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Chevrolet · Midsize / large SUV

2016 Chevrolet Traverse

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
53 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical5
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA291
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA18 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Chevrolet Traverse is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Traverse FWD, is EPA-rated at 18 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 291 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Traverse FWDGasFWD3.6L 6-cyl152218$3,450
Traverse AWDGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl152217$3,650

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36351, 36354.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Chevrolet Traverse is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

N232404980
995,085 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V334000reported May 10, 2023General Motors, LLC
▲high

Air Bags

N212349040
555 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V782000reported Oct 7, 2021General Motors, LLC
▲high

Air Bags

N202321200
108 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskUnsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.FixGM 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V246000reported Apr 8, 2021General Motors, LLC
▲high

Seats

21930
2,633 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskIf 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.FixGM 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.
NHTSA campaign 15V833000reported Dec 11, 2015General Motors LLC
!critical

Visibility

15780/15789
29,295 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskA wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.FixGM 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
NHTSA campaign 15V609000reported Sep 29, 2015General Motors LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
291complaints filed

8 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 15 injuries · 1 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 2 · 2016: 13 · 2017: 15 · 2018: 19 · 2019: 21 · 2020: 15 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 70 · 2024: 93 · 2025: 13 · 2026: 6

Most-cited components

Air Bags163
Power Train36
Engine31
Electrical System26
Steering24
Unspecified18

What owners describe

“While driving on a highway (65mph) the vehicle shuddered (as if running over rumble strips), the alert “Service Stabilitrakâ€� appeared simultaneously with “Low engine pressureâ€� message and simultaneously the Car entered limp mode. No CEL. Started car, car lunged a few feet and entered limp mode with no CEL. Woul…”Apr 9, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“While driving on highway, experienced sudden/acute loss of engine power. Depressed acceleration pedal, but no response from engine. No CEL. Pulled to the shoulder and vehicle couldn't start. Key starter clicks but won’t turn over. No CEL. Still have some electrical power because radio, dash lights, and AC remain on. …”Apr 9, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Power steering pump in the car had low pressure causing the steering wheel to barely turn or have a hard time turning the wheel. This put me and my family at risk while driving because when making turns it would feel like it was locking up which almost would cause accidents not being able to turn the wheel all the way …”Mar 24, 2023 · Steering · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Traverse model years

A

2027 Chevrolet Traverse

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Chevrolet Traverse

1 recalls · 22 complaints

A

2025 Chevrolet Traverse

0 recalls · 174 complaints

A

2024 Chevrolet Traverse

0 recalls · 134 complaints

B

2023 Chevrolet Traverse

2 recalls · 87 complaints

A

2022 Chevrolet Traverse

1 recalls · 96 complaints

D

2021 Chevrolet Traverse

3 recalls · 89 complaints

F

2020 Chevrolet Traverse

8 recalls · 224 complaints

D

2019 Chevrolet Traverse

3 recalls · 403 complaints

C

2018 Chevrolet Traverse

2 recalls · 459 complaints

C

2017 Chevrolet Traverse

3 recalls · 361 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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