2016 Chevrolet Traverse Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
27/100
#12 most-complained of 16 Traverse years
The 2016 Chevrolet Traverse has a Complaint Index of 27 and ranks 12th of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Traverse years. NHTSA lists 292 complaints and 5 recalls, with airbags as the top problem area at 56% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 292
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 8 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 15 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 17.5
- 15 city / 22 hwy
Top 2016 Chevrolet Traverse problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags163 (56%)
- Engine43 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain37 (13%)
- Electrical System28 (10%)
- Steering24 (8%)
- Brakes23 (8%)
- Other19 (7%)
- Fuel System9 (3%)
- Structure & Body7 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden loss of steering and braking assist along with dashboard warning messages for stabilitrak and traction control, sometimes followed by a rear-end crash.
- Some describe brakes failing to stop the vehicle or the ABS not engaging, with the car continuing to move despite full brake pedal pressure.
- One owner reported the vehicle unexpectedly accelerating to full throttle when the brake was applied while parking.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during frontal and side-impact collisions, including a highway crash with a tractor trailer.
- A parked vehicle caught fire on the hood near the windshield wiper area with no one driving or the engine running.
- Owners report the passenger window exploding outward while driving on a highway with no impact from other vehicles.
2016 Chevrolet Traverse recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V334000May 10, 2023Airbags995,085 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.
- NHTSA 21V782000Oct 7, 2021Airbags555 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.
- 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.
2016 Chevrolet Traverse fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 22 MPG
- Combined
- 17.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,700
- 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.
2016 compared with other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2016 Traverse a Complaint Index of 27 and a "Good" verdict, ranking 12th out of 16 model years, meaning it performs better than most other Traverse years.
- What problems does the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse have?
- Airbags account for 56% of the 292 complaints, followed by engine issues at 15% and transmission and powertrain issues at 13%. The median mileage at failure for engine and transmission complaints falls between about 42,357 and 48,500 miles.
- Does the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists three airbag-related recalls covering the 2016 Traverse, including two for driver's air bag inflators that may explode during deployment and one for improperly attached side curtain air bags.
- How does the 2016 Traverse compare to other years?
- The 2016 model's Complaint Index of 27 is much lower than the worst years, 2010 and 2011, which scored 87 and 93. It is higher than the best year, 2013, which scored 7.
- How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse have?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 Traverse, covering airbags, third-row seat structure, and the windshield wiper motor cover, with none classified as do-not-drive.