[henkle0304]

We have a like new 2012 Chevy Traverse. It's been a headache with multiple alternators, 2 seat belt sensors ($1,000 each) at 37,000 miles and then it was missing / shuddering on inclines. So now at 130,000 miles, I took it to the dealer and paid $140 for a diagnostic on the shuddering. Said we needed a torque converter. $4,000 later. Drives the same. Went to a mechanic I use regularly. He couldn't figure it out after 2 weeks and was waiting on a phone call about a "shifter" when I picked it up. Went to another dealer and they said without codes, they couldn't figure it out but I should clean the injectors since they're due. $250 later they said they'd cleaned the fuel injectors, O2 sensor, throttle body, catalytic converter, etc. Still, nothing changed. Took it to a transmission specialist. They found nothing when driving it so three days later, my husband takes it out and they see something on their computer about cylinder 1 & 3. So, we assumed they would replace coils / sparkplugs, wires. They call today - 2 days later - and they cleaned the fuel injectors...UGGGGHHH. So, now they say they've seen these Traverse that ran rich have catalytic converters that almost melt down. They are now drilling in to check pressure / temp in the converter??? And then if no issue, replacing the coils, etc. Any ideas if this is really a thing? We've spent almost a year and probably $4500 to have nothing change. Been to 2 dealerships and 2 other shops. We're lost at this point but have kids in college and can't really afford to get a new car.

 

[NAM]

I had a slight shuddering under load with my 2010. New coils and plugs cleared it up.

 

[henkle0304]

I just paid today and picked the car up. New coils, new plugs, and new sparkplug wires. Still no change. Thankfully, they didn't say I needed a new catalytic converter. However, as I'm picking it up - paying the bill and they concede that nothing has changed - they mention I might need a new engine. Yeah, well, I'm moving on. 2 dealerships and 2 other shops plus now $5,000 and I'm still chugging away on the incline.

 

[henkle0304]

So far....changed transmission fluid (twice)
cleaned fuel injectors, throttle body, O2 sensor, etc (twice) (once at the dealership)
all new coil, sparkplugs, wire
tested pressure / temp in catalytic converter
NEW torque converter

 

[rbarrios]

there are no spark plug wires on these cars....

 

[Montereyjack2$]

Not too many competent mechanics at work these days. Too many will do a trial and error process at the customer's expense. Al the items replaced can be tested to verify that they are not up to spec. If the vehicle is not covered under the GM warranty then I would look for an independent garage with good reviews and go there.

More than 85% of a dealer's profits come from the sales of parts and providing service and repairs. They have a vested interest in making repairs that may not be needed. Of the 4 dealers in my immediate area there is only one that I trust to do service work and repairs.

To clean the injectors all you need to do is pour a bottle of injector cleaner into a full gas tank and let it go to work.

At least with my Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Blazer the vehicles were the least reliable American cars I have ever owned. Only my Mercedes was worse. I bought the Traverse knowing it was not going to be as reliable as a SUV from Honda, Subaru, Hyundai, or Toyota, but I wanted a SUV with more cargo space. There are always trade-offs in life.

 

[rdy105]

We have the same symptoms on our 2013 Chevy Traverse (shuddering under load, especially going uphill at a lower speed - no codes). At first, I thought it was bad gas (we live on a military installation and have been getting gas on post), so we filled up with 93 and ran fuel system cleaner through a couple of tanks with no change. Since ours has almost 100k miles, I decided to change out the plugs (using OEM AC Delcos) and the gasket. No change. I saw some posts (like the post above) on this forum and others suggest coils. So I purchased 6 OEM AC Delco coils and changed them out. No change. I took it to the dealer to change the transmission fluid - we bought used, so I know I had never done it. I rode with the tech to show him what was happening. He said it was the torque converter, but surprisingly said it didn't need repair. He said he'd be happy to take my money, but to just give it a little more gas when going up hill. He suggested that the shudder had been happening for a while, just that we didn't notice it. We recently moved to a location with a lot of hills vs. a relatively flat where we were before, so it very well could have been happening without us noticing, but now we drive up and down hills all the time with a speed limit of 25 (max) on post. Tech said to just go 27 or 28 mph to keep it from shuddering. He proceeded with the tranny fluid change – said he didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Obviously, there has been no change. I bought some Shudder Fixx on Amazon for $7 and put it in over the weekend. We didn’t have the shudder going up an hills off post (where the speed limit is higher), but still have the shudder on/around post. I bought a MAF sensor to replace the old one to see if that changes anything, and will update once I have.

