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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2026 Chevrolet Traverse

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 24 safety complaints about the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 2 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering equipment.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 7 complaints, 29% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers November 2025 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

24 complaints on file

24

Complaints

2

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

2

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 · 29%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5 · 21%
ENGINE 4 · 17%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 · 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 · 17%
POWER TRAIN 3 · 13%
LANE DEPARTURE 2 · 8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 8%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 8%
AIR BAGS 1 · 4%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 · 4%
STEERING 1 · 4%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 24.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 19.

20 15 10 5
25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2025 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2026 Chevrolet TRAVERSE, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV N/A AWD SUV N/A FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 18.5% 17.4%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

1 on file

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

26V114000 · February 26, 2026

The defect
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
The risk
Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.

General Motors, LLC · up to 5,861 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Electronic Brake Module Component Failure

EA26006

Still open engineering analysis · opened August 21, 2026

the brakes

On April 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24011 after receiving complaints concerning a loss of brake assist in 2023 MY Cadillac Lyriq vehicles. These complaints allege a hard brake pedal, followed by a “Brake System Failure” message at start up or while driving. GM shared records regarding several internal investigations for loss of brake assist due to alleged spindle fractures in the eBoost system. GM has stated that in the event of a spindle fracture, anti-lock brakes (ABS), stability control, and traction control remain functional until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. At this point, ABS, brake assist, stability control, and traction control functions are lost. The loss of these functions causes the vehicle to set one of three Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) based on failed performance criteria for the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM). These DTCs, in turn, activate several driver alerts: an audible chime, a visual “Service Brake System” message in the display, and multiple illuminated Malfunction Indicator Lights (MILs) for the ABS, Traction Control, and Brakes informing the driver of loss of functionality. The vehicle speed will also be limited to 70 KPH (43 MPH). Since opening PE24011, ODI has continued to receive reports of loss of brake assist. Some of these reports describe symptoms inconsistent with GM’s description of a spindle failure. These reports allege an immediate loss of brake assist functionality as opposed to the loss occurring after the vehicle comes to a complete stop. The sudden loss of brake assist during a braking event could result in extended braking distance, which increases the risk of a crash or injury. ODI believes further analysis is necessary to assess the potential for failures in GM’s eBoost system to resulting in safety-related outcomes. At this time, ODI is aware of the following vehicles that are equipped with this eBoost system: 2023-2026 MY Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon; 2024-2026 MY Buick Enclave, Envision; Chevrolet Blazer EV, Equinox EV, Traverse; Cruise Origin; and GMC Acadia; 2025-2026 MY Cadillac Celestiq and Optiq. ODI is also aware of 2024-2026 MY Acura ZDX and 2024-2026 MY Honda Prologue vehicles that were built with this system. The Acura and Honda vehicles were manufactured by GM in a joint venture with Honda, and will be included in the Engineering Analysis as peer vehicles. ODI is opening this Engineering Analysis to further assess the safety-related consequences of a failed eBoost system. In addition, ODI is expanding the scope of the investigation to encompass all GM vehicles that share this eBoost system. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured · crash

What is causing the problem is unknown. Vehicle was at a complete stop at red light when releasing brake vehicle lunged forward hitting vehicle in front from behind so yes there has been an accident.. 2nd time was when first starting vehicle in the morning and putting vehicle in Drive when brake is released vehicle lunged forward at 7 miles an hour without touching the gas pedal. Dealer claims they cannot reproduce problem. This is a safety hazard the problem does not give you warning it just lurches forward.

NHTSA complaint 11731931. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured

On August 25, 2026, my 2026 Chevrolet Traverse experienced a severe safety failure involving the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system. While moving slowly forward in a drive-thru lane with no obstacles in front of the vehicle, the car's automated systems unexpectedly and violently slammed on the brakes.The vehicle brought itself to an immediate, harsh stop without any actual hazard present. The sudden, uncommanded application of maximum braking force caused severe physical jolting, resulting in a whiplash injury to my neck.This unexpected braking event creates an immediate crash hazard for vehicles behind me and poses a severe risk of physical injury due to violent, unprompted stops.

NHTSA complaint 11759614, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash

On Monday, December 15, 2025, I was "creeping" into my garage when the brakes failed and I ran into my garage wall damaging my wall and the front of the vehicle. On Tuesday, December 16 ,2025, while slowly pulling into a parking spot at Sam's Club in OKC, the brakes again failed, and the forward crash system prevented running into another vehicle. On that same date while stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the brakes again failed, and I was able to pull into the median rather than hitting the car in front of me. That same evening, while backing out of a parking spot at a restaurant, the brakes failed in reverse and again the vehicle reverse crash avoidance system stopped without hitting

NHTSA complaint 11706269, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The blind spot warning sensor goes off at random. Making the driver not know if an object is close to the vehicle. This is very dangerous as a driver because you can get used to it going off and getting comfortable with nothing being in your blindspot, even with the warning light on. What happens when there actually is something in your blindspot? As you can see in the picture below, there is nothing in the mirror and the blindspot warning light is on. It has been this was since it came off the lot at the dealership. We have been told there is no fix for it. We would like to see a recall for this particular sensor before it becomes a problem.

NHTSA complaint 11763462. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Shark fin antenna is loose and poorly attached, flew off after only having the car a few months. Seems this is a wide spread issue amongst Chevy owners

NHTSA complaint 11763246. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3,000 miles

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle jerked and bucked. The contact stated that the safety features were inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the cause of the failure was not determined. The contact was informed that an unknown sensor had been replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was then inspected by a manufacturer’s engineer. The vehicle was not diagnosed

NHTSA complaint 11761416, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle fan blower speed changes by itself. Second issue - at times with Apple Car Play, vehicle will state audio unavailable and steering wheel audio control and GPS notifications will not work. Lastly, issue with not being able to use iphone apps, for example, Safari, when phone is connected to vehicle (this has occured since the most recent update). Other iphone apps will work once phone is disconnected. Vehicle has been taken to dealership but not reproduced. Pictures and videos were provided to dealership.

NHTSA complaint 11754856. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On start-up, intermittently the center display freezes, the HVAC system defaults to 76 degrees with the a/c and defrost stuck on with the blower on high. No driver input possible through the center display. Condition may clear by itself or not even through several shut downs. Numerous DTC's set. Always a CEL. For me, 2x dealer (repairs). They reprogram controllers. Condition not corrected. Possible HMI and/or HVAC controller hardware problem. Dealer doesn't know how to fix. Casual internet search indicates many identical complaints. Concern is, HVAC control is a basic function that should function correctly. Driving in the winter with no heat and a fogged windshield is a safety issue. GM is

NHTSA complaint 11754112, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Traverse

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 179 0 —
2024 137 0 —
2023 89 2 —
2022 98 1 —
2021 89 3 —
2020 229 8 —
2019 407 3 —
2018 461 2 —
2017 361 3 1
2016 292 5 1
2015 313 5 —
2014 547 7 —
2013 162 4 —
2012 354 5 —
2011 608 5 1
2010 669 5 —

Other 2026 Chevrolet models

Silverado 1500 103 Equinox 71 Tahoe 26 Suburban 1500 15 Colorado 14 Equinox EV 11 Trailblazer 9 Silverado 2500 8

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst