7.7
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $420
- Average Mileage:
- 26,700 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 18 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (15 reports)
- had to have shifter completely replaced at dealership (2 reports)
- gear shift lever replacement (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.
This is the second time my Chevy Traverse had a problem with the transmission not engaging after placing the car in park then trying to get it to drive.
I was waiting at a drive thru and placed my car in park while paying the lady. When I placed the car in D (drive) the car transmission did not engage and it would not drive. I revved the engine to see if that would help but it did not. I switched the gear to P again then to D and nothing but then on it's own it resolved then I could drive.
The dealer says they will check the computer for any messages but no lights turned on the first time this happened nor this time so most likely the computer may not have a record of this. This is not something that occurs every time so it does not quite fulfill the lemon law. My concern is that the dealer can't fix what he doesn't experience.
- Maria B., Oswego, US
On a long stop light, I placed my car in park. When the light turned green I turned the gear to D for drive but the transmission did not engage. If felt as if it was in N (neutral) but it most certainly was in D (drive). I pressed the gas pedal a tad harder to see if it would help but it did not. It stalled gear wise but then engaged and I was able to move forward. I've been driving for years and I've never experienced anything like this before. It happened four times so far and I have 1,500 miles on it. It has been scary because a couple of the times I was on an intersection and I was afraid the car behind me was going to rear end me. I'm not going to place my car in park on stops util this gets resolved.
Most people don't place their cars in P on long lights but I do because I can and rest at that stop especially on situations where I'm waiting for a train to cross, or on a drive-thru order. Because most people don't place their cars on stops in P, there is a Traverse out there which has this same problem but hasn't been recognized.
The dealer told me I shouldn't place my car in P when on lights or waiting in a drive-thru. I said "Excuse me! The car has to perform its functions under all the conditions." When I place my car in P then switch to D, it better drive or there's a problem with the car.
- Maria B., Oswego, US
Shift to park is the manufacturer's problem. They need to get this fixed - they should have a recall on it.
- shoby, Spring Branch Texas, US
Dealer fixed issue under warranty. Vehicle was starting to shift to park, and when it was in park, it would sometimes require on average 8 times to start the vehicle and shift to park before it would stop prompting. Otherwise it would keep notifying.
- Jason S., Brookings, SD, US
This problem is so annoying as the engine won't completely turn off until it finally registers the vehicle in "park". My vehicle is at the dealership waiting for a new "gear shift assembly". The parts are on back order and now with the GM/UAW strike, no one can say how long before the parts will come in. Stay tuned.
- David E., Shelb, MI, US
Shift to park. When you park, the vehicle ask you to put it in PARK, and it is already. Dealer is working on that as I write this thread. Tech found a recall or bulletin from manufacturer to repair or possibly replace some parts.
- Juan carlos F., cali, Colombia
I bought a new 2018 Traverse. There were no problems until about 10 months ago. It started having a message 'shift to park' when it was already in park!! Sometimes it can be bumped or jiggled once or twice and it goes away, but sometimes it refuses to budge and takes several times to finally get it to go off. I can't leave it like this, it will run battery down and I can't lock the vehicle. I reported this to the dealership and they said the couldn't duplicate problem and to just bump it when it did that.
The problem continues and I recently read where there is a lawsuit against GM for this same problem in several models, including the Traverse. I called the dealership and they denied having any knowledge of a problem. They want me to pay to have it fixed, and state its not covered and there is no recall. They suggested I trade the vehicle. But why would I do that if this is such a problem with their vehicles??
Why doesn't GM just take care of their customers and fix this problem???
- Jean L., Dawson, US
Car is in park, and when you turn off the car it states "SHIFT TO PARK". Car will not turn off or stop beeping until you wiggle the shifter and cross your fingers. It can take up to 20 times of wiggling/putting car in drive and back in park until it finally registers as parked. Super PIA!!!! Will take to dealership for help.
- Wendy M., Castle Pines, US
This has happened several times. It's like it has a mind of its own.
All can say is that I have experienced this issue with my 2018 Traverse.
- Lucille S., Folsom, PA, US
Shift to park error message is to me a major problem, as I drive a child and myself in this vehicle every day. I called Chevrolet Customer Service and received no assistance on this because I was outside of the manufacturer warranty period. Conveniently. They stated a recall has not been issued on this vehicle. I am a safe driver and do not speed or throw it in to park, no reason this shifter should have been broken to need replacement with such low of miles. I bought my car brand new so it is a 1 owner vehicle. I believe this "shift to park" error and replacing the whole shifter needs to be up for recall.
- Raegan S., Winnsboro, TX, US
click to see larger images
This started about 32,000 miles. Known issue according to my dealer, they fixed it immediately.
- Todd L., Grand Forks, ND, US
f/Fighting with GM over the cost of the repair. This is a known problem within GM. When this happens, there are several failures modes, including not being able to restart the vehicle. It will also run down your battery. I am guessing that since it only happens when the vehicle is stopped, and trying to exit the vehicle, that it is not considered a safety issue. However, it is a major customer PIA.
The service bulletin is 18-NA-297.
- trkrebs, Brighton, US
So when you spend this kind of money on a vehicle you expect it to hold up for several years. This car is barely a year old and for the last month I have been dealing with my SUV not recognizing when it is in park. What that means is, the vehicle will not shut off and I can not lock it and walk away. I have to sit and jiggle the gear shifter like a mad woman until it decides to recognize that it is indeed in park. I think it must be a transmission problem because sometimes when I put it in Reverse it acts as if it is in neutral. Appointment with Chevy scheduled. Will update soon.
- Terri L., La Place, US
Purchased a new 2018 Traverse on 01.27.18. In the last week when we park the vehicle, shift into PARK and shut down the engine, a message appears in the message center "SHIFT TO PARK". The vehicle is already in the PARK mode the engine is shut down, however the radio stays on and "bell dinger" goes off when you open the drivers door like the lights have been left on in the manual mode. If we restart the vehicle and cycle the shifter several times it will finally operate normally and power down correctly so you can secure the vehicle.
- Scott N DiAnna K., Kempner, TX, US
I have a 2018 Chevy traverse. I bought this truck 2017 brand new. From day one it was leaking transmission fluid. Had it in several times and the leak was fixed. Fast forward to now the message center says I have to "shift to park" when the vehicle is in the parked mode. When this message appears I can shut the truck off but the radio stays on and the doors cant be locked, it takes several attempts of putting the truck in reverse, drive, park to finally clear the message and secure the vehicle in park. I have also noticed the truck has hard shifting and stuttered shifting at times.
- Darnell S., Sicklerville, US
After parking car in drive way, shifter said car was in "Park", and I got a message to "Shift to Park". I messed around with the shifter, going into drive, reverse, etc, and then back into Park, and message went away.
- Brent C., Arlington, TN, US
When gear is already in PARK, I get a message says put in PARK to shut off. Called a dealership and told it will cost to look at even though still under 100% warranty. This is a brand new vehicle so unsure why this problem would already be occurring. It's annoying because at times you have to start it multiple times, just to be able to shut off fully.
- Carla J., Cincinnati, OH, US
When I shift to park and turn car off, car starts beeping and will not turn engine off. I have to sit there and turn car off and on, shift in and out of gears, over and over before the car eventually turns off. Had transmission replaced, had to pay for that failure even though car has been well cared for, and this problem still continues. I am scheduled to have gear shifter replaced next Wednesday. Have to pay for that as well, even though the transmission was replaced only a couple of months ago.
- Sarah J., Lawton, US