Buy a low mileage 2012 Chevrolet Traverse...

silversport

silversport

Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
975
Location
ChicagoLand USA
I may have an opportunity to pick up a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse 1LT AWD with low miles and in very good condition from a former co worker...I will be able to get its service history and more details later but I have known this vehicle since it's purchase in 2012 and a quick view yesterday showed it in nice condition (will be much better after a detail) with only some typical marks from kids and their bicycles and garage storage...

the co-worker is buying a new vehicle and of course was low balled on the trade offer so he has offered it to me rather than the dealership providing he can get the deal he wants on the new vehicle...

I am trying to get information on these vehicles by joining a Traverse Forum but am also seeking information here...I have some experience with GM's 3.6 VVT DI engine and I believe 2012 is within the improvement time...

I would appreciate any thoughts or experiences you care to share in these vehicles...

Thanks,

Bill
 
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Timing Chains seem to be an issue with these 3.6L
My nephew had to replace his at his own cost($3000).
And my buddy's in-laws had to replace the whole 3.6L engine.


Look at 13min 25sec.
AND:

Look at 5:00

I'm sure that there are many members here that have had good success with their's.
 
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what Forum do you recommend for the Traverse JTK...

I appreciate all information you care to share...I know this Traverse and so far it has only needed oil changes and other routine maintenance...he has it maintained at my trusted mechanic shop as well...I hope next week to be able to talk with them about this particular Traverse...

Bill
 
I know this is like comparing Bananas to Coconuts, but I bought a 2021 Traverse a year ago. It had 36k on the clock. We bought it to travel in, over the summer. It has the 6 cyl with AWD. It's very spacious, and got surprisingly good gas mileage. And was very powerful for a 6 cyl. We did 4k miles in two weeks from Jersey down to Texas and back. I'm a big guy, and I can tell you it had all the room for being comfortable and carrying cargo. It rode great, and we got alot of compliments from family member we were driving around. I don't know much about the older Traverse's, but the newer ones work great for me.,,,
 
Probably the most common issues on the 2017 and older are 6spd transmission issues, almost always caused by lack of fluid changes. Fuse box corrosion is another. Timing chains like mentioned. Keeping up on oil changes helps mitigate that.
 
very helpful...if I get it my intention is to do fluid changes as required and I am always up on oil changes...this would be an extra vehicle and I doubt it would do more than 4K miles a year so it would get Dexos 1 Gen 3 or newer and a good filter at least once a year or following the OLM...

the one I am looking at is at 55K ish miles...

thanks!

Bill
 
A few other annoyances with this generation traverse is they are tight under the hood, so the battery is recessed into the floor, behind the front pass seat.
 
eljefino said:
"Only did oil changes" to me screams mechanically ignored but at 55k you might be able to save it.
Click to expand...
...and other routing maintenance...but I'll know for sure after talking with the mechanics where he gets it serviced...and after I can get a better look at under the hood, the battery, etc...you are giving me things to ask and to look for: Appreciated!

Bill
 
Not a fan of that vintage powertrain myself. I'd pass. One of my high school friends did manage to put alot of miles on his 3.6, but he has 3 catholic indulgences to burn.
 
Thoughts I can give you. I have no experience with these vehicles.
I do have predetermined notions on other run-of-the-mill cars from GM....and many aren't good.

Let's say you recognize lube neglect as causing timing chain wear and transmission woes AT LEAST SOME OF THE TIME.
How many failures would the line then have? ...a high number or something more normal?
Actual failure numbers would help immensely.

No transmission model was given. Are those units bad in other vehicles, or are they only paired to that 3.6l engine?
An ATF examination and possible refreshment/upgrade is planned, yes?
Might the addition of a cooler help?
Hmmm...drive it locally through 4 seasons then consider a transmission cooler before a long trip? ...or before it's given to a Texas bound relative?

As for the electronics.....the Wizard only said they were the cheaply made. That alone means a lot.
It ain't just one batch of cars which maybe got flooded.
This might be reason to pass on it even if the running gear seems OK.

Still, beating a dealership's low offer won't be hard and might make this one worth the shot.
I found no 2012 examples with so few miles.
Examples years older and with more miles have $9K to $13K price tags.
Still, I bet they didn't offer a grand to your coworker.
Offer him the grand -or whatever you are willing to lose- and tell him why.

Do you have the time and inclination to deal with even a few surprises?

14MY old...55k = 337 miles per month.
A 3 or 4-mile commute to work and some grocery shopping might be all this vehicle ever did.
Let's hope it got oil changes. Is it on its original tires? How's the spare? ...belt and tensioner? ...HVAC function?
Likely not garage kept. How's the vinyl roof? (ha-ha)

I'd be interested in the condition of the battery and its recess in the floor....and its cover
Maybe, just maybe, it's got the original battery?

Chicago rust?

What does LT1 mean, again?
 
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silversport said:
...and other routing maintenance...but I'll know for sure after talking with the mechanics where he gets it serviced...and after I can get a better look at under the hood, the battery, etc...you are giving me things to ask and to look for: Appreciated!

Bill
Click to expand...
Is it AWD? This vintage uses an electromagnetic clutch at the input of the rear carrier. Bearings in the clutch assembly can go bad causing chatter on turns. The clutch can be removed and replaced. The transfer case and rear diff are very easy to drain and fill as is the transmission. The transmission drain/fill process (all you can do with them) is easier than an engine oil change.
 
dishdude said:
I'm sure all of that was helpful for the OP. Advice from someone that doesn't even know Chevy trim levels.
Click to expand...
I went with the fears which sounded common and were described in the videos.

What difference does it make should someone not know the marketing hype?
My responses were about maintenance and determining state of care.

The heated steering wheel doesn't come with the lighted glove box until the 2nd from the top trim.
I always kind of resented it.

Peace
 
If the vehicle(TRAVERSE) is in good shape with good maintenance records and is a good price, BUY IT! (y)
It isn't going to bankrupt you. Just know what you're getting into and be prepared.
Not every single vehicle with a poor reputation is a bad vehicle, just too many of them are.
Just like NISSAN CVT's. Mine were great! But the reputation destroyed the resale value and the demand to buy them used.

Hay, I've owned TOYOTA's that left a bit to be desired. But their reputation allowed for me to get better money for them when selling/trading and their demand on the used car market was still high. Which is just one reason that I have gone back to Toyota.
However, I like driving GM vehicle better as I think they put more dollars into their driving dynamics.
 
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I can think of many other things I would buy other than a Traverse, but if the price is right, and it is in good shape, follow your gut.
 
I got to look at it a bit more yesterday and take a short drive in it...it is nice...it has 36 CarFax records to include oil changes about every 3-4K miles with full synthetic 5W-30 (mostly Valvoline), a new battery, brakes, tires...in the last month, front strut(s) and sway bar links replaced...headlight bulbs, filters, wiper blades have been replaced at various times during ownership...

this was the wife's daily until a short while ago and she follows the BITOG service intervals of too often is just right :LOL: ...

the price isn't a grand as suggested above but it is far below what the going rate is and almost what the dealership offered...I'm waiting for my friend to find his new ride as the dealer he was using blew the deal he "had" so I'm currently in a holding pattern...

I appreciate all responses here...thanks

Bill
 
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