Chevrolet Traverse Best and Worst Years

Counting owner complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse drew the most (139; most-reported area: powertrain) and the 2021 the fewest (23).

Data: US EPA and NHTSAUpdated Sep 27, 2026

Every model year since 2016 in one place: EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints and crash test ratings. The best fuel economy rating, 23 mpg combined, arrived in 2024. Includes the 2024 Traverse Limited, the previous generation sold alongside the new Traverse.

Best and worst years, by owner complaints

Model years ranked by owner complaints filed with NHTSA in their first three years (model year Y: filed by the end of Y+2), so every year is measured over the same time on the road. Years without three full years of data, and launch or final years with very few sold, are left out. Counts are not adjusted for how many were sold.

Model year	First 3 years	All complaints	Recalls
2018 Traverse Most reported: powertrain	139	461	2
2019 Traverse Most reported: powertrain	75	405	3
2023 Traverse Most reported: powertrain	60	89	2
2016 Traverse Most reported: air bags	49	292	5
2017 Traverse Most reported: air bags	45	361	3
2022 Traverse Most reported: powertrain	44	98	1
2020 Traverse Most reported: engine	35	228	8
2021 Traverse Most reported: electrical system	23	89	3

Year by year

Model year	Best rating	Recalls	Complaints	Crash test
2026 MPG · Recalls and problems	22 mpg Gas	1	24
2025 MPG · Recalls and problems	23 mpg Gas	0	177
2024 MPG · Recalls and problems	23 mpg Gas	0	136	4 to 5 stars
2023 MPG · Recalls and problems	21 mpg Gas	2	89	4 to 5 stars
2022 MPG · Recalls and problems	21 mpg Gas	1	98	4 to 5 stars
2021 MPG · Recalls and problems	21 mpg Gas	3	89
2020 MPG · Recalls and problems	21 mpg Gas	8	228
2019 MPG · Recalls and problems	22 mpg Gas	3	405
2018 MPG · Recalls and problems	22 mpg Gas	2	461
2017 MPG · Recalls and problems	18 mpg Gas	3	361
2016 MPG · Recalls and problems	18 mpg Gas	5	292

Owner complaints by model year

All complaints filed so far. Counts rise with sales volume and with time on the road, so recent years look better than they may turn out. The highlighted bar is the model year with the most complaints in its first three years.

2018: 461 complaints

Show as a table

Owner complaints by model year, Chevrolet Traverse
Model year	Complaints
2016	292
2017	361
2018	461
2019	405
2020	228
2021	89
2022	98
2023	89
2024	136
2025	177
2026	24

Best combined rating by model year

The best-rated version in each model year. Gas: 18 to 23 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2024.

2026: gas 22 mpg

Show as a table

Chevrolet Traverse best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version
2016	18
2017	18
2018	22
2019	22
2020	21
2021	21
2022	21
2023	21
2024	23
2025	23
2026	22

Questions

Which Chevrolet Traverse years have the most problems?

Counting owner complaints filed with NHTSA in each model year's first three years, the 2018 (139) drew the most, then the 2019 (75). Most-reported area for the 2018: powertrain.

Which Chevrolet Traverse years have the fewest problems?

The 2021 (23) drew the fewest complaints in its first three years. The 2024, 2025, and 2026 are not ranked yet: they have had fewer than three full years on the road.

Which Chevrolet Traverse years should you avoid?

Complaint counts can't tell you whether a particular car is sound, but they show where owners reported the most trouble: the 2018, against 47 complaints in a typical Chevrolet Traverse year. Whatever the year, check the car's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy. Safety recall repairs are free at Chevrolet dealers.

Which Chevrolet Traverse years have the most recalls?

The 2020 has the most safety recalls in NHTSA's file (8), then the 2016 (5). A recall can cover a problem that affects only a few cars, so open a year's page to see what each one covers. No recall for 2016 to 2026 models tells owners not to drive the car or to park it outside.

What are the most common Chevrolet Traverse problems?

Of the 2,360 owner complaints NHTSA lists for 2016 to 2026 models, the areas named most are powertrain (24%), air bags (19%), and electrical system (18%). One complaint can name more than one area. The recalls and problems page for each year breaks this down further.

Which Chevrolet Traverse year has the best MPG?

The best EPA fuel economy is 23 mpg combined, first reached by the 2024 gas version.

Sources and method

US EPA fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and owner complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings.

Complaint counts are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.