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Chevrolet Traverse: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Traverse problems by model year, from 4,680 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2018 (65%, 285 drivetrain complaints), 2020 (63%, 135 drivetrain complaints) and 2022 (62%, 57 drivetrain complaints). 14 of the 14 Chevrolet Traverse years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 5 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Chevrolet Traverse year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2010 (37%).
By raw volume, the 2018 drew the most drivetrain complaints (285 of 1,845 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Traverse year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Traverse | elevated | 37% | 232 | 669 | 14/14 | 5 |
| 2011 Traverse | high | 49% | 270 | 608 | 10/14 | 5 |
| 2012 Traverse | high | 51% | 151 | 354 | 8/14 | 5 |
| 2013 Traverse | very high | 60% | 79 | 162 | 4/14 | 4 |
| 2014 Traverse | high | 55% | 154 | 547 | 7/14 | 7 |
| 2015 Traverse | high | 45% | 63 | 313 | 12/14 | 5 |
| 2016 Traverse | high | 48% | 60 | 292 | 11/14 | 5 |
| 2017 Traverse | high | 50% | 46 | 361 | 9/14 | 3 |
| 2018 Traverse | very high | 65% | 285 | 462 | 1/14 | 2 |
| 2019 Traverse | very high | 60% | 232 | 407 | 5/14 | 3 |
| 2020 Traverse | very high | 63% | 135 | 229 | 2/14 | 8 |
| 2021 Traverse | elevated | 39% | 33 | 89 | 13/14 | 3 |
| 2022 Traverse | very high | 62% | 57 | 98 | 3/14 | 1 |
| 2023 Traverse | high | 59% | 48 | 89 | 6/14 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Traverse years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Traverse transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the Chevrolet Traverse involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 27 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2014 | 14V092000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2014 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V639000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2020 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V668000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2018–2020 |
| Oct 2021 | 21V817000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2020–2021 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V042000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2023 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V172000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2023 |
21 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2010 | 10V375000 | seat belts | 2010 |
| Apr 2012 | 12V151000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages | 2011–2012 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V118000 | air bags: side/window | 2010–2013 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V223000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2014 |
| May 2014 | 14V266000 | seat belts | 2010–2014 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V614000 | electrical system | 2014 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V044000 | tires | 2015 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V415000 | structure: body: hatchback/liftgate | 2010–2012 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V609000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2016 |
| Dec 2015 | 15V833000 | seats | 2016 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V774000 | air bags | 2019 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V643000 | structure: frame and members | 2020 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V446000 | air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator | 2020 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V684000 | tires | 2020 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V115000 | tires | 2020 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V246000 | air bags: critical fasteners | 2010–2019 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V472000 | air bags: sensor: frontal impact | 2021 |
| Oct 2021 | 21V782000 | air bags: frontal | 2013–2017 |
| Mar 2022 | 22V210000 | air bags: side/window: curtain | 2020–2022 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V246000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2015 |
| May 2023 | 23V334000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2014–2017 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Traverse
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Traverse
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Traverse?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Traverse years are the 2018 (65% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2020 (63% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2022 (62% of relevant complaints, very high). 14 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Traverse?
No Chevrolet Traverse year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2010 (37%).
Does the Chevrolet Traverse have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 1,845 of 3,538 relevant NHTSA complaints (52%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 14 of 14 Chevrolet Traverse years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 52% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Traverse?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Chevrolet Traverse years we track, out of 27 in total: 21V817000 (Oct 2021, 2020–2021), 23V042000 (Feb 2023, 2023), 23V172000 (Mar 2023, 2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.