2016 Chevrolet Traverse problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (154) · Power Train (28) · Steering (21)
🧭 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
88 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2023-05-10 · campaign 23V334000 · 995,085 vehicles
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.
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. 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.
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.
Seats 2015-12-11 · campaign 15V833000 · 2,633 vehicles
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 that are not in the correction location.
Risk: 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.
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 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.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:motor 2015-09-29 · campaign 15V609000 · 29,295 vehicles
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.
Risk: A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
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 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
Service bulletins (1,141)
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 2026-07-21 · PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pi to help diagnose a/c concern
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,141 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-21 · Vehicle Speed Control“my 2016 chevy traverse lt with 108,750 miles had issues with the rear brake lights, and the traction control light would come on and the traction control turns off. a message appears on the dash that shows service stabilitrak. when i drive the vehicle to accelerate it shakes, jerks and shudders, and then it rides fine for a bit but the traction con…”
2026-07-23 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet traverse. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v334000 (air bags). the contact stated that four local dealers were contacted. the contact was informed that parts were on back order. the manufacturer was not contacted. the contact had not experienced a failure associated with the unrepaired …”
2026-04-25 · Power Train“the vehicle only has 145,xxx miles and i experience a "shudder" which could be caused by torque converter issues, often felt at highway speeds (approx. 40-60 mph).…”
2026-03-10 · Air Bags“there is an open recall on my 2016 chevrolet traverse that i have been trying to get resolved for almost 2 years. i finally opened a case with gm (#{xxx]) back on february 15, 2026 in an effort to escalate the repair. i received a call from a gm rep who has been less than helpful telling me the recall was completed in february of 2024 at a dealer…”
2026-02-26 · Air Bags“the contact owned a 2016 chevrolet traverse. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v334000 (air bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. the local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.…”
2026-01-28 · Power Train“the transmission lost power and almost caused an accident with the vehicle behind me…”
2026-01-15 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet traverse. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v334000 (air bags). the local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was contacted, and informed that parts were in the warehouse, …”
2025-11-17 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet traverse. the contact was notified of nhtsa campaign number: 23v334000 (air bags). the local dealer was made aware of the issue and stated that parts were not yet available. the contact was informed that a call would be received when parts became available; however, the contact had not yet received a call. the cont…”
2025-11-07 · Power Train“transmission solenoid. common. needs to be reported. its know as the week link to this vehicle. the manufacturer knows and there are many complaints. this vehicle needs to be recalled. safety concern while driving. …”
2025-10-10 · Power Train · 140,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet traverse. the contact stated that the vehicle was retrieved from a dealer after a recall regarding the air bags; however, while driving approximately 25 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lunged forward. the contact stated that the stability control warning light illuminated. the contact drove th…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.