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2016 Chevrolet Traverse: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
47%
59 of 125 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

47% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 59% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 166 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 20%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
59
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
291
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
8 crashes · 15 injuries

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS163 · 56%
POWER TRAIN36 · 12%
ENGINE31 · 11%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM26 · 9%
STEERING24 · 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER18 · 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
47%
59 of 291
2017
50%
46 of 361
2018
65%
283 of 459
2019
60%
229 of 404
2020
64%
135 of 225
2021
39%
33 of 89
2022
62%
56 of 97
2023
59%
47 of 87

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

Cleaner alternatives

Other midsize SUVs with no elevated signal in 2016

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN04/25/2026
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).
POWER TRAIN01/28/2026
the transmission lost power and almost caused an accident with the vehicle behind me
POWER TRAIN11/07/2025
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.

Three of 59 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (5)

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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…
SEATS
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, 201…
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 deploym…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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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.