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2010 Chevrolet Traverse problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
37%
232 of 622 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

37% of relevant owner complaints on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 47 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 35%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 232 of 622 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%), and the largest group is filed under engine (178). For comparison, the 2011 scores 49%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
232
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
669
this model year
Fires reported
6
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
17 crashes · 12 injuries

Complaints by component

STEERING331 · 49%
ENGINE178 · 27%
POWER TRAIN66 · 10%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM60 · 9%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)57 · 9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL42 · 6%

The years either side

2010
37%
232 of 669
2011
49%
270 of 608
2012
51%
151 of 354
2013
60%
79 of 162
2014
55%
154 of 547
2015
45%
63 of 313
2016
48%
60 of 292
2017
50%
46 of 361
2018
65%
285 of 462
2019
60%
232 of 407
2020
63%
135 of 229
2021
39%
33 of 89
2022
62%
57 of 98
2023
59%
48 of 89

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse

What one owner reported

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE08/08/2023
This vehicle is dangerous. Looks great on the outside but horrible on the inside under the hood! Since my son bought one for me it’s had problems with engine revving and not shifting gears, and air conditioner continually going out even after repairs, and power steering leaks. I kept taking it to repair and oddly no te…

One of 232 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
air bags: critical fasteners21V246000 · Apr 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.
structure: body: hatchback/liftgate15V415000 · Jun 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6,…
seat belts14V266000 · May 2014
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…
air bags: side/window14V118000 · Mar 2014
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,…
seat belts10V375000 · Aug 2010
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES. THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELD RESTRICTS THE UPWARD…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2010 Chevrolet Traverse? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse

Does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 232 of 622 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?

No. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Chevrolet Traverse years are better?

The 2010 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Chevrolet Traverse years we track (37%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2010 Chevrolet Traverse has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.