Buy a low mileage 2012 Chevrolet Traverse...
- Thread starter silversport
- Start date
Could you group the 36 Carfax reports? Say, 12 were for oil changes + general, 8 for mechanical repair etc.
Hopefully the struts aren’t junk. If it’s a good deal go for it.
My mother has a 2012 Impala with the same engine. 184k and has been as reliable as any other. Motor nor transmission has been opened.
I'd like to add that, 
it's good to read that you are doing research on the vehicle that you are considering instead of after the purchase, as so many people do.
How often do you read when people buy a vehicle and then research the vehicle or ask others on forums for their opinion or experience on that vehicle. I don't get it!
it's good to read that you are doing research on the vehicle that you are considering instead of after the purchase, as so many people do.How often do you read when people buy a vehicle and then research the vehicle or ask others on forums for their opinion or experience on that vehicle. I don't get it!
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2022
- Messages
- 5,918
We have a 2011 Enclave purchased new (less than 10 miles) and I can't recommend this platform. It has many known issues and imho they are not unexpected they are in fact consistent. We wanted it because of the huge discounts and extremely large cargo (more than a new Grand Wagoneer). If I'm not mistaken only the current Tahoe is going to have more cargo (122 v. 115). I was thinking in a non inspection state maybe pick one up, drive it into the ground, and toss it. Let me give a hint. With most vehicles, one troubleshoots a P0420. On this, the CATS and 02s are replaced, which one is determined via 020 or 030. The CATs are $2,100 a piece. Why knowingly go into it if this is a "known" issue?
Why not get an extended warranty? Ah, grasshopper, because as designed, everything continues to break after it expires lol
Told my wife, when we get a Tahoe/Escalade, I'm keeping it, rather than to accept the $1800 trade in lol She's ok with it. She actually likes the vehicle. It's comfortable although uses a lot of fuel and underpowered. But she's riding on Bilstein B6's as well. Only get this vehicle if the price is disposable, like $4,000, etc. Then, it's utility. It's the opposite of buying a 10 y.o. LS430 9 years ago. That's a set it and forget it type of vehicle that just won't break.
my 02
p.s. why we got it....it actually is nice looking to this day. I don't have ugly cars in the stable, seriously. I find brand new BMWs and Audis (shocking really) to be UGLY. Also wanted HID xenon and direct injection (this was 2011). The following and current generations of this vehicle are imho Pilot sized, much smaller. And they were giving them away, huge discounts.
edit p.p.s. at 13.5 yo, the exhaust system is starting to go from corrosion. The exhaust is one piece from the CAT back--pipe, muffler, y-pipe, 2 resonators, and that's almost $1700 for the part alone. For those who have a solid credit card, like 1980's dealer service, and repairs in the 4 figure range upon each visit, this is the car for you! DIY isn't that fun, I did the water pump myself, there was an excellent tutorial by some guy Sustained Living Dad, saved me hours he said promise you can take it out from below. Other YouTubes guys are randomly removing the electrical box and top strut, really nuts lol Yes, water pump, steering rack, power steering pump, all known issues as well
Why not get an extended warranty? Ah, grasshopper, because as designed, everything continues to break after it expires lol
Told my wife, when we get a Tahoe/Escalade, I'm keeping it, rather than to accept the $1800 trade in lol She's ok with it. She actually likes the vehicle. It's comfortable although uses a lot of fuel and underpowered. But she's riding on Bilstein B6's as well. Only get this vehicle if the price is disposable, like $4,000, etc. Then, it's utility. It's the opposite of buying a 10 y.o. LS430 9 years ago. That's a set it and forget it type of vehicle that just won't break.
my 02
p.s. why we got it....it actually is nice looking to this day. I don't have ugly cars in the stable, seriously. I find brand new BMWs and Audis (shocking really) to be UGLY. Also wanted HID xenon and direct injection (this was 2011). The following and current generations of this vehicle are imho Pilot sized, much smaller. And they were giving them away, huge discounts.
