The Lemon Index2016 Chevrolet Traverse.
The 2016 Chevrolet Traverse is better than average by owner complaints: 70 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 60, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 17 to 18 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 2016 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 292 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Chevrolet Traverse year. 2016 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 27K to 64K miles on the car (88 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 16K–56K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 28K–63K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 3K–68K miles
Recalls 5
- airbags 2023
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
- airbags 2021
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
- airbags 2021
The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
Show all 5 recalls
- seats 2015
The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds that are not in the correction location.
- visibility 2015
Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.
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 1143 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips,…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Chevrolet Traverse SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3550–3800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Loss of power while driving. This happened last year, supposedly fixed, but had to fight with GM. Was still under warranty. Now radio is shot said it would cost $1500 to fix. Electrical I would assume. Fighting with GM once again.
2016 Chevrolet Traverse owner · NHTSA complaint 11092493
More owner reports
Transmission failure at 9,700 miles and again at 23,080 miles.
NHTSA complaint 11045839
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.7× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 60; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Traverse year by this measure is 2013.
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Traverse problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (20%), electrical (20%) and stability control (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 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 2016 Chevrolet Traverse get?
17 to 18 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Traverse problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 27,200 and 64,000 miles. The middle report was at 47,800 miles, from 88 complaints.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 20% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse cost in fuel a year?
About $3550 to $3800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse have?
3.6L 6-cyl.
What Chevrolet Traverse year is better than the 2016?
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