Traverse (2nd)

This page covers 2018-2025 as one generation, but Chevrolet redesigned the Traverse for the 2024 model year on GM's new midsize platform, the same architecture that brought the Acadia 3rd gen to market with the LK0 2.5L turbo as the sole engine. The pre-redesign 2018-2023 Traverse used GM's LFY 3.6L V6 on the C1XX platform shared with Acadia 2nd gen, Buick Enclave, and Cadillac XT5/XT6. Across 2018-2025, the Traverse accumulates 1,699 NHTSA complaints, 13 recalls, 51 crashes, 7 fires, 58 injuries, and 0 deaths. The recall record is comparatively clean for a high-volume GM midsize SUV.

The LFY 3.6L V6 (primary engine through the 2023 production line) carries 1,342 of 1,699 complaints, or 79%, at 222.8 complaints per year. Transmission complaints lead the file at 475 (35% of LFY entries), reflecting the GM 9-speed automatic the LFY paired with. Engine complaints follow at 304, electrical at 295, "other" at 203, brakes at 95, and fuel system at 92. The LFY accounts for 6 of the 7 fires across the file. The complaint distribution is mixed across categories rather than dominated by any single failure mode.

The LK0 2.5L turbo (2024-2025, post-redesign engine) carries 311 complaints at 155.5 complaints per year. The complaint distribution is dramatically brake-heavy: 173 of 311 complaints (56%) target brake systems, with safety systems at 90 and electrical at 72 rounding out the top three. The brake-dominant pattern parallels the Acadia 3rd-gen LK0 file, which had 65 of 127 brake-related complaints across two model years. The brake issues appear to be a platform-wide phenomenon on the new GM midsize architecture rather than a Traverse-specific defect. Two recent recalls hit the LK0 era: 23V042 (half-shaft missing retaining ring on 2023 Blazer plus Traverse) and 23V172 (transmission build defect on 2023 Cadillac XT6 plus GMC Acadia plus Chevy Blazer plus Traverse plus 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5).

The recall log is the cleaner side of this file. Only 13 campaigns covered the 8-year window, most of them multi-brand sweeps reflecting GM shared-supplier defects rather than Traverse-specific problems. 21V246 covers side curtain air bags across an unusual span of 2010-2019 Traverse and 2010-2017 Enclave plus 2011-2016 Acadia, a multi-generation sweep. 20V668 covers a multi-brand powertrain issue across 2018-2020 Traverse, Equinox, Terrain, and others. 19V643 covers a cracked right-hand frame rail in the engine compartment on 2020 Enclave plus Traverse. 21V472 is a recall for incorrectly performed dealer service on side air bag covers, similar in family to the Expedition's "incorrectly repaired" pattern but isolated to a single campaign.

For shoppers, the Traverse has drawn about as many powertrain complaints as a typical midsize SUV of the same age, and the 2.5L turbo about 80% more than the 3.6L V6 per vehicle built. The 2024-2025 redesigned Traverse with the LK0 2.5T is a separate buying decision still building field data; the brake-dominant complaint profile is worth verifying against current recall status before buying. Cross-shop the Toyota Grand Highlander (hybrid powertrain available, cleaner segment record), Honda Pilot, and Mazda CX-90. Within GM, the Acadia carries the same platform exposure on both generations and is not a meaningful alternative.