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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

291 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2020
Electrical SystemInjury

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HWY 175, VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH MESSAGE 'SERVICE STABILITRAK' FOLLOWED BY AN ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER. HAPPENS REGULARLY AND WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI #11373736

100,000 miles · Oct 8, 2020
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLUSHED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLUSHED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER - PARKS CHEVROLET CHARLOTTE LOCATED AT 8530 IKEA BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28262, (704) 317-6416, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11363416

84,000 miles · Oct 1, 2020
Engine

AC COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP AND LOCKED MOTOR UP

NHTSA ODI #11362238

52,500 miles · Aug 18, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)CrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 TRAVERSE AFTER A CANCER TREATMENT HOME WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MSGS ON MY DASH STARTED APPEARIBG. SERVICE STABILITRAK, TRACTION CONTROL OFF. THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND THE GUY BEHIND ME REAR ENDED ME WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE PUT 2 POWER STEERING PUMPS IN, AND HAD IT ST THE SHOP FOR SE…

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 TRAVERSE AFTER A CANCER TREATMENT HOME WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MSGS ON MY DASH STARTED APPEARIBG. SERVICE STABILITRAK, TRACTION CONTROL OFF. THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND THE GUY BEHIND ME REAR ENDED ME WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE PUT 2 POWER STEERING PUMPS IN, AND HAD IT ST THE SHOP FOR SEVERAL TIMES THAT IT HAD SAID ABOUT SERVICIB SRABILITRAK. I HAVE READ OVER 300 HRS OF COMPLAINTS GAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE STABILITRSK. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED SPEED SENSORS AND MODULES. THIS IS A TRASH VECHILE AND NO ONE FROM GM CARES OR RESPONDS. WHEN SOMEONE CHILD DOES MAYBE IT WILL GET THEIR ATTENTION. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS WHAT I PLAN ON PURSUING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MY CHILD. I HOPE SOMEONE READS THIS N CAN CARE ENOUGJ TO HELP. THE CAR HAS LESS THEN 65000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11349981

80,000 miles · Jul 10, 2020
Steering

POWER STEERING PERIODICALLY SEEMS TO GO OUT. IT IS WORSE AT LOW SPEEDS AND TRYING TO PARK. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT IS FINE. AT LOW RPMS IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. WHEN TURNING FROM ONE STREET INTO ANOTHER AT LOW SPEED FEARFUL OF STEERING GOING OUT AND CAUSING A CRASH AS CAR WILL NOT TURN SHORT. HAVE …

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POWER STEERING PERIODICALLY SEEMS TO GO OUT. IT IS WORSE AT LOW SPEEDS AND TRYING TO PARK. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT IS FINE. AT LOW RPMS IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. WHEN TURNING FROM ONE STREET INTO ANOTHER AT LOW SPEED FEARFUL OF STEERING GOING OUT AND CAUSING A CRASH AS CAR WILL NOT TURN SHORT. HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS CONCERNS ON THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND EARLIER MODELS THAT HAVE HAD RECALLS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

NHTSA ODI #11338566

93,000 miles · Jun 18, 2020
Electrical SystemSteering

POWER STEERING PUMP CONNECTION ISSUE. PUMP KICKS IN AND OUT CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO SUDDENLY STIFFEN. CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IN TRAFFIC. SOME RECALL NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION TO SAVE LIVES ON THIS SERIOUS MATTER. NO RECALLS AS OF NOW I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I FELT A SUDDEN STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. GOT OFF AND CHECKED THE…

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POWER STEERING PUMP CONNECTION ISSUE. PUMP KICKS IN AND OUT CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO SUDDENLY STIFFEN. CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IN TRAFFIC. SOME RECALL NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION TO SAVE LIVES ON THIS SERIOUS MATTER. NO RECALLS AS OF NOW I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I FELT A SUDDEN STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. GOT OFF AND CHECKED THE FLUID. IT WAS TOPPED OFF AND IT WAS EVEN HARDER TO MANEUVER WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11329499

