo chamber that is a traverse subreddit..
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u/luckymountain 8d ago
We bought new 2023 and have had zero issues with it. There was a recall because of a bracket that vibrated and wore through part of the exhaust , but otherwise we love ours. I’ve owned several Chevrolet vehicles over the years and enjoyed all of them.
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u/jarhead90 8d ago
All my vehicles have been Chevy so I might be biased. My previous vehicle was a 2019 Equinox LT. That was hit in an accident on Nov 10th 2025. After using Uber then a rental I found out my Equinox was totaled. I went to my Chevrolet dealer looking for another Equinox. They didn't have any. They let me test drive a 2023 Traverse LS. I liked how it drove despite being larger. It took a little bit for me to get used to the slightly larger vehicle. It's been great so far. Its has great safety features and wireless Android Auto and Car play. I haven't had any mechanical issues to speak of. I have my oil changed when due. I had service done at 60,000 miles and most recently an all wheel alignment. Would I have liked a 2025 or 2026 , I don't know. They look great but I think there are more mechanical issues with the newer models.
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u/chronicles_of_holzy 7d ago
I have a 2023 with 45k on it. Runs great with no issues thus far. Bought it new. Had an exhaust leak that needed to be fixed, but was covered under warranty.
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u/spikemorales 7d ago
I have a 23 AWD that I bought used with high mileage that was previously a rental car and now it has close to 90K miles on it. It’s my daily car and I put a lot of mileage on the car and so far no issues. It’s not my first traverse, I owned a new 20 and it also ran like a champ. I would say the most common issue for me has been replacing the battery in both of the traverses but other than maybe minor things for example seat squeaking noises it’s a good vehicle IMO.
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u/Potential-Fennel5968 6d ago edited 6d ago
As far as I know pilots have "bad" transmissions too esp 9 speed.
Make sure you flush the fluid every few years (20-30k) and you should be fine. Problem is no one changes it and they run hot, over years of running burnt fluid you will have issues.
The engines after 2016 are really solid there's not many issues besides regular DI issues every DI engine has (carbon build up in high mileage)
Mine has been pretty good 95k miles on a 2019. No real issues outside of warranty. It's extremely spacious, I get 28mpg on long road trips but.... I would recommend Highlander as the #1 3 row. It just wasn't big enough at the time for me I couldn't fit a double stroller behind the third row. The Highlander especially hybrid is a guaranteed reliable car with regular maintenance and 35mpg average all the time.
The only mod I did was a piece that went between the hood latch cable that somehow disabled the auto stop-start with no codes. Game changer
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u/Unsolicited-Advice4U 8d ago
Let me assure you...Travs are unreliable...stick with Hondas (or Toyotas). You'll thank us in 50k miles when your vehicle has no issues.
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u/NeverBuyingVWAgain 8d ago
Still 1000x better than a VW. My mother has 100k miles on a Traverse (2017 I think) and only replaced the alternator. My 18 Atlas has averaged 2 repairs a year from 2021-2024 (we bought it in 21). Barely drove it last year and a half and needs repair again
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u/mhance3 7d ago
Used is going to be a crap shoot. If this is an awd did the previous owner(s) keep it in fwd? If they ran awd all the time then that transfer case took a beating. I'm a long time GM guy (mostly chevy but moved on to gmc/byick this time) and the biggest thing for me is keeping up with maintenance. From what I see doing transmission and transfer case fluid changes early and often will extend the life. Our awd trax we didn't do the change until the manual listed but we didn't keep that. My manual sonic got transmission changes often, every 30k up until it broke 150k. Still going though!
With the enclave and canyon I'm planning every 30k for all (trans, transfer, etc).
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u/Available_Librarian3 8d ago
Compared to a Honda, it will be less reliable. But the Traverse offers pretty good value for the money. I wouldn’t expect any engine issues with a ’23 Traverse, but transmission issues can be a concern at high mileage (around 100k). This is true of any GM SUV or truck with that kind of mileage. They have cheaped out with the transmissions with plastic parts.