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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2024
EngineVehicle Speed ControlWheels

The big problem when I drive is that it is not safe, it jerks when I start to accelerate. I took it to the nearest dealer to have the problem fixed. And they do not want to fix the problem and now I just want to get this vehicle off the roads. I do not want to cause an accident and put my family at risk.

NHTSA ODI #11628688

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2022
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

Something is happening to cause delayed shifting in this vehicle without warning or any rhyme or reason to it. One moment you're going 40 and all is well then suddenly the rpms go high the car slows way down and doesn't want to shift. There is no light to indicate the issue and no codes so no way to tell what to fix also no warn…

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Something is happening to cause delayed shifting in this vehicle without warning or any rhyme or reason to it. One moment you're going 40 and all is well then suddenly the rpms go high the car slows way down and doesn't want to shift. There is no light to indicate the issue and no codes so no way to tell what to fix also no warning as to when it will happen. This car has become so unpredictable with it's shifting we have opted to park it and look into the transmission. This seems to be a common problem with Chevy traverse wish I had known that when I purchased it and I don't want to think what would happen if we were driving on the interstate.

NHTSA ODI #11460101

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2021
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

The car started getting a traction off and stability tracker n it would not run properly I was On the freeway and it happened almost caused an accident. Also it happens at random times.

NHTSA ODI #11431142

56,000 miles · Apr 12, 2021
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrash

RE: 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE WITH 56,000 MILES FEB. 2, 2021, I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM RUNNING ERRANDS , PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PER MY NORMAL ROUTINE, ROLLED JUST PAST THE GARAGE DOOR OPENING IN ORDER TO BACK INTO THE GARAGE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO FULL THROTTLE AND JUMPED ABOUT …

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RE: 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE WITH 56,000 MILES FEB. 2, 2021, I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM RUNNING ERRANDS , PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PER MY NORMAL ROUTINE, ROLLED JUST PAST THE GARAGE DOOR OPENING IN ORDER TO BACK INTO THE GARAGE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO FULL THROTTLE AND JUMPED ABOUT 10 OR 12 FEET, SIDESWIPED A TREE AT THE CURVE IN THE DRIVE AND TOOK OUT A 4X4 POST HOLDING MY BIRDFEEDER. I CONTINUED APPLYING THE BRAKE BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. BY STEERING, I WAS ABLE TO MISS ANOTHER TREE AND DROVE INTO THE BACK YARD. THE CAR WAS HEADED TOWARD THE BARN ABOUT 50 YARDS AWAY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I HIT THE TREE, AND I WAS NOT INJURED. AS THIS WAS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WITH NO DAMAGE EXCEPT TO THE CAR, A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. DID $12,000+ IN DAMAGES PLUS 4 WKS TO FIX. THE CHEVY DEALER FROM WHOM THE CAR WAS PURCHASED SAID THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM GM TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. THAT WAS 2 WKS AGO AND THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING AS OF YET.

NHTSA ODI #11407714

52,000 miles · Apr 11, 2021
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THEN I STARTED IT UP AND THREE ERROR MESSAGES WERE BLINKING: SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL OFF, AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION. THE LIGHT WITH VEHICLE AND TIRE MARKS BEHIND IT WAS ON AS WELL. WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE IT WOULD CUT IN AND OUT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. THE REAR INSTRUMENT PANEL FO…

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MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THEN I STARTED IT UP AND THREE ERROR MESSAGES WERE BLINKING: SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL OFF, AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION. THE LIGHT WITH VEHICLE AND TIRE MARKS BEHIND IT WAS ON AS WELL. WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE IT WOULD CUT IN AND OUT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. THE REAR INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR AC/HEAT ALSO GETS EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11407524

64,000 miles · Aug 23, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

I HAD HAD THIS 2016 TRAVERSE AND IT HAS 64000 MILES. IT HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FLASHED SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL/SERVICE STABILITRAC SYSTEM. IT HAPPENS OUTTA NOWHERE. I'VE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND A CODE. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING CUTTING POWER TO THE ENGINE. NO …

