The Lemon Index

All cars · Chevrolet Traverse · 2016

2016 Chevrolet Traverse. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index60100 = average car
Complaints70NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold116,701U.S. model year
Per 100K sold60complaints
Year rank#6 of 14#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 2

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
3.6L 6-cylAuto 6-spdFWD15 / 22 / 18Regular$3,450
3.6L 6-cylAuto 6-spdAWD15 / 22 / 17Regular$3,650

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 27,200 and 64,000 miles. Median 47,800, from 88 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Airbags79,50012,000–123,8008
Transmission & drivetrain42,40016,700–56,60018
Engine46,90028,500–63,50020
Electrical48,5003,900–68,50018
Steering55,00045,400–76,90017

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain20%
Electrical20%
Stability control19%
Engine19%
Speed control19%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
29281618

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 23V334000 May 2023 Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 Oct 2021 Air Bags / Frontal

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 Apr 2021 Air Bags / Critical Fasteners

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 Dec 2015 Seats

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 Sep 2015 Visibility / Windshield Wiper/Washer / Motor

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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

Manufacturer communications 1143

Chevy filed 1143 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips,…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Chevrolet Traverse SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalOptional

YouTube repair topics

100 videos about the 2009–2017 Chevy Traverse, 9.9M views.

TopicVideosViews
Infotainment, battery & electrical121.3M
Gauges, lights & wiring7976K
Heat, A/C & blend door5687K
Intake, EGR & engine sensors4380K
No-start: theft light, key & ignition4380K
Timing chain & engine3245K
Cooling system4242K
Brakes & ABS2206K

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2013313696,467Stability control
201496109103,943Stability control
20156171119,945Engine
20166070116,701Transmission & drivetrain
20174356123,506Airbags
2018119176146,534Transmission & drivetrain
201988132147,122Transmission & drivetrain

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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