Back to search

2017 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

3.6L V6•AWD•AUTOMATIC•gas
Be the first sponsor for this vehicle

For $99, we generate the full set of step-by-step repair procedures for this exact vehicle. Free for everyone, forever, with your name on every one.

Sponsor — $99
Dead battery / stuck in Park? Emergency neutral procedure for this Traverse →
5-Year Cost of Ownership
$12,871 maintenance + known platform issues
~$2,574/yr · 210¢/mile equivalent · $6,328 maintenance + $5,843 expected platform issues
Compare this engine
vs
2.0L I4 Turbo
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2017 Traverse with the 3.6L V6 is a generally serviceable family hauler, but this generation suffers from notable timing chain wear and transmission cooler failures that can lead to catastrophic engine or transmission damage if ignored.

Timing Chain Stretch and Wear (3.6L V6)

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Cold-start rattle for 2-3 seconds that worsens over time, Check engine light with P0008/P0009/P0010 codes (cam/crank correlation), Rough idle or poor performance, Metallic rattling from front of engine
Fix: Timing chains, guides, tensioners, and both VVT solenoids require front cover removal. Book time 12-15 hours for chains, guides, tensioners, and related hardware. Critical to catch early — stretched chains can jump time and cause piston-valve contact requiring full engine rebuild.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500

Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink/red fluid leaking near radiator area, Transmission overheating warning, Sudden loss of forward gears after coolant contamination, Milky transmission fluid or chocolate-milk coolant
Fix: Cooler lines corrode internally and can rupture, allowing trans fluid into coolant (or vice versa). Requires cooler line replacement (2-3 hours), but if cross-contamination occurred, full transmission flush or rebuild and radiator/heater core flush needed. Contaminated trans can fail within days.
Estimated cost: $400-800 (lines only), $3,500-5,500 (if transmission damaged)

Engine Piston Ring Failure / Excessive Oil Consumption

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Consuming 1+ quart per 1,000 miles, Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Fouled spark plugs, Low oil level warnings between changes
Fix: Carbon buildup causes rings to stick or improper seating leads to blowby. Requires complete engine disassembly, new pistons and rings at minimum. Book 18-22 hours for proper ring job. Many opt for remanufactured short block swap (15-18 hours) instead of in-chassis rebuild.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000 (rings/pistons), $5,500-8,500 (short block)

Transmission Mount Failure

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 65,000-95,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting from park to drive/reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible sagging or torn rubber on mount, Driveline shudder during acceleration
Fix: Rear transmission mount fatigues and tears. Requires lift access and support of transmission. Replace mount and inspect nearby mounts. Book 1.5-2.5 hours depending on corrosion of fasteners.
Estimated cost: $250-450

A/C Evaporator Core Leak

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 75,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Loss of refrigerant with no visible external leaks, Musty smell from vents, A/C blows warm after working fine, Oily residue on passenger floor carpet
Fix: Evaporator housed deep in dash — requires full dash removal. Book 10-12 hours for R&R, plus refrigerant recovery/recharge and leak test. Labor-intensive job makes this expensive for the part cost.
Estimated cost: $1,400-2,200

Power Steering Pump Whine/Failure

Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining noise on cold starts that may fade when warm, Groaning when turning wheel at low speeds, Intermittent heavy steering effort, Low power steering fluid despite no visible leaks (internal wear)
Fix: Pump vanes wear causing noise and reduced assist. Straightforward replacement, 2-3 hours including fluid flush and bleed. Inspect hoses and rack for leaks while in there.
Estimated cost: $450-750
Owner tips
  • Change engine oil every 5,000 miles with quality synthetic to combat timing chain stretch and carbon buildup on rings
  • Inspect transmission cooler lines annually for corrosion — catch them before they burst
  • Monitor oil consumption closely after 60,000 miles; address ring issues early before requiring full rebuild
  • Replace transmission fluid at 60,000 miles even though GM says 'lifetime' — heat accelerates internal wear
Spacious and comfortable, but the timing chain and transmission cooler are ticking time bombs — budget $3k-5k in reserves for the 80k-mile maintenance crisis, or walk away.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
523 jobs across 17 categories
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.
Stuck on a repair? Take it to The Diag Desk — ask a master tech about this exact car → real human answer within 24h, never AI
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 20 requests/day, no card required.
Get an API key →
Run a shop?
Manage repairs, estimates, and customers with ShopBase — $249/mo, all features included. Built by the same team.
Try ShopBase →