MODELYEARINDEX

Which Chevrolet Traverse years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2011, 2010 and 2014 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Chevrolet Traverse Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2011 vs model median 2.4×
Model median3× median
Steering 83
Engine 77
Driver Assist 68
Avoid

2010 · 2011

Best

2013 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
2.02× 338 F
2011
2.39× 413 F
2012
0.82× 134 C
2013
0.53× 70 B
2014
1.62× 255 D
2015
1.09× 152 C
2016
0.82× 130 C
2017
0.67× 95 B
2018
1.90× 300 D
2019
1.65× 245 D
2020
0.91× 130 C
2021
0.51× 74 B
2022 P
0.76× 133 B
2023 P
0.72× 117 B
2024 P
1.06× 202 B
2025 P
1.62× 323 C

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2010 F 338 reports · median 60,000 mi

  1. Steering 205

    The contact owns a 2010 chevrolet traverse. The contact stated that while attempting to make a turn at an unknown speed, the steering wheel became stiff and difficult to turn. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Airbags & Restraints 19

    1. Stopped at red light in 2010 chevrolet traverse SUV and rear ended by a nissan frontier pick up truck traveling at a high rate of speed. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 19

    The contact owns a 2010 chevrolet traverse. The contact was traveling 45 MPH with the air conditioner activated when the air became hot. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

11 crash · 3 fire · 10 injuries

2011 F 413 reports · median 55,000 mi

  1. Steering 83

    Pullling up to the airport parking as I was getting my ticket to enter the parking lot the gate open and I step on the gas to continue when the truck shifted to the right being in between two barriers the truck did had… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 77

    Car shakes and vibrates when stopped at stop signs and lights. Car suddenly came to a completely halt. Was able to get help and move it to shoulder. Was able to start the car later in the day and drive to the dealer. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 68

    Defective braking system includes stabilitrak and ABS system. The brand new vehicle has been serviced five times for braking failure. While waiting at a traffic light the ABS kicked in and the brake went to the floor. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

13 crash · 4 fire · 17 injuries

The best year for the Traverse

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2021 is the best-scoring Traverse model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 79.7 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2021 0.51× 74 B
2013 0.53× 70 B
2017 0.67× 95 B

Recalls

27 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
14V266000 SEAT BELTS 2010–2014 1,339,355
14V118000 AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW 2010–2013 1,176,407
23V334000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2014–2017 995,085
15V415000 STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE 2010–2012 691,144
10V375000 SEAT BELTS 2010 207,210
20V668000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2018–2020 194,105
14V614000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2014 106,307
14V223000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL 2014 51,640
12V151000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES 2011, 2012 47,846
21V115000 TIRES 2020 33,838
15V609000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR 2016 29,295
15V044000 TIRES 2015 9,074

+ 15 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2011 were reported at a median of 55,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Chevrolet Traverse years should you avoid?
2011, 2010, 2014 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Chevrolet Traverse model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Traverse?
2021 is the best-scoring Chevrolet Traverse model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 79.7 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Traverse have?
27 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Chevrolet Traverse model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2011 Traverse
Complaints in window
413
Severity-weighted
543.5
Model median (weighted)
227
vs model median
2.39×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
5
Open investigations
0
Score 27.7 F