Chevrolet Traverse Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Chevrolet Traverse options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet Traverse has 2,037 owner complaints and 23 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. 2018 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Chevrolet
- Model
- Traverse
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 2,037
- Safety recall campaigns
- 23
- Crash-related complaints
- 65
- Fire-related complaints
- 8
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2018 (457 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2026 (21 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- POWER TRAIN
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Chevrolet Traverse: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has 2,037 NHTSA complaints and 23 recalls on record. 65 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 2,037 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 23 federal recall campaigns
- 65 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
23 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TIRES
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:FRONTAL IMPACT
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
TIRES
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 2,037 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
2,037 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
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 was concerned that the vehicle could suddenly lose power or fail while driving in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash. I took the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealership for diagnosis. The dealer found the transmission fluid was burned and diagnosed transmission trouble codes P0797 and P0700, indicating an internal transmission problem. Transmission .PDF Before the failure, I experienced harsh shifting and jerking that became progressively worse until the warning light came on. The problem has been confirmed by a Chevrolet dealership. The failed transmission is available for inspection upon request. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this transmission failed prematurely at approximately 68,933 miles. I am concerned that other owners may experience the same failure, creating a serious safety risk if the transmission loses power or fails while the vehicle is in motion.
While driving on the highway all of a sudden the vehicle started to vibrate and smell like metal burning . Merged off the highway to find my brakes where super hot. Pulled over for a little bit and drove home very slowly . Mechanic said the pads were locked on the rotors and completely destroyed both pads and rotors. Will be taking vehicle to chevy dealer because I dont feel safe driving my family .
Vehicle is not detecting key fob. Main battery was changed now the vehicle is not detecting keys. both key fob batteries have been replaced as well as the main vehicle battery. This issue is the same issue that the Malibu is having .this is whats happening .Ignition & Starting (TSB 23-NA-163): Addresses conditions where the vehicle exhibits a "No Crank/No Start" or "No FOB Detected" message. Dealerships inspect and reprogram the Body Control Module (BCM).
Bad torque converter
I was driving down a neighborhood road and my car suddenly slammed to a stop, forcing my chest into the steering wheel and throwing my dog from the backseat into the back of the passenger seat. We had it towed to a local shop and they reported the solenoid inside the transmission has failed. This is a two year old vehicle with less than 100k miles on it. Luckily, I was in a neighborhood going less than 50 mph and did not have my children in the car with me. Other than some soreness, my dog and I are fine. This could have been a lot worse and caused more serious injuries. I would like this reviewed for a recall and contacted as to why there were no warnings from the vehicle prior to this failing. If I had been going any faster or driving on a busy road, this could have put the lives of my children at risk.
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 at AutoNation Chevrolet West Austin, dropped off on XXX, and is available for inspection. Soon after delivery, the vehicle began losing coolant and overheating. This was not isolated. Before the engine was finally replaced, there were at least four documented coolant/overheating-related dealer visits or repair notes: XXX. The problem repeated again on XXX, becoming the fifth coolant/overheating-related visit and resulting in GM/dealer-authorized engine replacement after internal coolant-related findings. Dealer records show low/empty coolant reservoir, overheating, fan-running symptoms, almost one gallon of coolant added, no external leak found, coolant dye added, GM TAC involvement, and internal coolant findings. After engine replacement, the vehicle continued to fail. In February 2026, it displayed check-engine light and “Steering Assist Reduced / Power Steering Reduced.” The dealer confirmed misfire and replaced cylinder 1 fuel injector. In April/May 2026, the vehicle displayed a service parking brake warning; the dealer documented left rear parking brake actuator high current. Now, on XXX, the vehicle is again at the dealer for blinking check-engine light, and the dealer advised the code shows another engine misfire. My family’s safety is at risk. Repeated overheating, engine replacement, steering-assist warning, parking brake warning, and recurring misfire create unsafe drivability risk, especially on highways, merging, intersections, or long trips. I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Read 14 more owner reports
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from underneath the vehicle while depressing the accelerator pedal to accelerate. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a hole in the exhaust system causing the acceleration failure. The vehicle was repaired out of pocket. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the waiting period suggested. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
Infotainment system broke, black screen, no ability to use back up or other cameras, or see navigation etc.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving up a ramp at an undisclosed speed, the exhaust system detached after scraping the underside of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. A dealer was contacted, however the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.
To make a very long story short, I was having major software issues with my vehicle. I had the car "blackout" lights screens and everything turn off then when it powered on i would have service lights on for my brakes. I also had my reverse camera go out a few times and my lane assistant light on dash say its not working. All to find out i had a faulty rear control module. Upon replacement i learned this EXACT rear control module is the same one used in other GM vehicles noted in several recalls but the part itself has never been directly recalled. So now I have the same exact part in my vehicle again which is bound to fail again at some point. My vehicle is only 3 years old and has done this with children in the car. I let GM know numerous times and they said since the part is replaced its fine. But I know this exact part is not safe. If you look up the model number on the rear control module you will see how many times it is noted in service bulletins and is main contributor to these issues. Please recall the 2023 chevy traverse. I dont want this part just "updated" it needs redesigned.
