What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 Chevrolet Traverse

Typical pattern

1.7% of complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2012 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (115 complaints), typically at 7.4 yr or about 96,000 miles.

Complaints
587
Median age at failure
6.8 yr
Median mileage
88,000 n=467
Crash / fire / tow
6.5% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
115 reports · 96,000 mi
7.4 yr
8.7%
Electronic stability control (esc)
84 reports · 96,000 mi
6.9 yr
2.4%
Steering
62 reports · 70,000 mi
5.5 yr
6.5%
Air bags
48 reports · 86,552 mi
5.3 yr
8.3%
Electrical system
48 reports · 99,800 mi
7.2 yr
2.1%
Power train
46 reports · 87,000 mi
7.1 yr
4.3%
Speed control
37 reports · 96,000 mi
7.1 yr
8.1%
Other
35 reports · 91,018 mi
7.3 yr
5.7%
Visibility / wipers
17 reports · 94,000 mi
6.1 yr
0%
Seat belts
15 reports · 58,392 mi
4.9 yr
0%
Service brakes
15 reports · 88,000 mi
7.5 yr
6.7%
Fuel / propulsion
15 reports · 90,155 mi
7.1 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V246000 2021-04-08
Air bags:critical fasteners

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.

Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

15V415000 2015-06-30
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

14V266000 2014-05-20
Seat belts

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. 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.

14V118000 2014-03-17
Air bags:side/window

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

12V151000 2012-04-09
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SNOW OR ICE BUILDUP ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPER MAY RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, CAUSING THE WIPER ARM TO LOOSEN

IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Speed control mileage not reported 11 mo in service
2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SPEEDOMETER AND GPS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE SET THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR LESS THAN 75 MPH AND HIS GARMIN GPS NUVI CONFIRMED THE SAME SPEED. HOWEVER, HE WAS CITED FOR SPEEDING. THE SHERIFF STATED HIS RADAR WAS MUCH MORE ACCURATE THAN HIS SPEEDOMETER AND GPS.
Speed control 5,800 mi 2.1 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPLIED THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Speed control 52,000 mi 2.3 yr in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, HIP, AND KNEE INJURIES WHILE THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED LUNG CONTUSIONS FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.
Air bags 6,062 mi 1.6 yr in service
THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BACK AIRBAG. JUNE 5 IT WENT BACK IN WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN. THEY FIXED A CONNECTOR IN THE DRIVER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG. OCT 18 IT WENT BACK IN WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT SEAT ANCHOR PLATE TENSIONER. DEC 31 IT WENT BACK IN WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. THEY REPLACED THE MODULE AND HARNESS ASSY. FEB 12 IT WENT BACK IN AGAIN. THEY REPLACED THE WIRING IN PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS. MARCH 17 IT WENT BACK IN AGAIN. THEY OFFERED ME A NEW CAR. *TR

Other Traverse model years

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