YearToAvoid

2017 Chevrolet Traverse Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 263 airbag complaints for the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse, 73% of all complaints filed for this model year. Five crashes and eight injuries are tied to this component, with median failure mileage at 38,038 miles. Three related recalls cover driver airbag inflators and side curtain airbag attachment.

Airbags complaints
263
73% of 361
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
8
Median mileage
38,038 mi
Related recalls
3

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during moderate-to-high speed crashes, including head-on and T-bone collisions, sometimes resulting in injuries such as concussions and broken ribs.
  • Airbag warning light stays on and the system chimes or beeps intermittently while the vehicle is stationary or in motion, even with no occupant safety issue present.
  • Seat belt buckles are difficult to latch, requiring multiple attempts, occurring alongside airbag warning light activation.
  • Airbag sensors fail and disable the airbag system, with owners reporting dealers confirming a bad sensor code but declining warranty coverage.
  • Cracks appear in the steering wheel near the airbag compartment.
  • Seatbelt chime fails to sound reliably when a passenger or driver is unbuckled, despite the warning light illuminating.

When 2017 Chevrolet Traverse airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 9, 2018, latest Aug 29, 2026.

2017 Chevrolet Traverse airbags complaints: complaints filed per month23Jan 2018Sep 2019May 2023Nov 2023May 2024Nov 2024Feb 2026
263 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Jan 2024 (23).

Airbags recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

Airbags complaints by Traverse model year

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

  1. 200926 (6%)
  2. 201030 (4%)
  3. 201143 (7%)
  4. 201248 (14%)
  5. 201327 (17%)
  6. 2014258 (47%)
  7. 2015162 (52%)
  8. 2016163 (56%)
  9. 2017263 (73%)
  10. 20185 (1%)
  11. 20199 (2%)
  12. 20206 (3%)
  13. 20213 (3%)
  14. 20222 (2%)
  15. 20232 (2%)
  16. 20240 (0%)
  17. 20252 (1%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse have?
NHTSA lists 263 airbag complaints for the 2017 Traverse, which is 73% of all 361 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse?
Yes. Three recalls apply: campaign 23V334000 and 21V782000 cover a driver airbag inflator that may explode during deployment, and campaign 21V246000 covers side curtain airbags that may not be properly attached.
Did the 2017 Traverse airbag problems cause any injuries or crashes?
NHTSA data tied to this component lists 5 crashes, 1 fire, and 8 injuries for the 2017 Traverse.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2017 Traverse?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for airbag complaints on the 2017 Traverse is 38,038 miles.
How does the 2017 Traverse compare to other years for airbag complaints?
The 2017 model year's 73% share of complaints tied to airbags is the highest among the years listed, compared to shares like 56% in 2016 and just 1% in 2018.

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.