Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Traverse vs Chevrolet Suburban
How the Chevrolet Traverse and Chevrolet Suburban compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Chevrolet Traverse vs Chevrolet Suburban: The Traverse has 2,015 complaints over 10 years, including 64 crash-related incidents and 1 death, while the Suburban has zero complaints and recalls. Traverse owners report transmission jerking, steering assist failures, and unexpected braking. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Traverse or Chevrolet Suburban more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Traverse
The Chevrolet Traverse, based on NHTSA data, shows a high volume of owner complaints over the past decade, averaging over 200 per year. The most frequent issues involve the powertrain, electrical system, and engine, with owners reporting sudden jerking, transmission problems, steering assist failures, and unexpected braking. These reports suggest that while the Traverse may offer space and utility, owners often face significant reliability and safety concerns that could lead to costly repairs and potential hazards.
Chevrolet Suburban
The Chevrolet Suburban has no complaints or recalls on record in the NHTSA database over the same period. This absence of data indicates that either the vehicle has been exceptionally reliable or that owners have not reported issues. For a buyer, this lack of reported problems is a positive sign, suggesting a lower likelihood of encountering the types of failures seen in the Traverse, though it also means less information is available about potential long-term issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Traverse | Chevrolet Suburban |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,015 | 0 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 23 | 0 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 64 | 0 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 201.5 | 0.0 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 62 | 0 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Chevrolet Traverse
- 01POWER TRAIN523
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM385
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER347
- 04ENGINE325
- 05AIR BAGS292
Owners report sudden jerking during acceleration and shifting, with the check engine light illuminating and the transmission not operating normally, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. This suggests transmission or drivetrain failures that could require major repairs.
Complaints include 'SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST' warnings with hard brakes, and 'Steering Assist Reduced – Drive with Care' messages, indicating electrical issues affecting critical safety systems like brakes and steering, which can compromise control.
Reports mention engine/cooling system failures, fuel-injector/misfire issues, and instances where the vehicle slams on brakes and puts itself in park randomly, pointing to engine management and safety system malfunctions that can cause unexpected behavior.
“I own a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse RS, VIN [XXX]. This vehicle has repeated safety-related failures involving the engine/cooling system, fuel-injector/misfire system, steering-assist warning system, and electronic parking brake system. The vehicle is currently a…”
“I own a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving, the vehicle suddenly began jerking very hard during acceleration and shifting. The Check Engine Light illuminated, and the vehicle became unsafe to drive because the transmission was not operating normally. I wa…”
Chevrolet Suburban
No component data available.
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Chevrolet Traverse — 23 recalls
The defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Cou…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-970…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse vehicles. The left-side half-shaft assemblies may be missing a retaining ring.
The risk: A missing retaining ring on the half-shaft can cause half-shaft inner joint separation, resulting in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left-side half-shaft assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222390180.
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.
The risk: A half-shaft disengaging from the transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevro…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
The risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-…
Chevrolet Suburban
No recalls on record.
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Traverse or Chevrolet Suburban: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Suburban has zero complaints and recalls, while the Traverse averages over 200 complaints per year. This stark difference means the Suburban is far less likely to present the reliability and safety issues reported for the Traverse, making it a more dependable choice for buyers prioritizing peace of mind.
Key differences
- The Traverse has 2,015 complaints over 10 years, including 64 crash-related incidents and 1 death, while the Suburban has none.
- Traverse owners report sudden jerking, transmission failures, steering assist loss, and unexpected braking, which are not reported for the Suburban.
- The Traverse has 23 recalls, including for powertrain and air bags, whereas the Suburban has no recalls.
- The Suburban's lack of complaints suggests a more reliable vehicle, but also means less owner feedback is available.
- Inspect the transmission for smooth shifting and check for any check engine light codes related to powertrain issues.
- Test the steering assist and brake assist systems for warning messages or unusual behavior, as these are common complaints.
- Since there are no reported issues, focus on a standard pre-purchase inspection to ensure the vehicle is in good condition, as there is no specific problem history to check.
Before you buy
- For the Traverse, request a full service history and check for any open recalls, especially those related to powertrain and air bags.
- Test drive the Traverse at various speeds and during acceleration to feel for jerking or transmission slipping.
- For the Suburban, verify the VIN against NHTSA recall databases to confirm no recalls exist, and have a mechanic inspect the vehicle thoroughly.
- Check for any warning lights on the Traverse, particularly those related to brakes, steering, and engine.
- Consider a vehicle history report for both to see if any previous owners reported issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Chevrolet Traverse | Chevrolet Suburban |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 20 | 0 |
| 2025 | 171 | 0 |
| 2024 | 128 | 0 |
| 2023 | 85 | 0 |
| 2022 | 94 | 0 |
| 2021 | 86 | 0 |
| 2020 | 217 | 0 |
| 2019 | 400 | 0 |
| 2018 | 454 | 0 |
| 2017 | 360 | 0 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Chevrolet Traverse or Chevrolet Suburban in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Traverse vs Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Traverse total complaints
- 2,015
- Chevrolet Suburban total complaints
- 0
- Chevrolet Traverse total recalls
- 23
- Chevrolet Suburban total recalls
- 0
- Chevrolet Traverse avg complaints/year
- 201.5
- Chevrolet Suburban avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Traverse top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN