2010 Chevrolet Traverse Reliability
The 2010 Chevrolet Traverse has 669 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and engine. Compared with nearby Traverse model years (2009–2012), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Traverse's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
669
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
17
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2010 Chevrolet Traverse complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 model year, filed between 2010 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 331 | 49% |
| Engine | 178 | 27% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 66 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 60 | 9% |
| Stability control | 57 | 9% |
| Speed control / throttle | 42 | 6% |
| Air bags | 30 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 28 | 4% |
2010 Chevrolet Traverse recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2010 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10V375000 | Aug 12, 2010 | Seat belts | General motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Traverse, buick enclave, gmc acadia, and saturn outlook vehicles. The second row seat side trim shield restricts the upward rotation of the safety belt buckle when the seat back is returned to… |
| 14V118000 | Mar 17, 2014 | Air bags — side/window | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side… |
| 14V266000 | May 20, 2014 | Seat belts | General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008,… |
| 15V415000 | Jun 30, 2015 | Body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles… |
| 21V246000 | Apr 8, 2021 | 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. |
How the 2010 compares with nearby Traverse years
Verdicts compare these Traverse model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 448 | 8 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2010 (this page) | 669 | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2011 | 608 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2012 | 354 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2010 Chevrolet Traverse can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2010 Chevrolet Traverse reliability FAQ
Is the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
The 2010 Chevrolet Traverse has 669 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and engine. Compared with nearby Traverse model years (2009–2012), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Traverse's typical year.
What are the most common 2010 Chevrolet Traverse problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse are steering (331), engine (178), powertrain / transmission (66), electrical system (60). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse, including 10V375000 (seat belts) and 14V118000 (air bags — side/window). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse compare with the 2009 and 2011 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2009 has 448 complaints and 8 recalls (avoid); the 2011 has 608 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid). The 2010 has 669 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Traverse research
Other Chevrolet Traverse model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2010 Traverse, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.