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2016 Chevrolet Traverse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 302.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

89 reports with mileage · 202 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 163 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

163 reports
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12,000 miles · Jan 6, 2017
Air BagsStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

12/21/16 FIRST, I PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 1-2 MILES AN HOUR FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS...PULLED OVER AND PUT IN PARK AND REVVED THE ENGINE A LITTLE AND PULLED OUT AGAIN. IT STILL WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AT FIRST, THEN GRADUALLY PICKED UP SPEED AND RODE THE REMAINDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON 12/22/16, ONE SECO…

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12/21/16 FIRST, I PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 1-2 MILES AN HOUR FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS...PULLED OVER AND PUT IN PARK AND REVVED THE ENGINE A LITTLE AND PULLED OUT AGAIN. IT STILL WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AT FIRST, THEN GRADUALLY PICKED UP SPEED AND RODE THE REMAINDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON 12/22/16, ONE SECOND I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN FRONT OF THE STORE I WORK AT, AND WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO THE BRICK WALL OF THE BUILDING. THE AIRBAG IN THE STEERING COLUMN DEPLOYED. THE CAR BOUNCED BACK AND SHUT DOWN I THINK). I REACHED UP AND TURNED THE KEY OFF & L OPENED THE DOOR & THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING ONTO THE LOT.. MY KNEES WERE HURTING REALLY BAD, BOTH MY HANDS WERE SORE AND MY LEFT ARM. THE CAR FRONT WAS ALL DAMAGED WITH PART OF THE FENDER ON THE SIDEWALK. WE CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME AND TAKE ME TO GET CHECKED OUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE CRACKED BOTH MY KNEECAPS. WE CONTACTED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY TOLD US TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO OUR PREFERRED BODY SHOP, WHICH WE DID. THE DR X-RAYED MY KNEES AND DETERMINED THEY WERE NOT BROKEN, JUST BADLY BRUISED. ON DEC 26TH, I WENT BACK TO THE DR BECAUSE I STARTED HAVING SOME PAIN IN MY NECK/SHOULDER AND THEY DID NUMEROUS TESTS, FINDING WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A FRACTURE IN MY NECK. I HAD TO WEAR A BRACE ON IT FOR A WEEK, THEN MORE TESTING DETERMINED THAT WHAT THEY SAW WAS ACTUALLY A PREVIOUS INJURY THAT HAD NEVER BEEN CAUGHT. I NEED PHYSICAL THERAPY ON THE NECK ISSUE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THESE CARS SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, OVER A SPAN OF 7 YEARS. I AM NOT ONLY THANKFUL I WASN'T INJURED WORSE, BUT THAT THERE WASN'T A PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND THE OUTCOME COULD BE MUCH WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10940203

4,000 miles · Dec 3, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System

UNEXPECTED NOTICE OF A SERVICE WARNING LIGHT THAT SUDDENLY APPEARED ON MY WIFE'S TRAVERSE AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 WEEKS..... [XXX] AND I PURCHASED A DEMO TRAVERSE WITH 4000 MILES , AT A FT PIERCE CHEVROLET LOCATION RECENTLY... WE WENT ON A TWO WEEK TRIP TO HAWAII AND RETURNED THIS PAST WEEK ,AS WE STARTED THE CAR , UPON OUR RETURN…

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UNEXPECTED NOTICE OF A SERVICE WARNING LIGHT THAT SUDDENLY APPEARED ON MY WIFE'S TRAVERSE AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 WEEKS..... [XXX] AND I PURCHASED A DEMO TRAVERSE WITH 4000 MILES , AT A FT PIERCE CHEVROLET LOCATION RECENTLY... WE WENT ON A TWO WEEK TRIP TO HAWAII AND RETURNED THIS PAST WEEK ,AS WE STARTED THE CAR , UPON OUR RETURN, MY WIFE EXCLAIMED ; I HAVE A WARNING AIRBAG NOTICE LIGHT ON.... SO I THOUGHT ! ,( MAYBE IT WAS THE FACT I HADN'T BUCKLED MY SEAT BELT YET, AS I ENTERED THE STARTED CAR, MAYBE MY SEAT WASN'T FUNCTION RIGHT OR SOMETHING)..... I HAD HER TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. CONTINUALLY , (THROUGHOUT THE DAY YESTERDAY), AS WE TRAVELED AROUND, DOING CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, THIS WARNING REAPPEARED EACH TIME WE STOPPED , GOT OUT TO SHOP AND RETURN TO START THE TRAVERSE.. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I GOOGLE THE MEANING OF THIS WARNING, WHAT WAS IT CAUSES, WHAT IT ENTAILED / HOW TO REMEDY THIS WARNING AND MY STARTLED AND DISMAYED AS THE SEARCH RESULTS POPPED UP.... CHEVROLET WAS AWARE OF THE DESIGN DEFECT IN THE TRAVERSE VEHICLES, BUT DID NOT WARN US OR OTHER CONSUMERS PRIOR TO PURCHASING. THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS CAUSES SAFETY CONCERNS AND DIMINISHES THE RESALE VALUE OF THIS VEHICLE ,THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS IN THE TRAVERSE MAY CAUSE UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND FINANCIAL BURDEN TO US AS OWNERS. AS NOTED IGNORING THE ACTIVE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE IMPACT RESTRAINTS, WHICH INCLUDE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE AIR BAGS, FRONT CENTER AIR BAG (IF EQUIPPED), AND THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONERS. SEEMS THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A RECURRING MODEL ISSUE SINCE 2010.. I'M NOT HAPPY AND HOPE THE DEALERSHIP IS ABLE TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE, FOR HER , IN A TIMELY MANNER , BUT I STILL NEEDED TO POST A NOTICE TO THIS SITE..... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10929706

12,000 miles · Nov 8, 2016
Air BagsEngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSORS IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSORS IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10924945

Official recalls

5

23V334000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 10, 2023

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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 customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.

21V782000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Oct 7, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

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.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.

Air Bags:frontal

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.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.

21V246000 · Air Bags:critical Fasteners

Apr 8, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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 customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

15V833000 · Seats

Dec 11, 2015

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 that are not in the correction location.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 21930.

15V609000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Sep 29, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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 replaced. If weather conditions prevent operation of the vehicle without using the windshield wipers, GM will make arrangements to pick up the vehicle for servicing. The recall began on September 30, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15780.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.