YearToAvoid

2023 Chevrolet Traverse Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#13 most-complained of 16 Traverse years

The 2023 Chevrolet Traverse ranks 13th worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 20 and a "Best" verdict relative to other Traverse years. It has 89 complaints, 2 recalls, and no fires or deaths reported.

Complaints
89
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
5 / 0
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20.5
17.5 city / 26 hwy

Top 2023 Chevrolet Traverse problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain29 (33%)
  2. Electrical System23 (26%)
  3. Engine20 (22%)
  4. Brakes13 (15%)
  5. Other9 (10%)
  6. Fuel System5 (6%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (4%)
  8. Structure & Body4 (4%)
  9. Airbags2 (2%)
  10. Lane Departure2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles unexpectedly downshifted hard while driving around 25-30 MPH, sometimes with an abnormal buzzing sound from the hood.
  • Some owners reported the transmission downshifting hard when moving into lower gears and occasionally when shifting to higher gears.
  • One owner described the vehicle rolling backward and crashing after being parked with the driver's seat unoccupied.
  • Check engine lights turned on due to wires near the engine/transmission rubbing or melting against a hot surface, triggering a false warning.
  • A bad alternator caused a battery saver mode warning with dropping voltage, requiring dealer repair.
  • Owners reported high beam headlights aimed too high, illuminating treetops instead of the road surface.
2023 Chevrolet Traverse complaints: complaints filed per month9Jun 2023Jan 2024Aug 2024Jan 2025Jun 2025Dec 2025May 2026
118 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2024 (9).

2023 Chevrolet Traverse recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V172000Mar 16, 2023Transmission & Powertrain8,744 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.

    Risk: A half-shaft disengaging from the transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GMC's number for this recall is N222389310.

  2. NHTSA 23V042000Feb 2, 2023Transmission & Powertrain10 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:driveshaft

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse vehicles. The left-side half-shaft assemblies may be missing a retaining ring.

    Risk: A missing retaining ring on the half-shaft can cause half-shaft inner joint separation, resulting in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the left-side half-shaft assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222390180.

2023 Chevrolet Traverse fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
20.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
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.

2023 compared with other Traverse years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Best089320.5
2022Best1398120.5
2023Best2089220.5
2024Caution60136021
2025Avoid100177022

All Chevrolet Traverse years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
Relative to other Traverse model years, the 2023 ranks 13th worst out of 16 with a complaint index of 20, earning a "Best" verdict among all Traverse years tracked.
What problems does the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse have?
NHTSA complaints point mainly to Transmission & Powertrain issues (33% of complaints, median mileage at failure 66,200), followed by Electrical System problems (26%, median mileage 26,000) and Engine issues (22%, median mileage 44,000).
Does the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2023 Traverse: one for an incorrect transmission sun gear (campaign 23V172000) and one for a missing retaining ring on the left-side half-shaft assembly (campaign 23V042000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2023 Traverse compare to other years?
The 2023 Traverse has a complaint index of 20, much lower than years like 2011 (93) or 2025 (100), which are the worst-ranked years for this model.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse?
EPA rates the 2023 Traverse at 20.5 MPG combined (17.5 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.

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.