NHTSA holds 5,461 complaints about the Chevy Traverse for the 2009 to 2026 model years, and no single year stands out as one to avoid. The highest totals belong to 2010 (669), 2011 (608) and 2014 (547). Steering and engine complaints lead on the early models, air bags lead from 2014 to 2017, and power train leads on the 2018 and 2019 models. Three of the 31 recall campaigns, 21V782000, 22V246000 and 23V334000, cover a driver's air bag inflator that may explode during deployment on 2013 to 2017 models. NHTSA also has an open engineering analysis, EA26006, into electronic brake module failures on 2024 to 2026 models.
Chevy Traverse Common Problems and Years to Avoid (NHTSA Data)
By the founder of CarWorthItPublished
Short answer
No Chevy Traverse model year stands out in NHTSA owner complaints: none drew twice the median (361). The most complained-about years are 2010 (669 complaints), 2011 (608) and 2014 (547). The components owners report most are engine (1,111), air bags (1,050) and steering (952). NHTSA lists 31 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations for the 2009 to 2026 model years.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and defect investigations for the 2009 to 2026 Chevy Traverse, 5,461 complaints in all, pulled September 28, 2026.
Chevy Traverse complaints and recalls by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation and distinct recall campaigns, for every model year with records, counted on September 28, 2026. The median model year up to 2021 drew 361 complaints; a year is marked to avoid when it is one of the three highest and drew at least twice that. Years after 2021 have had less time to collect complaints, so they are judged only if they already pass the same line.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Recalls | Crash / fire / injury reports | Most-reported components |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Too new to judge | 24 | 0 | 2 / 0 / 2 | Electrical system (7), Forward collision avoidance (5), Service brakes (5) |
| 2025 | Too new to judge | 177 | 0 | 4 / 0 / 3 | Service brakes (112), Forward collision avoidance (61), Electrical system (45) |
| 2024 | Too new to judge | 136 | 0 | 0 / 1 / 2 | Service brakes (59), Engine (31), Electrical system (25) |
| 2023 | Too new to judge | 89 | 2 | 5 / 0 / 6 | Power train (29), Electrical system (19), Engine (18) |
| 2022 | Too new to judge | 98 | 1 | 3 / 0 / 3 | Power train (43), Electrical system (18), Engine (17) |
| 2021 | Fewest complaints | 89 | 3 | 4 / 0 / 4 | Electrical system (22), Power train (15), Engine (11) |
| 2020 | Typical | 228 | 8 | 11 / 1 / 6 | Engine (70), Power train (39), Electrical system (28) |
| 2019 | Typical | 405 | 3 | 15 / 2 / 12 | Power train (167), Electrical system (111), Engine (62) |
| 2018 | Above median | 461 | 2 | 9 / 2 / 3 | Power train (195), Electrical system (101), Engine (84) |
| 2017 | Typical | 361 | 3 | 13 / 2 / 8 | Air bags (263), Engine (25), Electrical system (22) |
| 2016 | Typical | 292 | 5 | 8 / 1 / 6 | Air bags (163), Power train (37), Engine (31) |
| 2015 | Typical | 313 | 5 | 10 / 3 / 7 | Air bags (162), Engine (37), Electrical system (28) |
| 2014 | Above median | 547 | 7 | 8 / 1 / 5 | Air bags (258), Electrical system (126), Engine (117) |
| 2013 | Fewest complaints | 162 | 4 | 7 / 2 / 5 | Electrical system (53), Engine (45), Electronic stability control (esc) (43) |
| 2012 | Typical | 354 | 5 | 10 / 2 / 10 | Engine (115), Electronic stability control (esc) (84), Steering (62) |
| 2011 | Above median | 608 | 5 | 16 / 4 / 15 | Engine (204), Steering (165), Electronic stability control (esc) (103) |
| 2010 | Above median | 669 | 5 | 17 / 6 / 11 | Steering (331), Engine (178), Power train (66) |
| 2009 | Typical | 448 | 8 | 17 / 2 / 12 | Steering (231), Power train (58), Engine (50) |
Counts are raw totals and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so a big-selling year draws more complaints than a slow one. Crash, fire and injury columns count complaints that report one, as filed by the owner.
