Chevrolet Traverse problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 1,738 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls for the Chevrolet Traverse. That averages 42.0 complaints per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (index 1.04 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #5 of 14 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 52.5.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is flat. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models are within 15% of the 2018 and 2019 models (65 early complaints per model year versus 65).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (102.4 complaints per year) and the 2021 model year the lowest (15.9). The 2025 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 42.0 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2021, 2022 and 2023 run at least 40% below this model's average of 42.0 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (26.6% of complaints), followed by Engine (21.1%) and Electrical (15.2%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 2.3 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 58 complaints (3.3%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 60 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 493 complaints versus 455 in the previous 12 months — up 8%. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (92). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 41 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 14 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2020 (4). 1 NHTSA investigation has covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Electronic Brake Module Component Failure” (engineering analysis, opened 2026-08-21, still open).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Dodge Durango, Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Passport and Kia Sorento, but fewer than Ford Edge, Toyota Highlander, Hyundai Santa Fe and Honda Pilot.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 463 | 52.7 | 1.31 | 72 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2019 | 411 | 52.8 | 1.31 | 73 | 3 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2020 | 233 | 34.3 | 0.85 | 58 | 8 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 Fewest complaints | 92 | 15.9 | 0.39 | 30 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 | 99 | 20.7 | 0.51 | 36 | 1 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2023 | 92 | 24.3 | 0.6 | 34 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2024 | 140 | 50.2 | 1.24 | 73 | 0 | Brakes | View › |
| 2025 ▲50%+ | 183 | 102.4 | 2.54 | 92 | 0 | Brakes | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 25 | 25.0 | 0.62 | 25 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 493 · Previous 12 months: 455 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
463 · 26.6% · 2.28 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Engine ›
367 · 21.1% · 0.95 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Electrical ›
264 · 15.2% · 0.97 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Unspecified or other ›
207 · 11.9% · 1.33 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Brakes ›
181 · 10.4% · 1.73 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Airbags & seat belts ›
52 · 3.0% · 0.79 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system ›
49 · 2.8% · 0.65 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Body & structure ›
45 · 2.6% · 0.28 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Wheels, tires & suspension
30 · 1.7% · 0.69 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
27 · 1.6% · 0.24 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
19 · 1.1% · 0.59 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
18 · 1.0% · 0.67 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
16 · 0.9% · 0.16 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 41 months
What owners report
The contact owned a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on the driveway, the contact's sister-in-law became aware of a burning odor.
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Traverse. While the contact’s wife was driving approximately 5 MPH, the brakes independently activated while the accelerator pedal was depressed.
I bought 4 new General Grabber HT tires 255/65 R 18 I have only driven on them for 13,000 miles and the tires shake and have wear on them.
When I accelerate at a stoplight the car shuddered and slammed into gear then it shop the rpms up to 8000 and back down i was barely able to make it home and when I arrived at home I tried to park and it would not go into reverse tostraighten my vehicle.
My 2023 traverse rs experienced a loud grinding noise and sudden loss of power, almost like i slammed the brakes on while moving. I was in the middle of the road and i could have been rear ended. 10/12/26.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Durango | 786 | 15.2 | 0.38 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 18 | Lighting |
| 2 | Nissan Pathfinder | 596 | 19.2 | 0.48 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 3 | Honda Passport | 759 | 24.8 | 0.61 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Electrical |
| 4 | Kia Sorento | 1,446 | 33.7 | 0.83 | Stable | Rising | 18 | Engine |
| 5 | Chevrolet Traverse | 1,738 | 42.0 | 1.04 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 6 | Ford Edge | 2,244 | 44.4 | 1.1 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 20 | Engine |
| 7 | Toyota Highlander | 2,162 | 45.8 | 1.13 | Improving | Rising | 21 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 8 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 2,092 | 58.4 | 1.45 | Worsening | Rising | 27 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Pilot | 2,945 | 63.4 | 1.57 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 27 | Engine |
| 10 | Ford Explorer | 3,270 | 64.0 | 1.59 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 77 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 11 | Subaru Outback | 3,816 | 71.8 | 1.78 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Body & structure |
| 12 | Kia Telluride | 2,014 | 74.3 | 1.84 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Body & structure |
| 13 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 3,477 | 82.4 | 2.04 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 53 | Electrical |
| 14 | Hyundai Palisade | 2,471 | 105.3 | 2.61 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 16 | Airbags & seat belts |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 14
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (2) · 2019 (3) · 2020 (8) · 2021 (3) · 2022 (1) · 2023 (2) · 2024 (0) · 2025 (0) · 2026 (1)
Investigations
- Electronic Brake Module Component Failure Open
On April 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24011 after receiving complaints concerning a loss of brake assist in 2023 MY Cadillac Lyriq vehicles. These complaints allege a hard brake pedal, followed by a “Brake System Failure” message at start up or while driving. GM shared records regarding several internal investigations for loss of brake assist …