2016 Chevrolet Traverse
Common problems & what to know before you buy
Before you message the seller, know the documented failure patterns, repair cost exposure, and risk level for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse.
Recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
Visibility: motor
Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.
Seats
The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds that are not in the correction location.
Air bags: frontal
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
2 more in the guide, with whether each one was done on the car you're looking at.
Source: NHTSA
What 292 owners reported
Source: NHTSA
2016 Chevrolet Traverse at a glance
- Trims
- LSLTLTZ
- Engine
- 3.6L 6-Cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic 6-spd
- Drivetrain
- AWD, FWD
- Fuel
- Gasoline
- Body style
- SUV
About the 1st Gen
The 2009-2017 Chevrolet Traverse is the first generation of Chevrolet's large three-row crossover, built on the Lambda platform shared with the GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, and the discontinued Saturn Outlook. It is powered by the 3.6-liter V6, the LLT at launch and the revised LFX from 2013, paired with a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard with all-wheel drive optional. Seating is for seven or eight across three rows, with cargo space among the largest in the unibody class.
The Traverse was designed to offer the interior volume of a full-size SUV without the fuel consumption or ride penalty of a body-on-frame chassis, and its third row is genuinely adult-sized. A facelift for 2013 revised the front-end styling and interior. The second generation that arrived in 2018 moved to the newer C1XX platform.
As a used buy, this generation delivers exceptional space for the money but has several well-documented mechanical concerns. Timing chain stretch on the early LLT engine is the most significant, producing a rattle at start-up and eventually a check-engine light, and the repair is labor-intensive. The six-speed automatic is associated with wave plate failure that causes a loss of drive. Power steering pump and rack failures are also common. Post-2013 vehicles with the LFX engine avoid the worst of the timing chain issue and are the safer purchase.
Other Chevrolet Traverse years
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Frequently asked questions
What are the common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse?
Owners have filed 292 complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. There are 5 recall campaigns covering this model year. Squeezed's free research-backed buyer guide cross-references these against documented failure patterns and mileage-stage risks, sorted by severity, in about a minute.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
Reliability depends heavily on the specific configuration and how the car was maintained. Start with the 5 open recall campaigns on this model year and confirm the work was completed. Generate a Squeezed buyer guide for this exact vehicle to see a reliability snapshot, repair-cost exposure, and the questions to ask the seller before you buy.
Should I still get a pre-purchase inspection on a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse?
Always. A Squeezed buyer guide is the triage step before the inspection: it shows you the documented failure patterns and what to check so you can decide which 2016 Chevrolet Traverse listings are even worth a mechanic's time, then walk into the PPI knowing exactly what to look for.
Squeezed is a buyer guide based on public data and industry patterns, not a mechanical inspection. Always get a professional pre-purchase inspection before you buy.