Chevrolet Traverse SUVs from 2009 to 2012 were recalled over airbag, seatbelt, and liftgate strut failure. Electrical issues plagued the 2014 model as well. Newer models are much better, however, with the 2021 Traverse being a highly-rated standout.
Key Points
- Chevrolet Traverse SUVs from 2009 to 2012 are some of the model’s worst. These have engine and power-steering failure reports that were never addressed with recalls.
- Electrical issues plague the 2014 model with a malfunctioning electronic module that could short-circuit and cause the car to stop, as well as a faulty fuel gauge.
- Traverse SUVs from 2020 don’t have many complaints but have seven recalls. These cover issues like cracked frame rails, faulty fuel pumps, and transmission fluid leaks.
- The 2017 Chevrolet Traverse was one of the model’s best years, with no widespread recalls or common complaints.
- Chevy’s latest 2021 Traverse is clearly the best year for the model, attracting barely any complaints and earning an IIHS Top Safety Pick rating.
Chevrolet Traverse’s Worst Years Include 2009 to 2012 Models Due to Common Engine and Power Steering Failure
The Chevrolet Traverse SUV first launched in 2009, with quite a few early problems being reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Complaints number as low as 329 in the 2012 Traverse, to 650 for models from 2009. Some of the most common complaints across these years pertain to the engine. Owners often complain of stretched timing chains, along with the smell of burning oil and the sound of the engine knocking.
In some cases, owners with these symptoms mention the engine throwing a connecting rod, rendering it dead, and requiring replacement. Owners typically report this failure occurring as early as 90,000 miles. No recalls have been issued to address the problem.
Power steering failure is another common and dangerous issue that afflicts 2009 to 2012 Chevrolet Traverse SUVs. Many owners report the vehicle losing power steering assistance when turning at low speeds. This makes it incredibly difficult to turn the vehicle, which would be very concerning if an emergency maneuver needs to be made.
Complaints dropped to 143 for the 2013 Traverse, showing Chevrolet had made some headway in solving these issues by then.
Traverse SUVs from 2009 to 2012 are Also Subject to High Number of Recalls, One Affecting Over 1.3-million Vehicles
Beyond the common and disastrous issues that affected these models, anywhere from five to eight recalls concerned 2009 to 2012 Chevrolet Traverse models.
These years see issues with malfunctioning liftgate struts, failure of the seatbelt anchor cable, and faulty side-impact airbag wiring. The latter two of these recalls are particularly noteworthy safety concerns. The issue with the defective seat belt anchor was also enough of a problem that it prompted an investigation that carried on from 2009 through the 2014 model year.
A recall for improperly attached side-curtain airbags also concerned the 2009-2012 model years, but just 108 units were affected. The other three recalls, however, concern anywhere from 691,144 to 1,339,355 vehicles.
2014 is Another Worst Year for the Chevrolet Traverse, Thanks to Multiple Electrical Problems
With the 2013 Traverse being a less problematic year for the SUV, the 2014 model saw a rise in complaints and recalls. The majority of the 316 complaints concern the vehicle’s electrical systems.
Many owners complain of the Stabilitrak, traction control, and check engine lights turning on unexpectedly. Following this, the vehicle would lose power and potentially shut off. The cause of this issue appears to be contamination of the chassis electronic module, which 106,307 vehicles were recalled for.
Inaccurate fuel gauge readings were another electrical issue that prompted a widespread recall of the 2014 Traverse. Broken transmission adjuster cables and an exploding driver’s airbag inflator were issues that saw certain small batches of the Traverse also recalled.
2020 Chevrolet Traverse Saw a Rise in Recalls for Big Issues, but Most Only Concerned Small Batches of Vehicles
While complaints were very low for the 2020 Traverse, the model was included in seven recalls – the highest of any year other than 2009.
Widespread issues concerning the model included missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap that caused transmission fluid leaks, and two recalls for faulty tire sidewalls that could suddenly break.
Most issues only concerned particular batches of the 2020 model, however. These included cracked frame rails, airbags that might not deploy, stalling due to fuel pump issues, and possible transmission fluid leaks.
Although no more than 3,420 vehicles were included in any recalls, the potential severity of these issues makes it one of the Traverse’s worst years.
2017 is One of the Chevrolet Traverse’s Best Years, With Few Complaints and No Widespread Recalls
The 2017 model saw a big drop in complaints for the Traverse, with just 65 recorded by the NHTSA. These few complaints spanned a multitude of components, demonstrating that Chevrolet had finally sorted out the first-generation Traverse’s problems by its final model year.
Likewise, just two recalls concerned the model, and both were only for particular batches of vehicles across multiple model years merely including 2017. Granted, these recalls concerned the driver’s airbag inflator and improperly attached side-curtain airbags, but no more than 555 vehicles were concerned by either.
The 2017 Chevrolet Traverse performed well in crash testing, though, earning a perfect five-star rating from the NHTSA and a “Good” rating in all crashworthiness categories from the IIHS.
2021 is the Best Year for the Chevrolet Traverse, with the Model Earning an IIHS Top Safety Pick Award and Attracting Few Complaints
If you’re looking for the standout year for the Chevrolet Traverse, the 2021 model is easily the best. Just eight complaints and two recalls were registered with the NHTSA so far.
What’s more, just two recalls have been issued. One only related to a small number of vehicles converted to be wheelchair accessible. The other only concerned six individual vehicles, although it was for front airbag failure.
The 2021 Traverse was lauded for its safety, however, earning a Top Safety Pick Award from the IIHS. It performed well in all categories other than its headlights and the ease of use of its LATCH system.
While All Chevrolet Traverse Model Years Have their Issues, the Newer the Model, the Less Problematic it is
While early examples of the Traverse proved to be especially problematic, Chevrolet clearly got on top of these issues over time. Models from 2015 onwards were subject to fewer widespread recalls and attracted far fewer complaints.
2017 and 2021 models are the clear standouts in the Traverse’s history, with the unproblematic and especially safe 2021 version being the best of them all.
Be particularly wary of Chevy Traverse SUVs from 2009 to 2012, though, as all attracted hundreds of complaints over serious issues and were implicated in many widespread recalls.
Photos: Chevrolet