Check the value and recall status of a specific Chevy Traverse
Model-year counts cannot tell you about the car in front of you. Enter its 17-character VIN for the free report: the exact year, trim and engine it was built with, the safety recalls NHTSA lists for its year, make and model, its crash-test ratings and running costs. No account. Then, from $2.99, see what that Chevy Traverse is worth at its mileage near your ZIP code, with the listings behind the number, and whether the asking price is fair. The $6.99 Full Report also checks that VIN for recalls still outstanding.
Steering and timing chain complaints on the 2009 to 2012 models
Steering is the top complaint component for the 2009 (231) and 2010 (331) Traverse, and 1,031 complaints across all years mention steering, 323 of them for 2010. Engine complaints climb from 50 for 2009 to 178 for 2010 and 204 for 2011, when engine becomes the top component. Of the 242 complaints that mention the timing chain or belt, 208 are for 2010 to 2012 (106, 70 and 32), and those three years also lead complaints describing engine failure, seizure or knocking. All of these are raw counts: they are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
Air bag complaints and inflator recalls, 2013 to 2017
Air bags are the top complaint component for every year from 2014 to 2017: 258, 162, 163 and 263, or 846 in total. Three recalls cover a driver's air bag inflator that may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect: 21V782000 (2013 to 2017), 22V246000 (2015) and 23V334000 (2014 to 2017). A fourth, 21V246000, covers side curtain air bags that may not be properly attached on 2010 to 2019 models. The 2014 model also has 126 electrical system complaints, and recall 14V614000 covers a chassis electronic module on that year that may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Transmission complaints on the 2018 and 2019 models
Power train is the top component for 2018 (195 complaints) and 2019 (167). Complaints that mention transmission problems peak in the same two years, 97 for 2018 and 66 for 2019, and 2018 also leads complaints describing hesitation, jerking or surging (57). Recall 20V668000 covers 2018 to 2020 models whose start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts. The 2018 model is also the top year for complaints mentioning electrical faults or battery drain (31).
An open brake investigation on the 2024 to 2026 models
Service brakes are the top component for 2024 (59 complaints) and 2025 (112), and 107 complaints about the 2025 model mention brakes. NHTSA opened engineering analysis EA26006, Electronic Brake Module Component Failure, on August 21, 2026, covering 2024 to 2026 models. It is still open and has not yet produced a recall campaign. These years are too new to judge against older ones.
What to check on a used Chevy Traverse
- Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup, which lists any recall not yet repaired on that car (see what else a free VIN check shows), and on a 2013 to 2017 model confirm the air bag inflator campaign for that year was completed.
- On a 2009 to 2014 model, confirm seat belt cable recall 14V266000 was done. NHTSA's engineering analysis EA20002 into anchor cable failures on those years closed in 2024 with campaign 21V245.
- On a 2009 to 2012 model with a power liftgate, confirm liftgate strut recall 15V415000 was completed.
- On a 2009 to 2011 model, pay close attention to steering feel. On a 2010 to 2012 model, ask for records of any timing chain work and make sure the check-engine light is off.
- On a 2018 or 2019 model, test for hesitation, jerking or surging from a stop and ask about any transmission repairs.
- On a 2024 to 2026 model, check whether EA26006 has led to a recall by the time you buy.
- Before you settle on a price, check the seller's asking price against the Chevy Traverses for sale near you with the used car price check.
Before you make an offer, check what a specific Chevy Traverse is worth by VIN. The CarWorthIt valuation, from $2.99, prices that VIN at its mileage near your ZIP code against cars for sale.
What Chevy Traverse owners report most
NHTSA files each complaint under one or more component categories. Across all 5,461 Chevy Traverse complaints, these are the most common:
| NHTSA component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,111 | 20.3% |
| Air bags | 1,050 | 19.2% |
| Steering | 952 | 17.4% |
| Power train | 913 | 16.7% |
| Electrical system | 842 | 15.4% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 476 | 8.7% |
| Service brakes | 405 | 7.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 305 | 5.6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 205 | 3.8% |
| Seat belts | 165 | 3.0% |
The categories are broad, so the owners' own descriptions were also searched for specific symptoms. These are counts of complaints whose text mentions each one, not diagnoses, and one complaint can mention several.
