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2016 Chevrolet Traverse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 302.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

89 reports with mileage · 202 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 163 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2023
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

I have a 2016 Chevy Traverse. The “traction control off” light has been on for about 2 months now, along with the service stabilitrak light, and ABS light. When driving it seems is if though my ABS is kicking in when it should not be. Since those lights have been on, the left passenger brakes seem to also be affected. Anytime I …

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I have a 2016 Chevy Traverse. The “traction control off” light has been on for about 2 months now, along with the service stabilitrak light, and ABS light. When driving it seems is if though my ABS is kicking in when it should not be. Since those lights have been on, the left passenger brakes seem to also be affected. Anytime I first begin driving until I hit about 30mph, or anytime I press the brakes, it feels like my brakes are locking up…or a better way to describe it is when driving in the snow and your ABS kicks in and you can feel it in your brake pedal like the brakes are locked up, but there is no snow. Recently there were two times when I was coming to a stop light and nearly hit the stopped car in front of me because my brakes locked up and the pedal wouldn’t go down. Now, almost a week ago when trying to leave, my car will not start at all. The battery is new and the lights all work. The power of the car turns on but it doesn’t turn over to start or if it does it struggles to stay started and then dies right away. I have seen tons and tons of other videos or reviews of other traverse owners complaining of the same problem ranging from 2014-2017 traverse. Many people take theirs to a dealership and even they can’t figure out the problem or they say it’s a glitch in the system. There are far too many other chevy traverse vehicles having the same issue. The only difference with theirs is the lights come on every so often. Mine don’t turn off, they are always on. This is extremely dangerous, much more dangerous than the air bag recall. These vehicles should be recalled immediately before something very serious happens. I have been without a vehicle now for a week while I’ve had to miss work and my kids have had to miss school. I have had the problem checked by a professional mechanic but couldn’t figure it out either. No one else has looked at it as it is dead so I can’t take it anywhere. It is available upon request for inspection.

NHTSA ODI #11549943

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2023
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

2016 chevy traverse fuel system problem while at an idle truck shuts off, also the truck drags while trying to accelerate. I have made a complaint before but haven't heard anything yet.

NHTSA ODI #11536457

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2023
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

While coming to a stop or a complete stop vehicle shuts off. While driving it looses power wanting to shut off.

NHTSA ODI #11535349

49,000 miles · Jan 23, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

I PURCHASED THIS TRAVERSE BRAND NEW IN 2016. I NOW HAVE 51XXX MILES. I HAVE HAD TO REFILL THE TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD IT. BUT ABSOLUTEY NO LEAKS. PRIOR TO THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING WEIRD TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AT OCWERD TIMES. ANOTHER QUIRK IS THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I PUT GAS IN MY VAR, THE HAND DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL UNTIL …

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I PURCHASED THIS TRAVERSE BRAND NEW IN 2016. I NOW HAVE 51XXX MILES. I HAVE HAD TO REFILL THE TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD IT. BUT ABSOLUTEY NO LEAKS. PRIOR TO THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING WEIRD TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AT OCWERD TIMES. ANOTHER QUIRK IS THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I PUT GAS IN MY VAR, THE HAND DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL UNTIL I DRIVE MAYBE 20 MILES BUT IT HAS ME WONDERING. KEEP IN MIND ALL THIS WEIRD BEHAVIOR WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE RATTLES AT 1000 RPM. LIKE IT MIGHT BE A TIMING CHAIN. DOESNT ALWAYS GO IN TO GEAR. SHOWS FAULTY GAS GAUGE. I HAVE YET TO HEAR CLICKING NOISES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 20MPH (DONT KNOW WHAT THAT COULD BE)

NHTSA ODI #11171549

38,000 miles · Jan 2, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WE PURCHASED OUR 2016 CHEVY TRAVERSE NEW AND NOW HAVE APPROX. 38K MILES ON IT. AFTER THE 1ST YEAR, WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING POWER LOSS ISSUES AND ENDED UP HAVING FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED IN MID-2017. SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA BY OTHER OWNERS. PERIODICALLY, OUR "SER…

