Is the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse a bad year?
292 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Traverse years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse are in line with other Traverse years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
2th quietest of 11 Traverse years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 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 55,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 163 (56%) | 38k–83k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 37 (13%) | 22k–88k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 31 (11%) | 30k–61k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 26 (9%) | 10k–62k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 24 (8%) | 46k–73k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 19 (7%) | 18k–55k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 15 (5%) | 34k–66k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (2%) | 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 55,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 292 complaints: 8 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 6 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
9 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving with no warning the check engine light comes in, the dash flashes service stabiltrak, traction control off and engine power reduced.
While driving 75 on a freeway the service stabilitrak, service traction control, and check engine lights all came on.
The service stability track and traction control light still comes on all the time. I loose speed and the car bucks.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 55,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse: 5
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.
The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds that are not in the correction location. 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.
Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used. A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
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: 392
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 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
Neighbouring years
2015 Traverse: 311 complaints, keep it · 2017 Traverse: 360 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 2016 Chevrolet Traverse a bad year?
292 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Traverse years. At 55,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (163), transmission and drivetrain (37), engine (31), electrical system (26), steering (24).
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 23V-334), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-782), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-246), Seats (NHTSA 15V-833) 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.