2016 Chevrolet Traverse problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse include 1 fatality report, 8 crashes and 1 fires across 291 filings.

291
Complaints
5
Recalls
8
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
15
Injuries
66.2
Severity index

Severity index 66.2 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 66.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 62 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 56% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 163 complaints (56.0%)163 56%Power TrainPower Train: 36 complaints (12.4%)36 12%EngineEngine: 31 complaints (10.7%)31 11%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 26 complaints (8.9%)26 9%SteeringSteering: 24 complaints (8.2%)24 8%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 18 complaints (6.2%)18 6%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 18 complaints (6.2%)18 6%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 15 complaints (5.2%)15 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS16356.0%
POWER TRAIN3612.4%
ENGINE3110.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM268.9%
STEERING248.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER186.2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL186.2%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)155.2%

Complaints filed per year

046932015: 22016: 132017: 152018: 192019: 212020: 152021: 172022: 72023: 702024: 932025: 132026: 6 (partial year)15161718192021222324932526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20152
201613
201715
201819
201921
202015
202117
20227
202370
202493
202513
2026 (year to date)6
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 4.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (176 against 39).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
15V60900029/09/2015VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORGeneral 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.
15V83300011/12/2015SEATSGeneral 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 c
21V78200007/10/2021AIR BAGS:FRONTALGeneral 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.
21V24600008/04/2021AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERSGeneral 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.
23V33400010/05/2023AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEGeneral 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.

Other Chevrolet Traverse model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-06. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.