 

[ae7456t]

I had a similar shudder in my 2011 Buick Enclave under moderate load...Turned out that it was the CV joint(s) in the front going bad. I guess when they start to wear out (especially if the boots are cracked) there becomes enough play in the joints that there is a little shuddering under load. My other clue was a faint, but distinct "clicking" sound when accelerating in a turn.

I replaced the front passenger side axle half shaft, and the shudder/clicking went away...Definitely cheaper than a transmission, as well!

 

[2015LS]

I've had lots of cars do little light hesitations or pulses while going uphill at low rpm without any noticeable noise associated with the shudder.

My traverse definitely does it at low rpm under load, not enough for me to worry. When it became more noticeable a month or two ago I poured two bottles of Iso-Heet, which is water remover, in the gas tank and it seemed to calm the shudder back to normal.

Are there any weird noises during the shudder episode?

 

[rdy105]

UPDATE: MAF Sensor replacement

I bought a MAF sensor to replace the old one to see if that changes anything, and will update once I have.

As of Tuesday evening, the shudder persisted. Yesterday evening, I replaced the MAF sensor (bought a new one on Amazon for about $50), which took about 5 minutes. I test drove the Traverse and was unable to get it to shudder, which I have always been able to do before. I'm not 100% convinced that it's gone, but for now it's looking promising.

 

[rdy105]

MAF sensor was false hope... Shudder persists.

 

[rdy105]

Torque Converter replaced

Turns out that our 2013 Traverse was still under warranty, since it was a fleet vehicle before we bought it. Dealership replaced the torque converter (and 3-5-R waveplate) under warranty in April. Shudder is gone.

 

[Magic4954]

How did you find out your Traverse was still under warranty?

 

[Traverse-ty LT]

We have a like new 2012 Chevy Traverse. It's been a headache with multiple alternators, 2 seat belt sensors ($1,000 each) at 37,000 miles and then it was missing / shuddering on inclines. So now at 130,000 miles, I took it to the dealer and paid $140 for a diagnostic on the shuddering. Said we needed a torque converter. $4,000 later. Drives the same. Went to a mechanic I use regularly. He couldn't figure it out after 2 weeks and was waiting on a phone call about a "shifter" when I picked it up. Went to another dealer and they said without codes, they couldn't figure it out but I should clean the injectors since they're due. $250 later they said they'd cleaned the fuel injectors, O2 sensor, throttle body, catalytic converter, etc. Still, nothing changed. Took it to a transmission specialist. They found nothing when driving it so three days later, my husband takes it out and they see something on their computer about cylinder 1 & 3. So, we assumed they would replace coils / sparkplugs, wires. They call today - 2 days later - and they cleaned the fuel injectors...UGGGGHHH. So, now they say they've seen these Traverse that ran rich have catalytic converters that almost melt down. They are now drilling in to check pressure / temp in the converter??? And then if no issue, replacing the coils, etc. Any ideas if this is really a thing? We've spent almost a year and probably $4500 to have nothing change. Been to 2 dealerships and 2 other shops. We're lost at this point but have kids in college and can't really afford to get a new car

 

[Traverse-ty LT]

I think i maybe able to help ....they told me the same thing it's. When I experience the shudder I found a trusted mechanic which found out it was one of my Axle which was worn. If your front Axle Right or Left becomes defective it certainly will cause a shudder it took me three years to finally fix the problem!!! Hope this helps...

 

[greentraverse]

The OP hasn't been on the forum in over 4 years.

 

[tanyasl1993]

The shudder starts happening on my 2013 traverse as it shifts into 2nd gear. It's been doing this for 3 years. It's annoying but I'm still driving it. They said mine was a torque converter also. But i feel if i just replace it with another gmc motor, it's gonna do it to me again. The newer traverses are doing the same thing. Just steer clear of these vehicles.

 

[[email protected]]

Torque Converter replaced

Turns out that our 2013 Traverse was still under warranty, since it was a fleet vehicle before we bought it. Dealership replaced the torque converter (and 3-5-R waveplate) under warranty in April. Shudder is gone.

Is your shudder still gone? I have a 2014 with the exact same issue. But mine will also shudder sometimes in park.