2017 Chevrolet Traverse Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2017 Chevrolet Traverse has a complaint index of 50, ranking 9th worst of 17 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags dominate at 73% of complaints (263 of 361), tied to three recall campaigns, with a median failure mileage of 38,000.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #9 of 17 Traverse years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 361
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 13
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 11
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 17.5
- 15 city / 22 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 11 / 1
Top 2017 Chevy Traverse problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags263 (73%)
- Engine33 (9%)
- Electrical System23 (6%)
- Other18 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain18 (5%)
- Brakes16 (4%)
- Seat Belts11 (3%)
- Steering11 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (3%)
- Fuel System9 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy in moderate-to-severe crashes, including head-on and T-bone collisions.
- Brakes reportedly fail to stop the vehicle even when firmly applied, leading to low-speed impacts with walls or beams.
- Owners describe the vehicle unexpectedly rolling away after being shifted into park.
- Some vehicles surge or lunge forward unexpectedly while parking with the brake applied, without warning lights.
- Electrical faults cause the vehicle to shake and stall during starting, sometimes traced to a defective ECM.
- One owner reported smoke and fire originating from under the dashboard while driving in snow.
2017 Chevrolet Traverse recalls
3 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.
2017 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.
2017 compared with other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
- It carries a Caution verdict, ranking 9th worst out of 17 Traverse model years with a complaint index of 50. Airbags are the dominant problem area, making up 73% of its 361 complaints.
- Does the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists two recalls (23V334000 and 21V782000) for driver airbag inflators that may explode during deployment, plus a third (21V246000) for side curtain airbags that may not be properly attached.
- What is the most common complaint on the 2017 Traverse?
- Airbags account for 263 of 361 complaints (73%), with a median failure mileage of 38,000, followed by engine issues (9%) and electrical system problems (6%).
- Are there better model years of the Traverse to buy instead?
- Yes. The 2013, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Traverse all carry a Best verdict with much lower complaint indexes (0, 6, 13, and 19 respectively) compared to the 2017's index of 50.
- How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse have?
- NHTSA lists three recalls for the 2017 Traverse, all related to airbags, with none classified as do-not-drive recalls.