2016 Chevrolet Traverse Recalls, Problems & MPG

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 292 owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The EPA rates it 17 to 18 MPG combined, depending on engine and drivetrain.

Recalls
5
Owner complaints
292
Crashes / fires reported
8 / 1
EPA combined
17–18 MPG

2016 Chevrolet Traverse recalls

  • Air BagsMay 10, 2023 · NHTSA 23V334000+

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: 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.

    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.

  • Air BagsOct 7, 2021 · NHTSA 21V782000+

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: 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.

    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.

  • Air BagsApr 8, 2021 · NHTSA 21V246000+

    Risk: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: 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.

    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.

  • SeatsDec 11, 2015 · NHTSA 15V833000+

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: 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.

    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.

  • VisibilitySep 29, 2015 · NHTSA 15V609000+

    Risk: A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.

    Fix: 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, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15780.

    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.

Recall repairs are free. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours still needs one.

Most reported 2016 Chevrolet Traverse problems

Owner complaints to NHTSA by system. One complaint can name more than one system.

  • Air Bags163
  • Power Train37
  • Engine31
  • Electrical System26
  • Steering24
  • Vehicle Speed Control19
  • Unknown or Other18
  • Electronic Stability Control (ESC)15

2016 Chevrolet Traverse gas mileage

EPA ratings for each version (city / highway / combined).

VersionEngineCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Traverse FWD3.6 L 6 cyl, Automatic 6-spd152218$3,550
Traverse AWD3.6 L 6 cyl, Automatic 6-spd152217$3,800

Real-world mileage depends on how and where you drive. Logbay compares your actual MPG with these EPA numbers.

Questions

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, most recently for the air bags (May 10, 2023). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Traverse problems?

Owners filed 292 complaints with NHTSA. The most reported areas are air bags (163), power train (37), engine (31).

What gas mileage does the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse at 17 to 18 MPG combined (best version: 15 city / 22 highway).

Sources: NHTSA recalls and owner complaints (api.nhtsa.gov), EPA fuel economy (fueleconomy.gov). Updated Oct 26, 2026. Complaint counts are unverified owner reports.