edit p.p.s. at 13.5 yo, the exhaust system is starting to go from corrosion. The exhaust is one piece from the CAT back--pipe, muffler, y-pipe, 2 resonators, and that's almost $1700 for the part alone. For those who have a solid credit card, like 1980's dealer service, and repairs in the 4 figure range upon each visit, this is the car for you! DIY isn't that fun, I did the water pump myself, there was an excellent tutorial by some guy Sustained Living Dad, saved me hours he said promise you can take it out from below. Other YouTubes guys are randomly removing the electrical box and top strut, really nuts lol Yes, water pump, steering rack, power steering pump, all known issues as well
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2022
- Messages
- 5,918
The flip side of this is being able to get OE aluminum rims with caps and TPMS, mint condition (list would be $600+), for $40-$65 shipped. I have a set of 4 as I was intending on having a 2nd set of rims/tires Crazy
They are decent vehicles - not quite the hallmark of reliability but perfectly acceptable. I’ve never owned one - but had rented them twice in 2012 and 2014 to drive down to Florida Keys and back (LT1 AWD like the one you’re looking at). Nice highway cruisers.
I think everyone here has given several great points to consider. 2 things in addition to be aware of:
1. The engine in the Traverse/Acadia/Enclave triplets until their re-design in 2016-17 was the LLT. I believe that engine code had much more issues with timing chains than the LFX which was used in the Impala/Lacrosse and other vehicles. That alone was the primary reason we didn’t jump on an Enclave that we really wanted to buy and instead ended up with an Armada.
2. The rear HVAC blower fan I believe has copper brushes that eventually react with the evaporator and cause them to fail (more of a when than an if based on visiting the forums). Looks like the fix is to replace just the evaporator and leave the old fan as is - to avoid the failure mode from repeating.
Good luck!
We had a 2011 Acadia AWD. Purchased at 10K miles, sold it at 207k miles. Solid driving vehicle. It was a while ago but here is what I remember replacing:
Timing chains @ 145k
Water pump
Engine flywheel (can you believe it?)
Front struts
Front LCA bushings
Torque converter (2x)
If you get this vehicle do not drive 1 mile over 5K before changing the oil. Also, ATF is the easiest change you'll ever do, still did not save the torque converter for me.
Timing chains @ 145k
Water pump
Engine flywheel (can you believe it?)
Front struts
Front LCA bushings
Torque converter (2x)
If you get this vehicle do not drive 1 mile over 5K before changing the oil. Also, ATF is the easiest change you'll ever do, still did not save the torque converter for me.
I appreciate ALL the responses, help and experiences shared by you all
Bill
I haven't seen an oil change that has gone much over 4K miles and most around 3K and all under 1 year...as mentioned earlier, I will ask later this week after visiting my trusted garage who did most of this service since 2016 as I will be there getting my Denali serviced...
Thanks again,
Bill
Thanks again,
Bill
nothing negative to report from their (garage) perspective on this particular 2012 Traverse...
Bill
Bill
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2022
- Messages
- 5,918
Again owned since 2011, have DIY oil since 2012. Use the OLM and it tends to say 0% at about 3,100, so 5k at least by the OLM is really stretching it. I tend to not try to out engineer the engineers, and the OLM does vary, so I figure it has to be considering various factors. 5k imho is a "Toyota" invented interval, and they are able to train us to care about floor mats and such.
OE struts are bad but the good news is Bilstein B6 when it was available was no more expensive than OE. OE leaks in 50-60k (don't ask how we know, OK, we did OE 2x and both leaked).
There are some things not mentioned, brake pedal position sensor which an ABS capable reader is gonna be needed--if you see a Traverse/Acadia/Enclave going down the road with both brake lights on, this is the failure.
Nobody mentioned hvac actuators, that's a given and $1000+ job at the dealer.
knock on wood our rear hvac has been fine and I even attempted a recharge just in case there were a leak, there was not.
I say for the last time avoid this vehicle, get a 2021+ Tahoe truck based equivalent, although now the recall on the 6.2. Maybe go 5.3. Why go through all these seemingly premature repairs, or think that someone would, and dump the vehicle? If I didn't live in a state with safety and emissions I may take a chance on one, they are inexpensive used.
