Chevrolet Traverse Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Chevrolet Traverse years to avoid are 2015, 2016, 2018: the 2015 alone has 0 NHTSA owner complaints and 1,390 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by equipment issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2025 and 2023 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-09-04 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015AVOID | 0 | 1,390 | 5 | — |
| 2016AVOID | 0 | 1,140 | 5 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 999 | 3 | — |
| 2018AVOID | 0 | 1,106 | 2 | — |
| 2019 | 0 | 816 | 3 | — |
| 2020 | 0 | 779 | 8 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 661 | 3 | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 658 | 1 | — |
| 2023BEST | 0 | 529 | 2 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 620 | 0 | — |
| 2025BEST | 0 | 356 | 0 | $49,828 (7 deals) |
| 2026 | 0 | 114 | 1 | $46,872 (14 deals) |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Chevrolet Traverse problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Chevrolet Traverse are equipment, electrical system, unknown or other, engine and engine cooling. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2015 Chevrolet Traverse: 0 owner complaints, 1,390 service bulletins, 5 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: equipment, electrical system, engine and engine cooling.
2016 Chevrolet Traverse: 0 owner complaints, 1,140 service bulletins, 5 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: equipment, electrical system, engine and engine cooling.
2018 Chevrolet Traverse: 0 owner complaints, 1,106 service bulletins, 2 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: equipment, electrical system, engine and engine cooling.
2025 Chevrolet Traverse: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 356 bulletins) — verified buyers paid an average of $49,828.
2023 Chevrolet Traverse: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 529 bulletins).
Know what to pay for the right Chevrolet Traverse — then negotiate it
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Traverse?
Based on federal records, the Chevrolet Traverse years to avoid are 2015, 2016, 2018: the 2015 alone has 0 NHTSA owner complaints and 1,390 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by equipment issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2025 and 2023 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Traverse?
Among recent model years, the 2025 and 2023 Chevrolet Traverse show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record. Verified buyers paid an average of $49,828 for the 2025.
Is the Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
The Chevrolet Traverse's reliability varies by model year. Across 0 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2015, 2016, 2018 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2025 and 2023 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Traverse?
The most-reported problem areas for the Chevrolet Traverse are equipment, electrical system, unknown or other, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Chevrolet Traverse before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.