Chevrolet Traverse 2016 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls issued for the Chevrolet Traverse 2016 and 292 complaints filed by owners. It has 24% more complaints than the average Chevrolet Traverse from 2016–2025 (236 per year).
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Chevrolet Traverse 2016? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Chevrolet Traverse 2016
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 23V334000 · 2023-05-10
What happens
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
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 21V782000 · 2021-10-07
What happens
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 21V246000 · 2021-04-08
What happens
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
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Seats
NHTSA campaign 15V833000 · 2015-12-11
What happens
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
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Visibility (glass and mirrors)
NHTSA campaign 15V609000 · 2015-09-29
What happens
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
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
292 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
8 with a crash · 1 with a fire · 15 injuries · 1 deaths
Most reported problems on the Chevrolet Traverse 2016
- Air bags: 159 (54% of complaints)
- Powertrain and transmission: 36 (12% of complaints)
- Engine: 31 (11% of complaints)
- Electrical system: 24 (8% of complaints)
- Steering: 24 (8% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Chevrolet Traverse 2016
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- The air bag light should come on for a second at start-up and go off. Confirm by VIN that air bag recalls were done.
- On the test drive, check for smooth shifts with no jerks, slipping or noises; check the transmission fluid condition.
- Start it cold, listen for noises, look for oil or coolant leaks and exhaust smoke.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
| Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2016 Chevrolet Traverse SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Chevrolet Traverse recalls by year
- 2016 : 5 recalls · 292 complaints
- 2017 : 3 recalls · 361 complaints
- 2018 : 2 recalls · 462 complaints
- 2019 : 3 recalls · 410 complaints
- 2020 : 8 recalls · 232 complaints
- 2021 : 3 recalls · 90 complaints
- 2022 : 1 recalls · 99 complaints
- 2023 : 2 recalls · 91 complaints
- 2024 : 0 recalls · 140 complaints
- 2025 : 0 recalls · 180 complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Traverse 2016 have?
NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls issued for the Chevrolet Traverse 2016. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Chevrolet Traverse 2016?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: air bags (159 of 292 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 12, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).