2016 Chevrolet Traverse Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 80,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that four local dealers were contacted. The contact was informed that parts were on back order. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure associated with the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

There is an open recall on my 2016 Chevrolet Traverse that I have been trying to get resolved for almost 2 years. I finally opened a case with GM (#{XXX]) back on February 15, 2026 in an effort to escalate the repair. I received a call from a GM rep who has been less than helpful telling me the recall was completed in February of 2024 at…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 42,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The vehicle only has 145,xxx miles and I experience a "shudder" which could be caused by torque converter issues, often felt at highway speeds (approx. 40-60 mph).Owner complaint, filed 2026

Transmission solenoid. Common. Needs to be reported. Its know as the week link to this vehicle. The manufacturer knows and there are many complaints. This vehicle needs to be recalled. Safety concern while driving.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 47,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 chevrolet traverse. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while driving at various speeds with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on three separate occasions and diagnosed with a faulty evaporative emissions control unit. The vehicle was repaired…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 30,000 miles

My car is a 2016 and it's not leaking fluid but I have had to filll the transmission fluid up three times since I had it and I bought it brand new in 2016Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 50,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 48,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Front lights started dimming about the middle of April 2025 and now both back lights are out at the same time on June 3rd 2025.The car makes a rough grinding noise as it switches gears.Owner complaint, filed 2025

The drivers information center (dic) is so dim it is unreadable during the day. The other functions of the photocell (e.g. - daytime running lights) function fine. The light switch for it is turned all the way up. It functions fine at night. Therefore,during the day I am not able to read any warnings on it, or any of the other…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 55,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Power steering pump in the car had low pressure causing the steering wheel to barely turn or have a hard time turning the wheel. This put me and my family at risk while driving because when making turns it would feel like it was locking up which almost would cause accidents not being able to turn the wheel all the way to make the turn. I…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Rack and pinion steering is failing at 66,000 miles on a 2016 Chevy Traverse. This is low mileage for a vehicle to lose this function and a safety concern should the steering fail at speed and needs to be investigated. There are other complaints by Chevy owners for the same problem across several model years of this vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 48,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

We had breaker replaced in May of 2023 and less then a year later we had to have our front breaks replaced again. Only to have to replace them again 3 months later. We have been told the brake system on the Chevy traverse that they are the size of a Honda accord why that is a car size? What the heck this should not be allowed something…Owner complaint, filed 2024

I was driving my 2016 traverse after a cancer treatment home when all of a sudden msgs on my dash started appearibg. Service stabilitrak, traction control off. The car started shuttering and the guy behind me rear ended me with my children in the car. Since then I have put 2 power steering pumps in, and had it st the shop for several…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 52,500 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

My 2016 Chevy Traverse LT with 108,750 miles had issues with the rear brake lights, and the Traction Control light would come on and the Traction Control turns off. A message appears on the dash that shows Service StabiliTrak. When I drive the vehicle to accelerate it shakes, jerks and shudders, and then it rides fine for a bit but the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The big problem when I drive is that it is not safe, it jerks when I start to accelerate. I took it to the nearest dealer to have the problem fixed. And they do not want to fix the problem and now I just want to get this vehicle off the roads. I do not want to cause an accident and put my family at risk.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 38,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 37,188 miles

Stalling hesitation lack of performance in hot weather caused by vapor build in fuel line. The dealer cleared code told to use 93 octane gas. This is not a fix making the vehicle unsafe to drive. This happen on the interstate during rush hour traffic.Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 20,360 miles

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the moonroof had fractured entirely without impact. The moonroof had not completely shattered as of yet but was at risk of doing so due to the extensive cracks. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that the moonroof…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 81,000 miles

Every 3 to 6 months either left or right low beam headlights (silverstar h11) are going out. The affected socket is extremely hot. Either there is a problem with the quality of the headlights or their is an electrical issue with the socket that keeps burning these bulbs out [VIN].Owner complaint, filed 2021

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 32,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 chevrolet traverse equipped with goodyear fortera hl tires, size: p255/65r18 (na). The contact noticed that the tire tread was cracking on all four tires. The contact spoke with the tire [VIN] and received a case number, but they had not called back. Jim barnard chevrolet (7101 w buffalo rd, churchville, ny 14428…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 15,000 miles

The vehicle is less then 2 years old with 31748 miles. All 4 goodyear fortera hl tires were showing visible cracking and dry rotting in between the treats & on sidewalls.there was a recall on these tires in 2015 but we were told our tires don't qualify for [VIN]. We had the tires replaced with an out of pocket expense of $411. Gm refused…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 31,673 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

The blindspot modules are put behind the wheel well in the bumper exposed to the elements. Water gets in these modules and cause them to swell and fail. Each module is sold at the dealer for $340 a piece and gm recommends you replace both along with the wiring harness. This job if done at the dealer is costing consumers $1300-$1600. If…Owner complaint, filed 2025

2 issues: 1: Brakes did not stop car nor did the abs braking system kick in causing the car to not stop on full demand! 2 cars slammed on their brakes at a yellow light instead of going thru causing a small number kiss Was going 35mph and when braking, car didn’t fully stop and out brakes tho to the floor. Abs did not kick in. No lights…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

I got into my car, specifically in the seat behind the passenger. I always sit here, because I have to care for my 8 month old daughter and my 4 year old son. While on the highway in the busy lanes of california, my seatbelt clips off the latch. At this point we're about 2 hours away from home, and there's heavy traffic. I try multiple…Owner complaint, filed 2019

The seat belts in the 3rd row lock and do not release. My son was just stuck in the car and it took almost an hour for us to get him out because of the seatbelt. It kept tightening when we tried to get it off and wouldn't release. The vehicle was parked and turned off.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 45,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that after retrieving the vehicle from the local dealer after a routine oil change, the contact became aware that the driver’s side front door had to remain opened for the driver’s side rear door to be opened. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a piece near the…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 80,000 miles

Changed my motor oil on april 1 ,2016 , I found a cracked cross member during the oil change , I contacted general and vandergriff chevorletOwner complaint, filed 2018, at 40,683 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Making loud sounds when turning wheel and in motion I've only had this car for 4 months bought of dealership and it has more than 3 issues related to the power steerOwner complaint, filed 2021