2016 Chevrolet Traverse Complaints

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 09/01/2026

My 2016 Chevy Traverse LT with 108,750 miles had issues with the rear brake lights, and the Traction Control light would come on and the Traction Control turns off. A message appears on the dash that shows Service StabiliTrak. When I drive the vehicle to accelerate it shakes, jerks and shudders, and then it rides fine for a bit but the Traction Control is still off. I also noticed that the cruise control doesn't work either. I decided to wait a few more days hoping it would clear out, which it did for a day but the problem returned. I took the Traverse to AutoZone to use an OBD2 scanner and it showed that there is an issue with the braking switch (code C0161-00 ABS Brake Switch Circuit). A local mechanic replaced a fuse and the brake switch but the Traction Control/StabiliTrak issue hasn't been fixed. He's tried everything but the problem won't go away. Apparently this an ongoing problem with many Traverses.

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/23/2026

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that four local dealers were contacted. The contact was informed that parts were on back order. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure associated with the unrepaired recall repair.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 04/13/2026

The vehicle only has 145,xxx miles and I experience a "shudder" which could be caused by torque converter issues, often felt at highway speeds (approx. 40-60 mph).

AIR BAGS — Filed 02/01/2026

There is an open recall on my 2016 Chevrolet Traverse that I have been trying to get resolved for almost 2 years. I finally opened a case with GM (#{XXX]) back on February 15, 2026 in an effort to escalate the repair. I received a call from a GM rep who has been less than helpful telling me the recall was completed in February of 2024 at a dealership in South Carolina. I explained to him that my vehicle is housed in Florida and has never been to South Carolina. It is clear he is not interested in finding a resolution to my issue. He calls once a week to inform me he's working on it and will get back to me next week. This has been going on for a month. My grandchildren are often passengers in this vehicle and I have major concerns for their safety. It should not take 2 years to get this issue resolved. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/10/2023

The contact owned a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (AIR BAGS) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 12/10/2024

the transmission lost power and almost caused an accident with the vehicle behind me

AIR BAGS — Filed 01/15/2026

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and informed that parts were in the warehouse, but no assistance was provided. The contact had not experienced a failure.

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/01/2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was made aware of the issue and stated that parts were not yet available. The contact was informed that a call would be received when parts became available; however, the contact had not yet received a call. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 11/07/2025

Transmission solenoid. Common. Needs to be reported. Its know as the week link to this vehicle. The manufacturer knows and there are many complaints. This vehicle needs to be recalled. Safety concern while driving.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE — Filed 04/10/2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the vehicle was retrieved from a dealer after a recall regarding the air bags; however, while driving approximately 25 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact stated that the Stability Control warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle back to the dealer, and the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle remained with the dealer for 2 months and the dealer attempted to perform the air bag recall again. The contact stated that later, when the vehicle was picked up, while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the Stability Control warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lunged forward while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to another dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and had referred the contact to the second dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 06/01/2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were on backorder. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 04/08/2025

Front lights started dimming about the middle of April 2025 and now both back lights are out at the same time on June 3rd 2025.The car makes a rough grinding noise as it switches gears.

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/10/2023

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

AIR BAGS — Filed 04/14/2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/06/2025

I had to replace the timing chain. I had to replace the Torque Converter. New issues: Interior lights on the dash and radio have been going out while driving. Message center warning has been not working sometimes when using remote start in winter. Sometimes it just goes blank while driving.

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 10/05/2023

2 issues: 1: Brakes did not stop car nor did the abs braking system kick in causing the car to not stop on full demand! 2 cars slammed on their brakes at a yellow light instead of going thru causing a small number kiss Was going 35mph and when braking, car didn’t fully stop and out brakes tho to the floor. Abs did not kick in. No lights on dash board. 2: The very Next morning, The traction control light came on saying service the stabilitrak, traction control. The car ins denied it was from car accident. When The traction control light comes on the dashboard, by itself) it causes the car to automatically brake when accelerating whenever it chooses to come on causing it to be unsafe in traffic. You cannot control the button to turn it off. This has been an issue coming on and off at random to current.

