Chevrolet Traverse 2009–2017 problems by year and mileage
1st generation · GM Lambda (GMT966/GMT968)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20263,754 complaints, 2,458 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 200980kmedian
- 201075kmedian
- 201171kmedian
- 201285kmedian
- 201371kmedian
- 201465k†median
- 201552k†median
- 201648k†median
- 201738k†median
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
Close- Median failure report
- 80,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 448
- Recalls naming this year
- 8
Most reported on the 2009
- Steering231 reports · median 76,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline58 reports · median 90,000 mi
- Engine50 reports · median 112,000 mi
8 recall campaigns name the 2009: Structure — body; Seat belts; Air bags — side/window. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
Close- Median failure report
- 75,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 669
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2010
- Steering331 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Engine178 reports · median 87,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline66 reports · median 84,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2010: Air bags — critical fasteners; Structure — body; Seat belts. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
Close- Median failure report
- 71,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 608
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2011
- Engine204 reports · median 86,000 mi
- Steering165 reports · median 66,000 mi
- Electronic stability control (esc)103 reports · median 81,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2011: Air bags — critical fasteners; Structure — body; Seat belts. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
Close- Median failure report
- 85,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 354
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2012
- Engine115 reports · median 96,000 mi
- Electronic stability control (esc)84 reports · median 96,000 mi
- Steering62 reports · median 70,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2012: Air bags — critical fasteners; Structure — body; Seat belts. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2013 Chevrolet Traverse
Close- Median failure report
- 71,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 162
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2013
- Electrical system53 reports · median 89,000 mi
- Engine45 reports · median 90,000 mi
- Electronic stability control (esc)43 reports · median 74,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2013: Air bags — frontal; Air bags — critical fasteners; Seat belts. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2014 Chevrolet Traverse
Close- Median failure report
- 65,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 547
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2014 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2014
- Airbag system258 reports · median 66,000 mi
- Electrical system126 reports · median 75,000 mi
- Electronic stability control (esc)117 reports · median 74,000 mi
7 recall campaigns name the 2014: Air bags — frontal; Air bags — critical fasteners; Electrical system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 Chevrolet Traverse
Close- Median failure report
- 52,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 313
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2015 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2015
- Airbag system162 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Engine37 reports
- Electrical system28 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2015: Air bags — frontal; Air bags — critical fasteners; Tires. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
Close- Median failure report
- 48,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 292
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2016
- Airbag system163 reports
- Transmission and driveline37 reports
- Engine31 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2016: Air bags — frontal; Air bags — critical fasteners; Seats. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Chevrolet Traverse
Close- Median failure report
- 38,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 361
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2017
- Airbag system263 reports
- Engine25 reports
- Electrical system22 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2017: Air bags — frontal; Air bags — critical fasteners. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2012 reports latest and the 2017 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2012 has had 5 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2009–2017 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 71,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 125,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 2,458
- Recalls
- 19
Most reported
- Airbag system27.2% of complaints · median 65,000 mi
- Steering23.9% of complaints · median 70,000 mi
- Engine21.4% of complaints · median 85,000 mi
Documented problems
- Engine2009–2013
- Engine2009–2012
- Seat Belts2009–2014
- Steering2009–2013
Owners filed 3,754 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009–2017 Chevrolet Traverse; the airbag system leads with 27.2% of them, and half of the 2,458 that record an odometer reading came by 71,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 46,000 and 99,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2009–2017 Chevrolet Traverse last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2009–2017 Chevrolet Traverse, half of the 2,458 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 71,000 miles and 90% by 125,000 miles.
109 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 9 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Traverse reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Chevrolet Traverse 2009–2017 · 2,458 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 141 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 9 complaints (0.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 18,000
- 25%
- 46,000
- Median
- 71,000
- 75%
- 99,000
- 90%
- 125,470
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 121 | 4.9% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 53 | 2.2% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 50 | 2.0% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 30 | 1.2% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 45 | 1.8% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 49 | 2.0% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 58 | 2.4% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 77 | 3.1% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 97 | 3.9% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 99 | 4.0% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 110 | 4.5% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 101 | 4.1% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 139 | 5.7% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 141 | 5.7% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 134 | 5.5% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 117 | 4.8% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 125 | 5.1% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 102 | 4.1% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 116 | 4.7% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 89 | 3.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 96 | 3.9% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 72 | 2.9% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 72 | 2.9% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 51 | 2.1% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 59 | 2.4% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 32 | 1.3% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 37 | 1.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 29 | 1.2% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 34 | 1.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 14 | 0.6% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 17 | 0.7% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 12 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 16 | 0.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 11 | 0.4% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 12 | 0.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 16 | 0.7% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 7 | 0.3% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 9 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Traverse problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Chevrolet Traverse 2009–2017
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Airbag system1,020 reports65,00038,000–102,000Airbag system: 1,020 reports, median 65,000 miles, middle half 38,000 to 102,000 miles.
- Throttle and speed control273 reports68,00047,000–94,000Throttle and speed control: 273 reports, median 68,000 miles, middle half 47,000 to 94,000 miles.