| What the complaint describes | Complaints | Share | Model years with the most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1,031 | 18.9% | 2010 (323), 2009 (224), 2011 (171) |
| Air bags | 1,007 | 18.4% | 2014 (242), 2017 (237), 2015 (151) |
| Check-engine light | 623 | 11.4% | 2010 (99), 2014 (95), 2012 (72) |
| Brakes | 548 | 10.0% | 2025 (107), 2024 (58), 2018 (47) |
| Transmission problems | 460 | 8.4% | 2018 (97), 2019 (66), 2009 (46) |
| Stalling or loss of power while driving | 427 | 7.8% | 2010 (73), 2014 (66), 2011 (59) |
| Hesitation, jerking or surging | 277 | 5.1% | 2018 (57), 2014 (39), 2019 (30) |
| Timing chain or belt | 242 | 4.4% | 2010 (106), 2011 (70), 2012 (32) |
| Electrical faults or battery drain | 190 | 3.5% | 2018 (31), 2014 (27), 2019 (20) |
| Infotainment screen, radio or backup camera | 185 | 3.4% | 2014 (23), 2018 (21), 2019 (21) |
Chevy Traverse recalls (31 campaigns)
Every recall campaign NHTSA lists for the Chevy Traverse, newest first, with the model years it covers and NHTSA's own description of the defect, shortened. A recall on the model is not proof a given car was affected or left unrepaired: check a specific car by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or in the free CarWorthIt VIN report.
| Campaign | Reported | Model years | Component | The defect, in NHTSA's words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23V334000 | May 10, 2023 | 2014 to 2017 | Air bags | The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. |
| 23V172000 | March 16, 2023 | 2023 | Power train | The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission. 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. |
| 23V042000 | February 2, 2023 | 2023 | Power train | The left-side half-shaft assemblies may be missing a retaining ring. 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. |
| 22V246000 | April 14, 2022 | 2015 | Air bags | The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. |
| 22V210000 | March 31, 2022 | 2020 to 2022 | Air bags | 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. |
| 21V817000 | October 18, 2021 | 2020 to 2021 | Power train | The screw and clip that hold the inner wheel-well plastic shroud in place may chafe against the transmission case, possibly resulting in a transmission fluid leak. |
| 21V782000 | October 7, 2021 | 2013 to 2017 | Air bags | The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. |
| 21V472000 | June 24, 2021 | 2021 | Air bags | During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury. |
| 21V246000 | April 8, 2021 | 2010 to 2019 | Air bags | The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached. Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 21V115000 | February 25, 2021 | 2020 | Tires | The affected tires were cured for too long during production. Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. |
| 20V684000 | November 5, 2020 | 2020 | Tires | The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured. Overcured tires may experience a carcass break in the sidewall resulting in a sudden air loss or could develop a belt edge separation which could lead to partial or full tread/belt loss. |
| 20V668000 | October 29, 2020 | 2018 to 2020 | Power train | The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts. Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 20V639000 | October 15, 2020 | 2020 | Fuel system, gasoline | The fuel pump's jet nozzle may have a plastic burr remaining from the manufacturing process, possibly causing a blocked nozzle and an insufficient fuel supply to the engine. |
| 20V446000 | July 30, 2020 | 2020 | Air bags | The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly crimped to the inflator and could separate from the inflator during air bag deployment. |
| 19V643000 | September 6, 2019 | 2020 | Structure | The right-hand frame rail in the engine compartment may be cracked. A crack in the frame rail may reduce crash performance, increasing the risk of an injury. |
Show the other 16 Chevy Traverse recalls
| Campaign | Reported | Model years | Component | The defect, in NHTSA's words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18V774000 | November 1, 2018 | 2019 | Air bags | The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash. |
| 15V833000 | December 11, 2015 | 2016 | Seats | The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds that are not in the correction location. If the seat frame is not welded in the correct places, the seat may not perform as intended, and in the event of a crash, the seat occupant could be at an increased risk of injury. |
| 15V609000 | September 29, 2015 | 2016 | Visibility | Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used. A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire. |
| 15V415000 | June 30, 2015 | 2009 to 2012 | Structure | The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall. |
| 15V044000 | January 28, 2015 | 2015 | Tires | These vehicles are equipped with tires that may experience tread cracking. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less." |