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I HAD HAD THIS 2016 TRAVERSE AND IT HAS 64000 MILES. IT HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FLASHED SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL/SERVICE STABILITRAC SYSTEM. IT HAPPENS OUTTA NOWHERE. I'VE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND A CODE. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING CUTTING POWER TO THE ENGINE. NO REASON FOR IT TO HAPPEN AND IT'S NOT FIXED. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON GM PROBLEM. NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. ON ANY STREET. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11246062

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 TRAVERSE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND I RECEIVED THE STABILITRAK WARNING, ALONG WITH THE ABS & CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELLING ACROSS COUNTRY WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO STUTTER, SHAKE AND WITH IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, I STRUGGLED TO STEER OF THE MAIN LANES AND NARROWL…

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 TRAVERSE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND I RECEIVED THE STABILITRAK WARNING, ALONG WITH THE ABS & CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELLING ACROSS COUNTRY WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO STUTTER, SHAKE AND WITH IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, I STRUGGLED TO STEER OF THE MAIN LANES AND NARROWLY ESCAPING A LIFE-THREATENING CRASH.

NHTSA ODI #11222030

48,500 miles · Feb 13, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE SERVICE STABILITRACK LIGHT FLASHES ALONG WITH TRACTION CONTROL OFF AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE VEHICLE THEN SLOWS TO 25MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS GONE AWAY AFTER I RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED ON A BRIDGE WITH MY DAUGHTERS IN THE C…

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WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE SERVICE STABILITRACK LIGHT FLASHES ALONG WITH TRACTION CONTROL OFF AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE VEHICLE THEN SLOWS TO 25MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS GONE AWAY AFTER I RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED ON A BRIDGE WITH MY DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR. I ENDED UP GETTING MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY. IF YOU RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM, IT IS A BIG ISSUE. GM SHOULD BE MADE TO DO A RECALL FOR THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11179776

59,500 miles · Jan 29, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES IN, THE DASH FLASHES SERVICE STABILTRAK, TRACTION CONTROL OFF AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN TO 25 MPH AND IF YOU TRY TO SPEED UP IT SHUTTERS AND BUCKS. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RETURN IT OFF AND THEN WHEN TURNING IT BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS …

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WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES IN, THE DASH FLASHES SERVICE STABILTRAK, TRACTION CONTROL OFF AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN TO 25 MPH AND IF YOU TRY TO SPEED UP IT SHUTTERS AND BUCKS. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RETURN IT OFF AND THEN WHEN TURNING IT BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR ABOUT A DAY BUT OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ARE GONE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT EVERY TIME, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE JUST SLOWS ITSELF DOWN TO 25 MPH WITH NO WARNING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11172710

40,000 miles · Jan 25, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, WITHOUT WARNING, THE DASHBOARD FLASHED A WARNING THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITRAK NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. IT ALSO DISPLAYED THAT ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED TO 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT OVER 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND WE HAD TO TRY …

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WHILE DRIVING OUR 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, WITHOUT WARNING, THE DASHBOARD FLASHED A WARNING THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITRAK NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. IT ALSO DISPLAYED THAT ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED TO 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT OVER 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND WE HAD TO TRY TO MAKE IT BACK OVER ONTO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER WITHOUT SOMEONE PLOWING INTO US. OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, THIS HAS OCCURRED FOUR MORE TIMES FOR NO DISCERNABLE REASON. THIS ISSUE IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AS IT CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME, AT ANY SPEED AND THE VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELY REDUCED TO 25 MPH. CHEVROLET IS HIGHLY NEGLIGENT IN ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. AS I BEGAN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I'VE FOUND CASES OF THIS OCCURRING IN THE TRAVERSE AND EQUINOX MODELS AS EARLY AS 2011.

NHTSA ODI #11172202

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.