- Steering896 reports70,00051,000–90,000Steering: 896 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 51,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Electrical system466 reports75,00042,000–106,000Electrical system: 466 reports, median 75,000 miles, middle half 42,000 to 106,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline391 reports76,00046,000–104,000Transmission and driveline: 391 reports, median 76,000 miles, middle half 46,000 to 104,000 miles.
- Electronic stability control (esc)466 reports76,00056,000–106,000Electronic stability control (esc): 466 reports, median 76,000 miles, middle half 56,000 to 106,000 miles.
- Engine802 reports85,00057,000–110,000Engine: 802 reports, median 85,000 miles, middle half 57,000 to 110,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 1,020 | 27.2% | 65,000 | 38,000–102,000 |
| Steering | 896 | 23.9% | 70,000 | 51,000–90,000 |
| Engine | 802 | 21.4% | 85,000 | 57,000–110,000 |
| Electrical system | 466 | 12.4% | 75,000 | 42,000–106,000 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 466 | 12.4% | 76,000 | 56,000–106,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 391 | 10.4% | 76,000 | 46,000–104,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 273 | 7.3% | 68,000 | 47,000–94,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 255 | 6.8% | 76,000 | 47,000–106,000 |
| Seat belts | 124 | 3.3% | 66,000 | 36,000–110,000 |
| Brakes | 124 | 3.3% | 68,000 | 28,000–93,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 71,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 27.2% of complaints (1,020 reports, 247 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 38,000 and 102,000 miles.
A single system taking 27.2% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The steering accounts for 23.9% of complaints (896 reports, 784 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,000 and 90,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 21.4% of complaints (802 reports, 640 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 57,000 and 110,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 12.4% of complaints (466 reports, 325 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 106,000 miles.
Electronic stability control (esc) accounts for 12.4% of complaints (466 reports, 431 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 76,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 56,000 and 106,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 10.4% of complaints (391 reports, 293 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 76,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 46,000 and 104,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2009–2017 Traverse
Engine 2009–2013
3.6L direct-injection V6 timing chain stretch, setting P0008/P0016/P0017/P0018 cam-crank correlation codes and eventually causing rattle and running problems. Strongly correlated with the long oil-change intervals GM's oil life monitor originally permitted. GM Special Coverage Adjustment #11340C extended coverage for premature timing chain wear on MY2009 vehicles to 10 years / 120,000 miles; later years were not covered.
Engine 2009–2012
High-pressure fuel pump and PCV-related oil consumption on the LLT.
Seat Belts 2009–2014
Front seat belt tensioner cable can separate from its anchor, leaving the belt unable to restrain an occupant; NHTSA recall covering Lambda-platform crossovers.
Steering 2009–2013
Power steering pump and pressure hose leaks causing loss of assist.
Before you buy a 2009–2017 Traverse: the 3-minute check
Generated from 2,458 mileage-tagged complaints, 19 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 19 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine on 2009–2013 (LLT worst; LFX improved from 2013) cars. 3.6L direct-injection V6 timing chain stretch, setting P0008/P0016/P0017/P0018 cam-crank correlation codes and eventually causing rattle and running problems. Strongly correlated with the long oil-change intervals GM's…
- Check engine on 2009–2012 cars. High-pressure fuel pump and PCV-related oil consumption on the LLT.
- Check seat belts on 2009–2014 cars. Front seat belt tensioner cable can separate from its anchor, leaving the belt unable to restrain an occupant; NHTSA recall covering Lambda-platform crossovers.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 46,000 and 99,000 miles, with a median of 71,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the steering are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 65,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Traverse problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi36% below | At 90k mi67% below | At 120k mi87% below | At 150k mi96% below | At 200k mi100% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 38,000–102,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Steering | 51,000–90,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 57,000–110,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 42,000–106,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 56,000–106,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 46,000–104,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 47,000–94,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Chevrolet Traverse 2009–2017 · 2,458 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 36% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 67% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 87% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 96% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 100%: the remaining 0.4% of reports (9) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2009–2017 Chevrolet Traverse recalls (19)
NHTSA records 19 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (5), the electrical system (3), the seat belts (3). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
May 2023 · 2014–2017 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting…
The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick…
Apr 2022 · 2015 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting…
The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the drivers air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300; Chevrolet…
Oct 2021 · 2013–2017 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting…
The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022.…
Apr 2021 · 2010–2017 · Air BagsUnsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
What can happen. Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick…
Dec 2015 · 2016 · SeatsIf the seat frame is not welded in the correct places, the seat may not perform as intended, and in the event…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured November 6, 2015, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds…
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row left side lower seat frame, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet…
Sep 2015 · 2016 · VisibilityA wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured August 18, 2015 to September 24, 2015. Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.