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/05/2022

The contact's mother owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that as the vehicle was making a left turn at approximately 10 MPH, and entering a side street, the vehicle was crashed into by an ambulance that was not on call. The vehicle was struck on the passenger side door. From the force of the impact, the vehicle was spun to the left, and into a utility pole, and crashed the rear end. The side passenger door and the rear end were crushed from the impact. The passenger door damage had been rated by the police report as a "7" and the damage to the rear was rated as a "2". The ambulance went off of the roadway down a ditch and into a large pond. Both vehicles were undrivable and had to be towed from the scene. The contact's mother and her stepfather were transported by ambulance to a hospital. The driver and 2 passengers of the ambulance were also transported by ambulance to a hospital and later released. The contact's mother was taken by ambulance to a trauma center and the stepfather was airlifted to the same trauma center. The stepfather died at the trauma center's ICU from blunt force trauma to his head. The mother had head injuries that were not severe, however she had suffered a broken neck termed a "hang man's fracture," she had also suffered three breaks to her back. The mother had suffered broken ribs on the right side "2 through 12" and the left side ribs "2 through 11," the mother had a broken rib that penetrated her diaphragm and punctured her liver. The mother had also suffered a broken clavicle on her right side. The mother had also suffered a pelvic fracture as well as bruising on her legs and arms. The contact stated that her mother had had her intestines torn away from the connective tissues in her abdomen. The contact stated that none of the air bags had deployed in the vehicle. The vehicle had been towed to an impound lot and was still awaiting further inspections and analysis by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The police had written a report. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 03/12/2022

The car was broadsided on Interstate 40 Westbound outside of Knoxville, TN on 3-12-22 by a Tractor Trailer and totaled. The airbags did not deploy allowing the driver to hit her head on the window of the vehicle causing her head trauma. In Oct of 2021 The same vehicle hit a 200 pound dear head on at 65mph and destroyed the front end and the air bags did not deploy then either.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 02/02/2021

RE: 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE WITH 56,000 MILES FEB. 2, 2021, I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM RUNNING ERRANDS , PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PER MY NORMAL ROUTINE, ROLLED JUST PAST THE GARAGE DOOR OPENING IN ORDER TO BACK INTO THE GARAGE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO FULL THROTTLE AND JUMPED ABOUT 10 OR 12 FEET, SIDESWIPED A TREE AT THE CURVE IN THE DRIVE AND TOOK OUT A 4X4 POST HOLDING MY BIRDFEEDER. I CONTINUED APPLYING THE BRAKE BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. BY STEERING, I WAS ABLE TO MISS ANOTHER TREE AND DROVE INTO THE BACK YARD. THE CAR WAS HEADED TOWARD THE BARN ABOUT 50 YARDS AWAY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I HIT THE TREE, AND I WAS NOT INJURED. AS THIS WAS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WITH NO DAMAGE EXCEPT TO THE CAR, A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. DID $12,000+ IN DAMAGES PLUS 4 WKS TO FIX. THE CHEVY DEALER FROM WHOM THE CAR WAS PURCHASED SAID THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM GM TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. THAT WAS 2 WKS AGO AND THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING AS OF YET.

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 01/15/2021

ON FRIDAY JAN.15, 2021 I DROVE TO MY SON'S HOUSE AND PARKED MY 2016 CHEVY TRAVERSE SUV OUTSIDE MY SON'S HOUSE AT APPROX.12PM. NO ONE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. AT ABOUT 6:45PM A CAR PASSING BY NOTICED A FIRE ON TOP OF THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY SUV. THE PERSON KNOCKED ON THE HOUSE DOOR TO LET US KNOW THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIREFIGHTER EXAMINED THE SCENE AND TOLD ME IT WAS CAUSED BY THE WIPER MOTOR. THE POLICE ALSO DID AN INVESTIGATION. EVIDENCE TECHNICIAN SAID HE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THE FIRE. WE LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW THAT THE 2016 CHEVY TRAVERSE HAS A RECALL FOR WIPER MOTOR FIRES. WHEN I PUT IN MY VIN NUMBER THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I CALLED CHEVY AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE. MY CAR HAD $3600.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND WAS TOWED TO GERBER COLLISION WHERE MY CAR WAS REPAIRED.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 11/09/2020

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HWY 175, VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH MESSAGE 'SERVICE STABILITRAK' FOLLOWED BY AN ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER. HAPPENS REGULARLY AND WITHOUT WARNING.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) — Filed 01/23/2020

I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 TRAVERSE AFTER A CANCER TREATMENT HOME WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MSGS ON MY DASH STARTED APPEARIBG. SERVICE STABILITRAK, TRACTION CONTROL OFF. THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND THE GUY BEHIND ME REAR ENDED ME WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE PUT 2 POWER STEERING PUMPS IN, AND HAD IT ST THE SHOP FOR SEVERAL TIMES THAT IT HAD SAID ABOUT SERVICIB SRABILITRAK. I HAVE READ OVER 300 HRS OF COMPLAINTS GAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE STABILITRSK. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED SPEED SENSORS AND MODULES. THIS IS A TRASH VECHILE AND NO ONE FROM GM CARES OR RESPONDS. WHEN SOMEONE CHILD DOES MAYBE IT WILL GET THEIR ATTENTION. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS WHAT I PLAN ON PURSUING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MY CHILD. I HOPE SOMEONE READS THIS N CAN CARE ENOUGJ TO HELP. THE CAR HAS LESS THEN 65000 MILES

AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 12/22/2016

12/21/16 FIRST, I PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 1-2 MILES AN HOUR FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS...PULLED OVER AND PUT IN PARK AND REVVED THE ENGINE A LITTLE AND PULLED OUT AGAIN. IT STILL WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AT FIRST, THEN GRADUALLY PICKED UP SPEED AND RODE THE REMAINDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON 12/22/16, ONE SECOND I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN FRONT OF THE STORE I WORK AT, AND WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO THE BRICK WALL OF THE BUILDING. THE AIRBAG IN THE STEERING COLUMN DEPLOYED. THE CAR BOUNCED BACK AND SHUT DOWN I THINK). I REACHED UP AND TURNED THE KEY OFF & L OPENED THE DOOR & THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING ONTO THE LOT.. MY KNEES WERE HURTING REALLY BAD, BOTH MY HANDS WERE SORE AND MY LEFT ARM. THE CAR FRONT WAS ALL DAMAGED WITH PART OF THE FENDER ON THE SIDEWALK. WE CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME AND TAKE ME TO GET CHECKED OUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE CRACKED BOTH MY KNEECAPS. WE CONTACTED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY TOLD US TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO OUR PREFERRED BODY SHOP, WHICH WE DID. THE DR X-RAYED MY KNEES AND DETERMINED THEY WERE NOT BROKEN, JUST BADLY BRUISED. ON DEC 26TH, I WENT BACK TO THE DR BECAUSE I STARTED HAVING SOME PAIN IN MY NECK/SHOULDER AND THEY DID NUMEROUS TESTS, FINDING WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A FRACTURE IN MY NECK. I HAD TO WEAR A BRACE ON IT FOR A WEEK, THEN MORE TESTING DETERMINED THAT WHAT THEY SAW WAS ACTUALLY A PREVIOUS INJURY THAT HAD NEVER BEEN CAUGHT. I NEED PHYSICAL THERAPY ON THE NECK ISSUE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THESE CARS SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, OVER A SPAN OF 7 YEARS. I AM NOT ONLY THANKFUL I WASN'T INJURED WORSE, BUT THAT THERE WASN'T A PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND THE OUTCOME COULD BE MUCH WORSE. *TR

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 08/21/2016

ENTERPRISE RENTED ME THE CHEVY TRAVERSE. I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING AREA OFF A DIRT ROAD. I'D BEEN WAITING FOR THE CAR BEHIND ME TO BACK OUT SO THAT I COULD BACK OUT. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, WEATHER SUNNY AND WARM, MIDDLE OF THE DAY. I TURNED ON THE IGNITION, HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS HURTLING BACKWARDS. IT FELT LIKE BEING SUCKED BACKWARD AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO STOP IT. I SMASHED INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME AND IT WAS TERRIFYING BOTH FOR ME AND, I'M SURE, FOR THE GUY BEHIND ME WHO SUDDENLY HAD THIS SUV CRASHING INTO THE FRONT OF HIS CAR. HE THOUGHT HIS CAR WAS TOTALED. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE HANDLING IT, BUT I TOLD BOTH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND ENTERPRISE THAT I THOUGHT THE TRAVERSE HAD SURGED. I DID EVENTUALLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME (AVOIDING REVERSE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE), AND NOTICED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE THAT SAME SURGE-FEELING IN DRIVE WHEN GOING UP A HILL--LIKE IT WAS GOING WAY TOO FAST. LATER, I SAW ONLINE A COMPLAINT OF A SIMILAR THING (REVERSE SURGE) HAPPENING WITH A 2009 TRAVERSE. I DON'T THINK THIS CAR SHOULD BE ON THE ROAD, AND THE PEOPLE HANDLING THE CLAIM FOR ENTERPRISE SAY THAT IT'S NOT (WHICH IS GOOD), BUT THEY JUST WARNED ME THAT IF THEIR INSPECTION DOESN'T SHOW A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, I COULD BE LIABLE FOR EXPENSES SINCE IT HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THEIR FLEET. AT THIS POINT, I'VE BEEN WAITING CLOSE TO A MONTH FOR THIS INSPECTION, AT WHICH I WAS TOLD I COULD BE PRESENT, TO BE SCHEDULED. NOTES: I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO I CHECKED EACH BOX THAT SEEMED LIKELY. ALSO, ONLY THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TOWED.

SEATS — Filed 05/12/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT AND THIRD ROW SEATS BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ALL FIVE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT WAS INJURED SEVERELY WITH CERVICAL AND RIB FRACTURES AND BRAIN HEMORRHAGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND LATER DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ...UPDATED 08/01/16 *BF UPDATED 06/18/18*JB