The Chevrolet Traverse traction control light can tell you several things. You’ll see it briefly turn on and off every time you start the SUV. If it’s engaged and trying to help your car through a tricky stretch of road, the light will flash repeatedly and turn off. But if it stays on, the traction control system isn’t working, which could signify a larger problem.
No one likes it when a dreaded warning light appears on the dash. However, the traction control light is a little different. There are situations where the light will appear and turn off, which just means the system is working correctly! But there are other times when a mechanic needs to take a look at this particular type of car repair
. We’ll walk you through common problems that trigger the traction control light and offer the next steps
Why your Chevy Traverse traction control light turns on
The traction control (TCS) light
is just one of a few stability systems available on the Chevrolet Traverse. What’s confusing about TCS is that you’ll always see the light come on briefly when you start the vehicle, so it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem. When the light comes on and turns off, the traction control system is working like it’s supposed to! Let’s take a closer look at the traction control system. Your vehicle’s wheel bearings have sensors that monitor how fast the wheels are going. They also detect loss of traction and report that information to the traction control module. This happens instantly so the vehicle can limit the power going to the wheels to avoid skidding. When this happens, you’ll see the TCS light, which looks like a car with wavy lines coming from the wheels, flash repeatedly.
But TCS isn’t the only stability system on your Traverse. Chevrolet also uses a traction control system called Stabilitrak to help your SUV navigate slippery or dangerous roads. Unlike TCS which can help you gain traction when you go from stop to start, Stabilitrack helps you stay on the road once you’re already moving.
As you can probably guess, these are complex systems that rely on a combination of sensors and control modules. If one little thing goes wrong, you’ll see the traction control light come on, sometimes along with other warning lights. Here are a few possible problems that lead to traction control malfunction
. 
4.717k Ratings5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged
Temporary loss of traction
This is one of those times when your TCS light means the system is working the way it should! If you’re driving on a slippery or snowy road and your wheels start to lose traction, you’ll see the TCS light flash repeatedly as your vehicle tries to grip the road.
Once you get past the tricky spot, the light should turn off. However, if the light stays on or other warning lights also turn on, there might be a bigger problem. Don’t hesitate to take your Traverse to a mechanic for a traction control light inspection
. Faulty wheel speed sensors
Remember how your wheels have speed sensors in the assembly that communicate with the traction control module? Well, if those sensors are failing, they’ll cause the traction control light to stay on. This is a fairly common problem because the sensors are exposed to rough conditions. If the sensor in the steering wheel breaks, the Stabilitrak system will also stop working.
If you suspect you’re dealing with a sensor problem, take your Traverse to a repair shop or the Chevrolet dealership, where they can check using an OBD-II scan tool to look for relevant codes, like engine code C0040
. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction
The traction control system and the anti-lock brake system
use the same control module. If something goes wrong with the ABS, like a broken brake pedal, the TCS light will probably come on with the ABS light. If you see both warning lights on, there’s a good chance that some part of the stability system needs to be repaired, so don’t hesitate to take your car to a mechanic
. Low tire pressure
Since the wheels have important traction sensors, low tire pressure
can cause the TCS light to turn on. This is also related to the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)—a faulty TPMS could make the traction control light come on. To troubleshoot this issue, check your tire pressure and fill the tires as needed. If the light doesn’t turn off, get a mechanic to look at the system.
Broken TCS/ABS control module
If the traction control or anti-lock brake system module itself breaks, the TCS light will come on and stay on. It’s also pretty common to see the check engine warning light
come on simultaneously. Take your Chevrolet to an auto repair shop or the Chevy dealership to have them inspect the control module or replace it.
Traction control system turned off
The traction control system is always on and working, but you can turn traction control off
using the arrow buttons on your steering wheel. Usually, your vehicle turns the system back on the next time you turn the engine off and on. Before you head to the mechanic’s, turn off your SUV and restart the engine. If the TCS is working properly, you’ll see the car icon illuminate and turn off.
Can you drive with the traction control light on?
Although you can drive your Traverse while the traction control light is on, it’s very dangerous in bad weather.
It’s one thing if your SUV’s traction light comes on briefly when you’re driving on an icy road, but if the light stays on, it’s not safe to drive in all conditions. When the traction light doesn’t turn off, the stability system isn’t on, so you’ll get less traction on treacherous roads.
The best thing to do is head to your Chevy dealership or a trusted mechanic to get the traction light inspected.
“I was a new driver looking for insurance and scared about expensive payments. But then I found Jerry
! They saved me almost $150/month.” —Garret I.
4.717k Ratings 5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged
We value your privacy
