Is the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse a bad year?
546 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 120, 4.8× a quiet Traverse year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 37k–96k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 3 of 110 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 Traverse owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 69,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 259 (47%) | 47k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 126 (23%) | 50k–98k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 120 (22%) | 37k–96k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 114 (21%) | 54k–91k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 48 (9%) | 60k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 36 (7%) | 43k–84k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 25 (5%) | 32k–86k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 25 (5%) | 40k–76k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 21 (4%) | 13k–70k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Seat belts | 18 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 69,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 546 complaints: 8 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 5 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
8 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Fuse box-! With no warning, a system was triggered to drop engine power dramatically plunging from 65 to below 20.
2014 traverse will suddenly shut down and not move. Flashes service stabilitrac, traction control off, reduced engine power.
While driving on the highway at 60 MPH the traction control and check engine light came on, the power of the engine reduced from 60 to 30 MPH, white smoke was coming out of the tail pipe.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 69,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse: 7
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached. Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short. If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time. If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the engine control module (ECM) software may cause the fuel gauge to read inaccurately. An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 484
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Internal Engine Noise or Damage After Oil Filter Replacement
Inspection/diagnosis/correction information on a cold start misfire and/or rough idle and DTC P0300 that may also be set
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Neighbouring years
2013 Traverse: 162 complaints, keep it · 2015 Traverse: 311 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Traverse year
2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Traverse years side by side
Other Chevrolet models: Chevrolet Astro · Chevrolet Avalanche · Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 · Chevrolet Aveo · Chevrolet Blazer · Chevrolet Bolt EV · Chevrolet Camaro · Chevrolet Captiva · Chevrolet Cavalier · Chevrolet Cobalt · Chevrolet Cobalt SS · Chevrolet Colorado · Chevrolet Corvette · Chevrolet Cruze · Chevrolet Equinox · Chevrolet Equinox EV · Chevrolet Express · Chevrolet HHR · Chevrolet Impala · Chevrolet Malibu · Chevrolet Malibu Classic · Chevrolet Malibu Maxx · Chevrolet Monte Carlo · Chevrolet S10 · Chevrolet Silverado · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD · Chevrolet Silverado 2500 · Chevrolet Silverado 3500 · Chevrolet Sonic · Chevrolet Spark · Chevrolet Suburban · Chevrolet Suburban 1500 · Chevrolet Tahoe · Chevrolet Tracker · Chevrolet Trailblazer · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370 · Chevrolet Trax · Chevrolet Uplander · Chevrolet Venture · Chevrolet Volt. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse a bad year?
546 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 120, 4.8× a quiet Traverse year. At 69,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 37k–96k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 3 of 110 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (259), electrical system (126), engine (120), stability control (114), speed control (48). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 37k–96k miles.
How many recalls does the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 23V-334), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-782), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-246), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-614) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.