49,000 miles · May 16, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM WARNING SENSORS HAVE FAILED AND WILL NOT WORK. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE SEVERAL NEAR MISSIES IN DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324782

56,100 miles · May 11, 2020
EnginePower TrainSteering

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 56K MILES. VEHICLE HAVING MISFIRE WHILE DRIVING, ROUGH IDLE WHILE SITTING AND SLUGGISH AT TIMES. MISFIRE AND ROUGH IDLE NOT HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. HAD GENERIC CODE CHECK DONE BEFORE I COULD GET INTO DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT... MULTIPLE CODES WITH RUNNING LEAN AND 02 SENSOR. WAS ABLE …

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 56K MILES. VEHICLE HAVING MISFIRE WHILE DRIVING, ROUGH IDLE WHILE SITTING AND SLUGGISH AT TIMES. MISFIRE AND ROUGH IDLE NOT HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. HAD GENERIC CODE CHECK DONE BEFORE I COULD GET INTO DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT... MULTIPLE CODES WITH RUNNING LEAN AND 02 SENSOR. WAS ABLE TO GET INTO DEALER AFTER THE WEEKEND AND THEY DID DIAGNOSTIC. FOUND POWER STEERING GEAR INLET HOSE LEAKING ONTO O2 SENSOR (B1 S1) CAUSING THE WHOLE PROBLEM. NOT COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR COST AT THIS TIME AND HAVE BEEN SEEING WHERE OLDER MODELS HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AND MORE RECENT MODELS HAVING LEAKS DUE TO HOSES BEING TOO CLOSE TO OTHER HOSES. SO I AM CONCERNED WITH REPLACING THE HOSE AND SENSOR AND HAVING THE SAME ISSUE OCCUR AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324187

45,000 miles · Mar 15, 2020
EngineUnknown Or OtherWheels

VEHICLE SWADDLES HEAVILY AFTER A CERTAIN SPEED TO THE POINT WHERE MY CHILDREN HAVE HIT THE SIDES OF THEIR HEADS WITH THE WINDOWS/DOORS. MAKES A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING, YOU CAN FEEL THE GRINDING NOISE VIBRATIONS ON THE BOTTOM OF FEET.

NHTSA ODI #11318084

58,200 miles · Mar 10, 2020
Electrical System

SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM AND CROSS TRAFFIC WARNING SYSTEMS FAILED AT 58200 MILES ON 2016 TRAVERSE LTZ. WARNING MESSAGES APPEARED ON DIC TO HAVE THIS ISSUE SERVICED. THE MESSAGES APPEARED UPON STARTUP AND WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INDICTED DETECTION MODULES AND WIRING HARNESS MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER INTRUSION AND CORROSION I…

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SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM AND CROSS TRAFFIC WARNING SYSTEMS FAILED AT 58200 MILES ON 2016 TRAVERSE LTZ. WARNING MESSAGES APPEARED ON DIC TO HAVE THIS ISSUE SERVICED. THE MESSAGES APPEARED UPON STARTUP AND WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INDICTED DETECTION MODULES AND WIRING HARNESS MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER INTRUSION AND CORROSION IN THE MODULE WIRING CONNECTION. HE INDICATED THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN GM ISSUE. REPAIR COST IS $1350.00 AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. HE INDICATED SOME EARLIER MODELS HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR BUT SO FAR THE 2016 TRAVERSE IS NOT ON THE LIST. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT OPTIONAL SAFETY FEATURE THAT GM NEEDS TO RESOLVE ACROSS THE PRODUCT OFFERING. THE DESIGN IS POOR WITH THE MODULE MOUNTED INSIDE THE REAR BUMPER COVER SUBJECT TO ROAD SALT, WATER AND DEBRIS AND A POORLY SEALED WIRING CONNECTION.

NHTSA ODI #11317328

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.