| 14V614000 | October 1, 2014 | 2014 | Electrical system | In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short. If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 14V266000 | May 20, 2014 | 2009 to 2014 | Seat belts | In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time. If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash. |
| 14V223000 | April 30, 2014 | 2014 | Electrical system | In the affected vehicles, the engine control module (ECM) software may cause the fuel gauge to read inaccurately. An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 14V118000 | March 17, 2014 | 2009 to 2013 | Air bags | In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash. |
| 14V092000 | February 21, 2014 | 2014 | Power train | In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." |
| 12V151000 | April 9, 2012 | 2011 to 2012 | Visibility | Snow or ice buildup on the windshield or on the wiper may restrict the movement of the wiper arm, causing the wiper arm to loosen and cause the wiper to become inoperative. |
| 10V375000 | August 12, 2010 | 2009 to 2010 | Seat belts | The second row seat side trim shield restricts the upward rotation of the safety belt buckle when the seat back is returned to a seating position after being folded flat. If the buckle contacts the seat frame, additional effort is required to return the seat to a seating position. |
| 10V240000 | June 4, 2010 | 2009 | Electrical system | However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on hwfs modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. |
| 09V153000 | May 6, 2009 | 2009 | Parking brake | These vehicles may have a park brake cable link (connector) that is not to specification. This connector may fracture when the park brake pedal is depressed. If the transmission shift lever is in the park position, there will be no unintended vehicle movement. |
| 09V073000 | March 6, 2009 | 2009 | Power train | These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and FMVSS 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully engaged. |
| 08V615000 | November 24, 2008 | 2009 | Seat belts | These vehicles may have been built with a safety belt buckle in the second or third row that is missing a rivet. In a vehicle crash, if the rivet is missing, the buckle may separate from the mounting strap, increasing the risk of injury to the passenger. |
NHTSA defect investigations
Investigations are opened when NHTSA sees a possible safety defect, often from complaints like the ones above. PE is a preliminary evaluation, EA an engineering analysis, RQ a recall query into whether an earlier recall went far enough, DP a defect petition and AQ an audit query.
| Number | Opened | Status | Chevy Traverse years | Subject | Recall campaign linked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA26006 | August 21, 2026 | Open | 2024 to 2026 | Electronic Brake Module Component Failure | No |
| EA20002 | August 31, 2020 | Closed August 30, 2024 | 2009 to 2014 | Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure | 21V245 |
| RQ19003 | May 28, 2019 | Closed August 31, 2020 | 2009 to 2014 | Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure | No |
| AQ10001 | November 18, 2010 | Closed December 28, 2015 | 2009 | Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit | No |
How these numbers were counted
Complaints: NHTSA's complaints API for NHTSA model names TRAVERSE, TRAVERSE ICE, TRAVERSE LIMITED, each complaint counted once per model year; hybrid and plug-in versions, which NHTSA files separately, are not included. Recalls: distinct campaign numbers from NHTSA's recalls databasefor the same names and years. Investigations: NHTSA's defect investigation file. All pulled September 28, 2026. These are counts of reports, not failure rates, and they say nothing about any individual car. For that, check the VIN.
What a used Chevy Traverse is worth, by model year
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Chevy Traverse?
The top NHTSA complaint components are engine (1,111 complaints), air bags (1,050), steering (952), power train (913) and electrical system (842), out of 5,461 complaints in total. Steering complaints cluster in the 2009 to 2011 models, air bag complaints in 2014 to 2017, and power train complaints in 2018 and 2019.
What Chevy Traverse years should I avoid?
No model year stands out: none reached twice the median of 361 complaints per year. The highest totals are 2010 with 669, 2011 with 608 and 2014 with 547, and no 2022 or newer model has reached twice the median either.
How many recalls does the Chevy Traverse have?
NHTSA lists 31 recall campaigns for the Traverse. Three of them, 21V782000, 22V246000 and 23V334000, cover a driver's air bag inflator that may explode during deployment on 2013 to 2017 models, and 14V266000 covers a front outboard seat belt cable that may fatigue and separate on 2009 to 2014 models.
Is NHTSA investigating the Chevy Traverse brakes?
Yes. Engineering analysis EA26006, Electronic Brake Module Component Failure, was opened on August 21, 2026, covers 2024 to 2026 models and is still open. Service brakes are the top complaint component for 2024 (59 complaints) and 2025 (112).