The Lemon Index2010 Chevrolet Traverse.
The 2010 Chevrolet Traverse is about average by owner complaints: 113 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 96, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 19 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Traverse year is 2013.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2009–2017 Chevy Traverse, 9.9M views. The 2010 is the same generation.
- Infotainment, battery & electrical1.3M views
How To Replace Starter 2009-17 Chevy TraverseTRQ · 349K views · 12 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring976K views
How To Replace Chevrolet Traverse Headlight Low Beam Replace 2009-2014 | Save Money Fix It YOURSELF!Fentertainment · 479K views · 7 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door687K views
A/C ReCharge Chevy Traverse 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017Dirt Road Auto Repair · 283K views · 5 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors380K views
2010-2017 Chevy Traverse - Replace ECT Sensor (Engine Coolant Temperature) - Girlie GarageGirlie Garage · 171K views · 4 videos
Show 4 more
- No-start: theft light, key & ignition380K views
2011 Chevy Traverse - No Start Diag & Repair!Advanced Level Diagnostics · 130K views · 4 videos - Timing chain & engine245K views
How To Replace Engine Knock Sensor 2009-17 Chevy TraverseTRQ · 109K views · 3 videos - Cooling system242K views
2008 - 2012 TRAVERSE /ENCLAVE OVERHEATING COMMON FIXJoeTheAutoGuy · 79K views · 4 videos - Brakes & ABS206K views
2014 Chevy Traverse Brake Light Problem - Quick Fix!!!Joe Flo · 125K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Chevy Traverse SUV 1st Generation 2009-171A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 616K views
TOP 5 Problems With The Chevy Traverse SUV (1st Generation 2009-2017)Alex The Car Doctor · 215K views
2013 Dodge Durango vs Chevy Traverse Muddy Off-Road Mashup Review (Part 2)The Fast Lane Car · 228K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 669 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Chevrolet Traverse year. 2010 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 56K to 98K miles on the car (574 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 51K–87K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 67K–111K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 64K–103K miles
Recalls 5
- airbags 2021
The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
- body structure 2015
The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open.
- seat belts 2014
In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.
Show all 5 recalls
- airbags 2014
In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash…
- seat belts 2010
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 1399 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Gmc/chevrolet/saturn/buick: click or clunk noise from the steering column when turning
- Buick/chevrolet/gmc/pontiac/saturn/suzuki: all wheel drive system inoperative and dtc c0550 set
- Pontiac/saturn/buick/gmc/chevrolet/cadillac/hummer: vehicle start and stalls after theft…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedOutboard front seat belt anchor cable failure2020–2024
- ClosedSeat belt anchor cable failure2019–2020
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
When turning left at stop light or parking lot at low speed the steering wheel is very hard to turn. The dealership advised that the power steering pump needed to be replaced.
2010 Chevrolet Traverse owner · NHTSA complaint 10533831
More owner reports
At low speeds, loss of power steering. Requires extra force to turn steering wheel. Took to dealer and dealer replaced rack and pinion, and did not fix problem. Charged 1200.00.
NHTSA complaint 10522763
When I was turning into my driveway the steering got very stiff almost to the point I felt the steering was locking up. I have a small child and fear that this is a big problem with the Traverse.
NHTSA complaint 10541948
Quick answers
Is the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 96; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Traverse year by this measure is 2013.
What are the most common 2010 Chevrolet Traverse problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (62%), electrical (10%) and seat belts (7%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse have?
5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse get?
19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Traverse problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 56,300 and 98,700 miles. The middle report was at 75,000 miles, from 574 complaints.
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 7% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse have?
3.6L 6-cyl.
What Chevrolet Traverse year is better than the 2010?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2013, 2021 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works