2012 Chevrolet Traverse Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse ranks 10th out of 17 model years with a complaint index of 44 and earns a Good verdict. It has 354 complaints, 5 recalls, and its top problem area is Engine at 41% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 44/100
- #10 of 17 Traverse years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 354
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 10
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 14
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16.5 city / 23.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 14 / 0
Top 2012 Chevy Traverse problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine144 (41%)
- Brakes95 (27%)
- Steering62 (18%)
- Electrical System49 (14%)
- Airbags48 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain46 (13%)
- Other38 (11%)
- Structure & Body19 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers18 (5%)
- Fuel System16 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in rear and side-impact crashes, including one case where a curtain airbag deployed but struck the driver's head instead of covering the window.
- Some owners describe the engine catching fire while the vehicle was parked, with no warning lights beforehand.
- Drivers report the vehicle erroneously shifting or lurching between drive and reverse, in one case leading to a crash into a pole.
- Steering reportedly becomes very hard to turn at low speeds such as parking, which one owner linked to a failing power steering pump.
- One owner described the brake pedal becoming difficult to depress along with loss of steering and power at low speed, leading to a crash.
2012 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.
2012 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.
2012 compared with other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2012 Traverse rates Good relative to other Traverse model years, ranking 10th worst out of 17 years with a complaint index of 44.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
- Engine issues make up 41% of complaints, followed by brakes at 27% and steering at 18%, according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Traverse, covering airbags, seat belts, structure/body, and wiper arm nuts.
- At what mileage do 2012 Traverse problems usually show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 85,000 miles overall, with engine complaints centered around 95,000 miles and brake complaints around 97,350 miles.
- How does the 2012 Traverse compare to other years?
- The 2012 model's complaint index of 44 is lower than 2009 (81), 2010 (100), and 2011 (88), all rated Avoid, but higher than 2013, which rates Best with an index of 0.