Transmission system / engine system
The vehicle jerks/shifts harshly while decelerating and again when accelerating after slowing down. The issue feels similar to the previous transmission shudder concern that was repaired.
The internal structural frame or track assembly of the driver side passenger seat has suffered a mechanical failure, causing severe, high-frequency metal chattering while the vehicle is in motion. The failure persists even with a passenger buckled into the seat. Because the seat frame serves as the structural anchor for both the seatbelt restraint system and the side-impact airbags, an un-diagnosed internal fracture poses a direct risk to occupant safety in the even of a collision. Videos of the issue are available.
I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUTH THE TRANSMISSON I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE SHOP AND THER E ARE ATLEAST 6 OTHERS WITH TRANSMISSON ISUSSES AND ONLY KELLY BLUE BOOK KIT STATES THAT THERE ARE 2 RECALL DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING.
We experienced power steering failure. Our steering wheel control was taken over while backing out of our driveway and while driving on a highway. When this happens, you can’t turn the wheel. It becomes locked and then you become stuck. It is extremely unsafe and put our whole family at risk of getting in an accident. It is currently sitting at the dealership and has been there for weeks. We have documents confirming the problem. The dealer even had a problem pulling it into the garage for the diagnostics. We have been out of a car for weeks because the steering rack part is impossible to get and is in very high demand which leads us to believe we are not the only ones experiencing this. Again I stress, this was very scary for our family and it really puts people at risk. It is a new car and we should not have experienced this.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate the vehicle experienced severe engine shuttering. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehcle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the falure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 125,000.
It started when I put my car in reverse and it would delay and jerk back before reversing off and on. About a month later, I started my car in the street and accelerated and it jerked and shut off in the middle of a street. I restarted it and accelerated it again and it jerked and shut off again. It's a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse with 61,570 miles. I towed it back to dealer and they are stating it's an issue with the transmission and want to charge $9800. I can send the email Chevy sent for the repair estimate. My safety was put at risk by completely stopping in the middle of the street where I could have gotten crashed into. The problem was confirmed by the chevy dealer where I bought the vehicle. The vehicle was seen by transmission specialist at Chevy dealer. No warning messages at all. Chevy app kept saying everything looks good with vehicle.
My dashboard gave an alert “battery saver active” then another alert stating to “service charging system, vehicle may stall”. Then the alerts cleared. After a few minutes both alerts were on my dashboard again. I was able to pull into an [XXX] ’s and had them check the battery, which was replaced a few months ago, employee stated that the battery was so low, only showing 11.4 that they couldn’t even test it, that she testing the alternator and the computer said it needed to be replaced. The employee stated that most GM replacement alternators for Chevy traverse 2023 are on back order due to so many having to be replaced right at the 3 year mark. We could only get a store brand replacement part due to the back order. Once I bought the part, my husband drove behind me for the 30 minute drive home, we had to pull over twice to jump off the battery and charge it due to the vehicle stalling. Once home we replaced the part and seems to work fine, it has only been 9 days. I have the original part for inspection and receipts of purchase for the new part. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Driving down the interstate the main screen went out completely, GPS, radio, controls to temperature for the back. Back up camera works and it shows a Chevy sign. GM dealer states the radio/Onstar module is out completely. This ironically happened immediately after warranty expired.
Car started making a load vibrational noise on the highway. When we got to the next stopping point, the right front brakes were extremely hot and smelly. When the brakes were taken apart to inspect/replace parts, it was identified that the seals that protect the pistons had shrunk and were no longer attached to the caliper/piston. Corrosion was evident because of this causing a sticky caliper. Contacted chevy dealer who said the calipers were back ordered. That's an indication that this problem is real and has caused a shortage of replacement parts. Wait time for replacement caliper was said to be 7-10 days. The only parts that seemed to be available to get the car usable in a short period of time were aftermarket and that was even strained. Picture submitted shows. Seals were not pulled out, they were that loose to fall out.
Showing 20 of 2,037 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Chevrolet Traverse
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Chevrolet Traverse, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Chevrolet Traverse has 2,037 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Chevrolet Traverse has 23 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 65 of the Chevrolet Traverse's 2,037 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Chevrolet Traverse vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Chevrolet Traverse vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Chevrolet Traverse has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Chevrolet Traverse stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Chevrolet Traverse by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Chevrolet Traverse.
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Keep researching before you buy
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Chevrolet Traverse reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
Poor. The Chevrolet Traverse has 2,037 NHTSA owner complaints and 23 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Chevrolet Traverse years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2018 (457 complaints), 2019 (403 complaints), 2017 (361 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Chevrolet Traverse problems?
Top reported issues: POWER TRAIN (529 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (388 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (351 complaints).
Does the Chevrolet Traverse have recalls?
Yes — 23 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Chevrolet Traverse. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.