2013 Chevrolet Traverse problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (25) · Vehicle Speed Control (19) · Power Train (17)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Traverse model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
129 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2021-10-07 · campaign 21V782000 · 555 vehicles
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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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. 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:critical Fasteners 2021-04-08 · campaign 21V246000 · 108 vehicles
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.
Risk: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
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 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.
Seat Belts 2014-05-20 · campaign 14V266000 · 1,339,355 vehicles
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, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatig
Risk: 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.
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 mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-
Air Bags:side/Window 2014-03-17 · campaign 14V118000 · 1,176,407 vehicles
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 impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.
Risk: 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.
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 center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repai
Service bulletins (1,670)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,670 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-20 · Air Bags“service air bag light is on and won’t go off. car was never in an accident or anything done for this light to be on so i’m a bit confused. car has been inspected and looked over only issue is the service air bag light on the dash which came on after my battery completely died in my car. i bought a new battery car still drives normal and all is good…”
2026-05-18 · Air Bags · 175,000 mi“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 was seen by a independent mech…”
2025-08-04 · Air Bags“the "service airbag" light and notification comes up on the dash. this happened in the past as this vehicle was part of a recall nhtsa 14v118. the car was service for that recall already back on 3-18-2014 but the issue came back. this is dangerous because when that light is on, the airbags will not go off in the event of an accident. i need this fi…”
2024-07-11 · Power Train“service traction control, traction control off/on/off, service all wheel drive display on dash. check engine light on at times, when starting vehicle service all wheel drive displays immediately. codes come up as fuel pressure high, fuel pressure low, no communication with bcm. driving from a stop the engine has to idle high to switch gears, hard s…”
2024-05-28 · Electrical System“rain water is getting into the door connectors and caused some pins on passenger side to corrode. all audio in vehicle has stopped including turn signals, pack up sensor audio, and radio ect. gm/chevy knows about this and is quite common reading in a lot of forums but gm has done nothing about it. this is a safety hazard. …”
2024-02-25 · Vehicle Speed Control“vehicle dies while driving in traffic. has done this since i bought it. very unsafe. i have had my car since march 2022. while driving it says engine power reduced, traction control, stabli track, and loses power and i have to try to safely make sure i get it off the road. after it dies it won't start. i have to get tow truck to bring it home. then…”
2023-10-16 · Steering · 134,426 mi“it happened several times already and couple of times was so dangerous, i had 4 kids in my car. when i drive from salem, or to portland, or, in the middle of a highway, my car suddenly doesn't drive. on the dashboard signs are traction controll and stability track or something. please help me. when it happens, car doesn't drive and stops on freeway…”
2023-10-12 · Suspension“there was a recall on the airbag on my vehicle a while back. i took my car to the dealer to have it serviced. they fixed it supposedly but periodically when i start the the car the airbag light would take a while to go out, like a delay. reported to dealer now airbag light is on continuously and dealer says it's no longer under warranty or recall. …”
2023-07-13 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter · 170,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 chevrolet traverse. the contact stated while driving 25-35 mph, the vehicle jolted and shuddered upon depressing the accelerator pedal. there was no warning light illuminated. the contact stated that the failure mostly occurred while accelerating in 2nd and 3rd gear. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnose…”
2023-05-08 · Service Brakes“the breaks grind and took it to a shop they said it was my anit break locked up when my car comes to a stop it shakes and my tacation control warning comes on…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.