2010 Chevrolet Traverse Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2010 Chevrolet Traverse ranks worst of 17 model years, with a complaint index of 100 and 669 complaints, mostly about steering. It carries 5 recalls, including one for airbags and one for seat belts, and is rated Avoid.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 17 Traverse years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 669
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 17
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 12
- Top issue
- Steering
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16.5 city / 23.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 12 / 0
Top 2010 Chevy Traverse problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering331 (49%)
- Engine211 (32%)
- Brakes69 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain66 (10%)
- Electrical System62 (9%)
- Other36 (5%)
- Airbags30 (4%)
- Seat Belts25 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (3%)
- Fuel System15 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Steering wheel becomes very difficult or impossible to turn at low speed, sometimes almost locking up.
- Power steering intermittently cuts out or feels stuck, with noise while steering.
- Steering failures have led some drivers to lose control and strike objects like mailboxes.
- Side airbags failed to deploy in multiple low-to-moderate speed crashes, including rear-end and side-impact collisions.
- One vehicle caught fire in the engine area shortly after being parked and turned off.
- A seat belt buckle and pretensioner reportedly failed to properly restrain a driver during a rear-end crash.
2010 Chevrolet Traverse recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V246000Apr 8, 2021Airbags108 vehicles
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.
Risk: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM 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 15V415000Jun 30, 2015Structure & Body691,144 vehicles
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.
Risk: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.
- NHTSA 14V266000May 20, 2014Seat Belts1,339,355 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.
2010 Chevrolet Traverse fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16.5 MPG
- Highway
- 23.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2010 compared with other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
- It is the lowest-ranked Traverse model year in NHTSA data, with a complaint index of 100 (the highest among 17 years) and 669 complaints, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Traverse years.
- What is the main problem with the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?
- Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 331 complaints, or 49% of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 69,500 miles.
- Does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2010 Traverse, covering airbags, seat belts, and structure/body issues including a power liftgate software update.
- Which Traverse model years are better than 2010?
- According to NHTSA complaint data, 2013, 2021, 2022, and 2023 are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 0, 6, 13, and 19 respectively, all far lower than the 2010 model's index of 100.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?
- EPA rates the 2010 Traverse at 19 mpg combined (16.5 city / 23.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400.