YearToAvoid

2019 Chevrolet Traverse Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2019 Chevrolet Traverse ranks 5th worst out of 17 model years, with a complaint index of 75 and 405 NHTSA complaints, mostly transmission and electrical issues, earning an Avoid verdict. It has 3 recalls, including one for airbags that may fail to deploy.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
75/100
#5 of 17 Traverse years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
405
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
15
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
17
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2021
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 26 hwy
Injuries / deaths
17 / 0

Top 2019 Chevy Traverse problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain167 (41%)
  2. Electrical System114 (28%)
  3. Other95 (23%)
  4. Engine68 (17%)
  5. Fuel System26 (6%)
  6. Brakes22 (5%)
  7. Steering18 (4%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (4%)
  9. Seat Belts13 (3%)
  10. Airbags9 (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 reportedly fail to deploy in moderate-to-severe crashes, including t-bone and rear-end collisions.
  • Some owners report the auto stop/start system getting stuck at high idle instead of shutting down normally.
  • Engine compartment fires have occurred, in one case preceded by dashboard warning lights and a fluid trail leading away from the parked car.
  • A burning odor from the cabin vents was traced to an oil leak from the transmission area, requiring a tow to the dealer.
  • Owners describe steering assist reducing itself unexpectedly along with a false starter-issue notification from the Chevy app.
  • Brake failure was reported during a slow turn, resulting in a forward crash.
2019 Chevrolet Traverse complaints: complaints filed per quarter282019 Q12020 Q12021 Q22022 Q22023 Q22024 Q22025 Q22026 Q2
405 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2026 Q2 (28).

2019 Chevrolet Traverse recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 20V668000Oct 29, 2020Transmission & Powertrain194,105 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

    Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

  3. NHTSA 18V774000Nov 1, 2018Airbags12 vehicles

    Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

    Risk: If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18365.

2019 Chevrolet Traverse fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
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.

2019 compared with other Traverse years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Caution50361317.5
2018Caution63461221
2019Avoid75405321
2020Caution56228820.5
2021Best689320.5

All Chevrolet Traverse years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
NHTSA data ranks it 5th worst among the 17 model years covered, with a complaint index of 75 and 405 complaints, most tied to transmission and electrical problems. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Traverse years.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse?
Transmission and powertrain issues account for 41% of complaints (167), followed by electrical system problems at 28% (114) and engine issues at 17% (68). Median mileage at failure for transmission complaints was 57,000.
Does the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls: one for side curtain airbags that may not be properly attached, one for a transmission start-stop accumulator issue, and one for an airbag sensing module stuck in manufacturing mode.
What year Chevrolet Traverse should I avoid?
Based on NHTSA data, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019, and 2025 all carry Avoid verdicts, with 2010 having the highest complaint index at 100. The 2013, 2021, 2022, and 2023 model years earn Best verdicts.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA lists 405 complaints for the 2019 Traverse, including 15 crashes, 2 fires, and 17 injuries.

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.