Mechanic investigates transmission leak on nearly-new Chevrolet, then makes a shocking discovery after checking the bolts

A mechanic found that a 2024 Chevrolet Traverse had transmission fluid leaking because the bolts were never tightened properly at the factory. The vehicle had only 13,000 miles on it, meaning it left the assembly line with loose bolts that caused a serious leak less than a year later.

The discovery was shared in a video by Facebook creator Just Rolled In, who posts mechanic content from around social media. In the clip, the mechanic explains the problem, “Fluid leaking from between the transmission and the engine.” He then shows how loose the screws on the bell housing are, confirming the bolts were left loose from the factory.

According to Motor1, this isn’t just a one-time problem. General Motors released a service bulletin in March about transmission fluid leaks in the torque converter housing area. The bulletin covered the 2024 Traverse and several other models, including certain years of the Blazer, Equinox, Trailblazer, and various Buick, Cadillac, and GMC vehicles.

The problem goes deeper than just worker error

GM’s bulletin says the leaks were caused by transmission pump bolts that weren’t torqued enough at the factory. The official fix is to replace the loose bolts and reinstall the transmissions. It’s a complicated repair for what should have been a simple tightening job.

In the video comments, many people confirmed they’ve seen the same issue. One person who works at a Chevy dealer said their coworker dealt with the exact same problem about a month ago. Another commenter explained that assembly line workers aren’t to blame because the bolts are tightened by automated equipment calibrated by engineers, meaning the problem is likely with the machinery itself. This issue isn’t the only dealership warranty work gone wrong that owners have faced recently.

The repair process is causing major problems for owners. On Reddit, one person said their 2025 Traverse Z71 with less than 3,000 miles had the same leak from loose bolts. The replacement bolts are reportedly on national backorder, making repairs take months.

One owner shared that their vehicle has been in the shop for almost five months waiting for parts. They’ve had a loaner car for only 25 percent of the time they’ve owned their new vehicle. For a brand-new car, this kind of wait time is completely unacceptable. Some mechanics have even refused to work on older Chevy trucks due to extreme safety concerns.

If you own one of the affected models, watch your driveway for any fluid spots. This factory defect shows a serious quality control failure that’s affecting many GM vehicles.