2016 Chevrolet TRAVERSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
291 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
48,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 89 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 162 of 291 complaints (55.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 27 | 9.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 26 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 4.8% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 162 |
| Power Train | 36 |
| Engine | 31 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Steering | 24 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 15 |
Air Bags: 162; Power Train: 36; Engine: 31; Electrical System: 25; Steering: 24; Unknown Or Other: 18; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 27 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 202 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 21 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 70 |
| 2024 | 93 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2015: 2; 2016: 13; 2017: 15; 2018: 19; 2019: 21; 2020: 15; 2021: 17; 2022: 7; 2023: 70; 2024: 93; 2025: 13; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 26 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10940203 · 2017-01-06 (January 6, 2017)
12/21/16 FIRST, I PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 1-2 MILES AN HOUR FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS...PULLED OVER AND PUT IN PARK AND REVVED THE ENGINE A LITTLE AND PULLED OUT AGAIN. IT STILL WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AT FIRST, THEN GRADUALLY PICKED UP SPEED AND RODE THE REMAINDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON 12/22/16, ONE SECOND I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN FRONT OF THE STORE I WORK AT, AND WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO THE BRICK WALL OF THE BUILDING. THE AIRBAG IN THE ST…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10940203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11031168 · 2017-10-02 (October 2, 2017)
2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER THE DRIVER MUST TAP THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP THE MOTOR RUNNING. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE GAUGES BECOME ERRATIC INCLUDING THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE. TAPPING THE GAS MADE THE VEHICLE ACT AS IF IT WERE FLOODING AND THEN IT WOULD SURGE. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE TYPICALLY OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11031168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10852221 · 2016-03-29 (March 29, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE WAS JERKING AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO INDICATE THE ACCURATE FUEL LEVEL. THE CONTACT FURTHER STATED THAT VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND ENGINE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10852221 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10915762 · 2016-10-13 (October 13, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10839313 · 2016-03-01 (March 1, 2016)
ON TWO OCCASIONS ( 2/21/16 AND 2/28/16) WHILE DRIVING THE POWER CUT OUT COMPLETELY AND THE CAR STALLED. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE OR STOP. THERE WERE NOT ANY WARNINGS OR NOTIFICATIONS SUCH AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE DASHBOARD AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS/ INFORMATION WAS COMPLETELY DARK. THE FIRST OCCASION WAS ON A HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR AND THE SECOND WAS ON A CITY STREET APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THEY CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. I WAS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10839313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10907650 · 2016-09-19 (September 19, 2016)
ENTERPRISE RENTED ME THE CHEVY TRAVERSE. I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING AREA OFF A DIRT ROAD. I'D BEEN WAITING FOR THE CAR BEHIND ME TO BACK OUT SO THAT I COULD BACK OUT. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, WEATHER SUNNY AND WARM, MIDDLE OF THE DAY. I TURNED ON THE IGNITION, HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS HURTLING BACKWARDS. IT FELT LIKE BEING SUCKED BACKWARD AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO STOP IT. I SMASHED INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME AND IT WAS TERRIFYING BOTH FOR ME AND, I'M SURE,…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10907650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10923992 · 2016-11-03 (November 3, 2016)
I WAS AT A RED LIGHT, FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED JUMPING FROM 1000RPM TO 3000RPM, MULTIPLE TIMES IN A ROW. CAUSING MY CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY & WAS ASKED TO DRIVE MY CAR IN. I WAS HEADED TO A DESTINATION FIRST. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED MY CAR BACK ON, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG NOISE, CAR SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS ON FIRE & THE ACCELERATION DID NOT RETURN. WHAT DID HAPPEN WAS I NOW HAD NO AIR CONDITIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10923992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10956790 · 2017-02-24 (February 24, 2017)
WE BOUGHT A USED VEHICLE FROM ACADIANA MAZDA, LAFAYETTE LA. ABOUT A WEEK FROM HAVING IT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. WE BRING IT IN, THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG SO WE TAKE IT BACK. THE NEXT WEEK, THE SALESMAN GIVES US A CALL AND SAYS THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD, AFTER ASKING FOR A SALES TICKET FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THEY GIVE US A SALES TICKET FROM THE WEEK BEFORE THAT SAYS THAT THEY THINK THE VEHICLE HAS A WATER LEAK. (SERVICE TICKET IS ENCLOSED) I COME HOME THAT NIGHT BEFORE BRINGING IT IN AND I FIND RUST DRIPPING F…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11079748 · 2018-03-16 (March 16, 2018)
MY SIDE DETECTION MODULES WENT. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT GET ME IN FOR 3 WEEKS. 3 WEEKS LATER I HAVE NO ELECTRICAL POWER INCLUDING SPORADIC HEADLIGHTS, AND BLINKERS. I HAVE NO AIR BAGS. THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. NOW ITS BEEN 6 WEEKS NOW. I DECIDE TO CALL CHEVROLET CUSTOMER CARE. I WAS TOLD SINCE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY THEY CAN DO NOTHING FOR ME. THAT I SHOULD GO RENT A CAR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TILL THE PARTS COME IN SOMEDAY. THEY DO NOT CARE IF I AM SAFE SINCE I HAVE NO WARRANTY?!?!?! THIS SIDE DETECTION MODULE IS A DANGER AND A SAFETY ISSUE …
Owner-reported narrative. 620,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11079748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11019402 · 2017-08-24 (August 24, 2017)
DESPITE SHOWING OVER A QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS, I RAN OUT OF GAS ON MY WAY TO WORK. I GOT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY 8/18/17 (STANLEY CHEVROLET, MCCORDSVILLE, IN). THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AT THAT TIME AND SAID THE PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED. THIS EVENING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I AM NOW SITTING ON THE SIDE OF I-70 IN INDIANAPOLIS HOPING I AM NOT INJURED WHILE WAITING FOR AAA. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AS I HAVE ALREADY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK AND THEY ARE SAYING THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113080 · 2018-07-23 (July 23, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LUCAS CHEVROLET (101 S JAMES CAMPBELL BLVD, COLUMBIA, TN 38401, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT VAPORS BUILT UP IN THE FUEL FEED LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,188 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113080 at NHTSA ↗