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WE PURCHASED OUR 2016 CHEVY TRAVERSE NEW AND NOW HAVE APPROX. 38K MILES ON IT. AFTER THE 1ST YEAR, WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING POWER LOSS ISSUES AND ENDED UP HAVING FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED IN MID-2017. SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA BY OTHER OWNERS. PERIODICALLY, OUR "SERVICE STABILITRAK" WILL APPEAR ON THE DASH AND THE "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" WILL APPEAR, ALONG WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT". WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE RUNS EXTREMELY ROUGH AND VIOLENTLY SHAKES BACK AND FORTH. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE INTO AUTONATION CHEVY IN BOTH GILBERT, AZ AND MESA, AZ FOR A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES SINCE MID-2017 FOR THIS ISSUE. I JUST PICKED IT UP A FEW DAYS AGO AFTER BEING IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 2 WEEKS. UNFORTUNATELY, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AS NO CODES WERE FOUND/STORED IN THE COMPUTER AND THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE DURING THE 2 WEEK PERIOD. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND I'M A BIT SURPRISED NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MADE GIVEN THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE JUST IN 2018. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, WHILE IDLING AND WHILE WAITING TO TURN IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AND ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT. I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO AUTONATION ONCE AGAIN TODAY. GM/CHEVY PLEASE REVIEW AND OFFER GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11164478

20,360 miles · Oct 23, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

STALLING HESITATION LACK OF PERFORMANCE IN HOT WEATHER CAUSED BY VAPOR BUILD IN FUEL LINE. THE DEALER CLEARED CODE TOLD TO USE 93 OCTANE GAS. THIS IS NOT A FIX MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPEN ON THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #11035963

40,000 miles · Aug 24, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

DESPITE SHOWING OVER A QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS, I RAN OUT OF GAS ON MY WAY TO WORK. I GOT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY 8/18/17 (STANLEY CHEVROLET, MCCORDSVILLE, IN). THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AT THAT TIME AND SAID THE PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED. THIS EVENING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I AM …

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DESPITE SHOWING OVER A QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS, I RAN OUT OF GAS ON MY WAY TO WORK. I GOT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY 8/18/17 (STANLEY CHEVROLET, MCCORDSVILLE, IN). THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AT THAT TIME AND SAID THE PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED. THIS EVENING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I AM NOW SITTING ON THE SIDE OF I-70 IN INDIANAPOLIS HOPING I AM NOT INJURED WHILE WAITING FOR AAA. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AS I HAVE ALREADY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK AND THEY ARE SAYING THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11019402

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

VEHICLE FAIL/DO NOT GET THE MPG AS INDICATED ON THE STICKER WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2015. STICKER INDICATED MPG, 17 CITY, 24 HIGHWAY. GM USED THE SAME TACTIC AS VW TO SELL THE 2016 TRAVERSE. THEY ARE NOW SAYING OOPS. WE PRINTED OUT THE WRONG INFO ON THE WINDOW STICKER. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BASED ON THE MPG PR…

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VEHICLE FAIL/DO NOT GET THE MPG AS INDICATED ON THE STICKER WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2015. STICKER INDICATED MPG, 17 CITY, 24 HIGHWAY. GM USED THE SAME TACTIC AS VW TO SELL THE 2016 TRAVERSE. THEY ARE NOW SAYING OOPS. WE PRINTED OUT THE WRONG INFO ON THE WINDOW STICKER. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BASED ON THE MPG PRINTED ON THE WINDOW STICKER. NOW I AM TOLD YOU WILL NOT GET THAT MPG. I AM NOW BE CHEATED OUT OF 44 MILES PER TANK OF GAS. THIS WILL ADD A COSTLY EXPENSE TO ME OVER A 20 YEAR PERIOD. GM SHOULD PROVIDE WITH A TRAVERSE THAT GET THE MPG I CONTRACTED FOR WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, 2016 TRAVERSE.

NHTSA ODI #10872474

Official recalls

5

23V334000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 10, 2023

General 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.

21V782000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Oct 7, 2021

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 deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

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 deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.

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 deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.

21V246000 · Air Bags:critical Fasteners

Apr 8, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

15V833000 · Seats

Dec 11, 2015

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, 2015. The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds that are not in the correction location.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the seat frame is not welded in the correct places, the seat may not perform as intended, and in the event of a crash, the seat occupant could be at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row left side lower seat frame, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 21930.

15V609000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Sep 29, 2015

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. Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover assembly, free of charge. Owners are advised not to use their front windshield wipers until the wiper cover has been replaced. If weather conditions prevent operation of the vehicle without using the windshield wipers, GM will make arrangements to pick up the vehicle for servicing. The recall began on September 30, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15780.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.