YearToAvoid

2016 Chevrolet Traverse Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 37 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, 13% of all 292 complaints filed for the year. Median mileage at failure is 42,357 miles. No related recalls are listed for this component on this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
37
13% of 292
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
42,357 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles stall or lose power suddenly at low speeds, sometimes with the dashboard going dark and no warning light.
  • Owners report the transmission failing outright, requiring full replacement after unexpected stalling.
  • A grinding or growling noise occurs when turning, especially on sharp curves, accompanied by a sensation of unintended acceleration.
  • Drivers describe a strong vibration developing at highway speed that worsens until the vehicle becomes hard to control.
  • Some owners needed to refill transmission fluid multiple times despite no visible leaks, along with intermittent slippage.
  • Hesitation or delayed response when accelerating from moderate speeds, with transmission fluid flushes not resolving the issue.

When 2016 Chevrolet Traverse transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 1, 2016, latest Sep 21, 2026.

2016 Chevrolet Traverse transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2016Nov 2017Jan 2019May 2020Nov 2021Apr 2023Oct 2023Nov 2025
37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2016 to Sep 2026; peak Jan 2019 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Traverse model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201066 (10%)
  2. 201179 (13%)
  3. 201246 (13%)
  4. 201328 (17%)
  5. 201436 (7%)
  6. 201523 (7%)
  7. 201637 (13%)
  8. 201718 (5%)
  9. 2018195 (42%)
  10. 2019167 (41%)
  11. 202039 (17%)
  12. 202115 (17%)
  13. 202243 (44%)
  14. 202329 (33%)
  15. 202418 (13%)
  16. 202513 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission and powertrain complaints does the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse have?
NHTSA lists 37 complaints in this category for the 2016 Traverse, which is 13% of the 292 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse transmission?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain area on the 2016 Traverse.
At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this component is 42,357 miles.
Did any of these transmission complaints involve crashes?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires or injuries tied to Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2016 Traverse.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.