2016 Chevrolet Traverse Safety Report
2016 Chevrolet Traverse Safety and Reliability Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (5) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (289) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 9 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Air Bags | Compare air bags issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse with 77 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2018 | Check the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse before buying across this generation. |
Chevrolet Traverse Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Chevrolet Traverse years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Chevrolet Traverse | 349 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Chevrolet Traverse | 309 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Chevrolet Traverse | 427 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Chevrolet Traverse | 366 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Chevrolet Traverse | 198 | 8 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Chevrolet Traverse | 77 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Chevrolet Traverse Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Air Bags
154 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Chevrolet onlySteering
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Chevrolet onlyPower Train
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Chevrolet onlyElectrical System
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Chevrolet onlyUnknown Or Other
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Chevrolet onlyPower Train,Engine
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine issues Chevrolet onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
Reliability Score
The 2016 Chevrolet Traverse receives a reliability score of 8 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags Recalls for air bags affecting the driver side and front seats have been issued by GM. |
High | Common | 150k-200k miles |
| Steering Steering issues have been reported, potentially affecting vehicle control. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Power Train Transmission problems have been noted, leading to power loss and safety risks. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Electrical system issues have been reported, though less frequently. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse:
Air bags are the most common issue, with recalls affecting over 150,000 vehicles.
Steering issues are moderately common, affecting about 16% of vehicles.
Power train problems are moderately common, affecting about 15% of vehicles.
Electrical system issues are less common, affecting about 9% of vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
The following 5 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse by NHTSA:
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured November 6, 2015, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds that are not in the correction location.
Consequence: If the seat frame is not welded in the correct places, the seat may not perform as intended, and in the event of a crash, the seat occupant could be at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row left side lower seat frame, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 21930.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured August 18, 2015 to September 24, 2015. Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.
Consequence: A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover assembly, free of charge. Owners are advised not to use their front windshield wipers until the wiper cover has been replaced. If weather conditions prevent operation of the vehicle without using the windshield wipers, GM will make arrangements to pick up the vehicle for servicing. The recall began on September 30...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes.
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 a dealership in South Carolina. I explained to him that ...
The contact owned a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (AIR BAGS) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
the transmission lost power and almost caused an accident with the vehicle behind me
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and informed that parts were in the warehouse, but no assistance was provided. The contact had no...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was made aware of the issue and stated that parts were not yet available. The contact was informed that a call would be received when parts became available; however, the contact had not yet received a call. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a re...
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.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the vehicle was retrieved from a dealer after a recall regarding the air bags; however, while driving approximately 25 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact stated that the Stability Control warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle back to the dealer, and the dealer was u...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was ...
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.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experi...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not ex...
I had to replace the timing chain. I had to replace the Torque Converter. New issues: Interior lights on the dash and radio have been going out while driving. Message center warning has been not working sometimes when using remote start in winter. Sometimes it just goes blank while driving.
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 you replace the modules yourself then the dealer charges you a...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had no...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer wa...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution di...
My vehicle has had issues starting off and on with in the last year of having the vehicle. I replaced the battery and alternator. and now we think it's the neutral safety switch. I went to go check the recalls and I see that I had a recall on the front air bag module needs replaced too. I have not received anything in the mail by the dealership or calls.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number : 23V334000 (AIR BAGS) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not ex...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experi...
Showing 20 of 289 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
Has the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has 5 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE have?
The 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has 289 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 8 involved crashes. 15 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
The 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE involve air bags (154 complaints), steering (16 complaints), power train (15 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, unknown or other, power train,engine.
How many crash reports does the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE have?
There are 8 crash reports associated with the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE out of 289 total complaints (2.8% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE out of 289 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
15 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 289 complaints, 5 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE are: 1. AIR BAGS (154 complaints), 2. STEERING (16 complaints), 3. POWER TRAIN (15 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (9 complaints), 5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (9 complaints). AIR BAGS is the single most-reported problem area with 154 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
Ensure your 2016 Chevrolet Traverse is up to date with all recalls, especially those related to air bags and steering. The 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has 289 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
The 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE receives a reliability score of 8/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 289 owner complaints, 5 recalls, and 9 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Air bags and Steering.
What are the known issues with the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
Known issues with the 2016 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE include: Air bags, Steering, Power train, Electrical system. These are based on patterns found across 289 NHTSA complaints. 5 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for my 2016 Chevrolet Traverse?
Yes, there are recalls for air bags and steering issues. Check with GM for updates.
What are the most common issues with the power train?
Transmission problems are the most common, leading to power loss and safety risks.
Are there any electrical system issues I should be aware of?
Electrical system issues are less common but have been reported. Regular maintenance can help prevent them.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Ensure your 2016 Chevrolet Traverse is up to date with all recalls, especially those related to air bags and steering.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The data includes 289 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 5 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 8 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 15 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-14