What can happen. A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
The free fix. GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover assembly, free of charge. Owners are advised not to use their front windshield wipers until the wiper cover has been…
Jun 2015 · 2009–2012 · StructureIf the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles…
What can happen. If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The…
Jan 2015 · 2015 · TiresIf the tire treads crack, a loss of tire pressure and possible tire failure may result, increasing the risk…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured December 9, 2014, to January 14, 2015, 2015 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured December 9, 2014, to January 20, 2015, and 2015 GMC Acadia vehicles…
What can happen. If the tire treads crack, a loss of tire pressure and possible tire failure may result, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tires that were manufactured within a specific date range, free of charge. The rec all began on March 9, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer…
Oct 2014 · 2014 · Electrical SystemIf the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and…
What can happen. If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick)…
May 2014 · 2009–2014 · Seat BeltsIf the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant…
The defect. General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008…
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be…
Apr 2014 · 2014 · Electrical SystemAn inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured March 26, 2013, through August 15, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the engine control module (ECM) software may cause the fuel…
What can happen. An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM to correct the fuel gauge reading, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300…
Mar 2014 · 2009–2013 · Air BagsFailure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side…
What can happen. Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner…
Feb 2014 · 2014 · Power TrainIf a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the…
What can happen. If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the…
The free fix. General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may…
Apr 2012 · 2011–2012 · VisibilityIf this occurs, driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Traverse, Buick enclave, and GMC acadia vehicles currently registered in alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan…
What can happen. If this occurs, driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Gm will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper arm nuts, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 20, 2012.
Aug 2010 · 2009–2010 · Seat BeltsThe safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to…
The defect. General motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Traverse, Buick enclave, GMC acadia, and Saturn outlook vehicles. The second row seat side trim shield restricts the upward rotation of the safety belt buckle when the seat back is returned to…
What can happen. The safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
The free fix. Dealers will modify the second row seat side trim shields. If a safety belt buckle is damaged, dealers will replace it free of charge. The safety recall began on august 18, 2010. Owners may contact…
Jun 2010 · 2009 · Electrical SystemIt is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
The defect. Gm is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Buick, lucerne; Cadillac dts; hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 Buick enclave; Cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; GMC…
What can happen. It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
The free fix. Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has…
May 2009 · 2009 · Parking BrakeIf the transmission shift lever is in the park position, there will be no unintended vehicle movement.
The defect. Gm is recalling 15,393 my 2009 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, "Passenger car brake systems." These vehicles may have a park brake cable link (connector) that is not to…
What can happen. If the transmission shift lever is in the park position, there will be no unintended vehicle movement. However, if the keys are left in the ignition, the transmission shift lever is in any position…
The free fix. Dealers are to replace the park brake cable link (connector) free of charge. Gm anticipates that the dealer bulletin will be sent may 5, 2009 and owner letters will be mailed in june 2009. Owners may…
Mar 2009 · 2009 · Power TrainThe driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited…
The defect. General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 Buick enclave, Chevrolet cobalt, HHR, malibu, Traverse, GMC acadia, Pontiac g5, g6 and Saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102…
What can happen. The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is…
Nov 2008 · 2009 · Seat BeltsIn a vehicle crash, if the rivet is missing, the buckle may separate from the mounting strap, increasing the…
The defect. Gm is recalling 16,667 my 2009 Buick enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC acadia, and Saturn outlook vehicles for failing to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, 'Seat belt assemblies.' These vehicles may have been built…
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the safety belt buckles in the second and third rows, and replace them if necessary. The recall began on november 26, 2008. Owners may contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080; Chevrolet…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 3,754 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 106 (2.8%)
- Fires
- 23
- Injury reports
- 79
- Fatality reports
- 3
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Traverse problems by model year
The 2010 drew the most complaints of this generation, 669, most of them about the steering, and the 2013 the fewest, 162. A typical year drew about 361.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 448 | 394 | 80,000 | Steering (231) | 8 |
| 2010 | 669 | 575 | 75,000 | Steering (331) | 5 |
| 2011 | 608 | 496 | 71,000 | Engine (204) | 5 |
| 2012 | 354 | 284 | 85,000 | Engine (115) | 5 |
| 2013 | 162 | 129 | 71,000 | Electrical system (53) | 4 |
| 2014 | 547 | 282 | 65,000† | Airbag system (258) | 7 |
| 2015 | 313 | 145 | 52,000† | Airbag system (162) | 5 |
| 2016 | 292 | 88 | 48,000† | Airbag system (163) | 5 |
| 2017 | 361 | 65 | 38,000† | Airbag system (263) | 3 |
What Traverse owners reported
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently failed to start and occasionally stalled while driving. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and restarted after a while. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with ignition…
2010 · 160,000 miles · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an odor of rotten eggs inside the vehicle. The odor was discovered to be Hydrogen Sulfide that was entering the cabin of the vehicle from the overcharged batteries. No warning lights were illuminated.…
2015 · 198,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while she has a passenger with her, she stated her passenger air bag light goes on and off but most of the times states the airbag is off although someone is on the seat, as well as waring on the instrumental panel, that states service air bag. The vehicle…
2013 · 175,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera screen displayed a distorted image. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the front driver’s side window failed to roll up or down occasionally while the power window…
2017 · 60,000 miles · Electrical system
Built from 2,458 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Traverse generations
- Traverse 2018–2023 388 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline