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2012 Chevrolet Traverse problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 5safety recalls
- 354owner complaints
- 10crash reports
- 2fire reports
- 14injuries reported
354 complaints, against an average of 244 for the other 14 Chevrolet Traverse model years.
Every Chevrolet Traverse model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
The components named most often in the 354 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2012 Chevrolet Traverse owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 354 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?53 owners · 15%
- Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?44 owners · 12.4%
- Why does my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse stall, lose power or shut off while driving?43 owners · 12.1%
- What causes a knocking, ticking or rattling noise in the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse engine?29 owners · 8.2%
- Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?28 owners · 7.9% · Recall 21V246000
- Has the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse had engine failures?15 owners · 4.2%
- Why does my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse idle rough, misfire or hesitate?12 owners · 3.4%
Has the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse been recalled?
5 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Air Bags: Critical Fasteners 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.
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.
Structure: Body: Hatchback/Liftgate General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.
Risk: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.
Seat Belts General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.
Risk: If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.
Air Bags: Side/Window General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.
Risk: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.
Visibility: Windshield Wiper/Washer: Linkages GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SNOW OR ICE BUILDUP ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPER MAY RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, CAUSING THE WIPER ARM TO LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE WIPER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM NUTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012.
What do 2012 Chevrolet Traverse owners report?
12 of the 354 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
It sways left to right really bad.. but when it rains or even even the car detected that it's going to rain.. as soon as the car senses it is going to rain u can't even drive it.. it like hydro plains even before it starts to officially rain.. very dangerous plus I had to replace the two back tires because they seemed like they were being forced and drug that all u seen was wires coming out of the tread
White smoke was coming out the car and my car eventually sat on fire. I had to call the fire department.. fire department stated that it was a electrical issue
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle stopped abruptly. The check engine, traction control, stability control, and air conditioner warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined the failure was due to the throttle body. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The throttle body was…
After sliding into a ditch, my drivers side, curtain airbag deployed but, instead of covering the drivers side door window, it came out and went across my face, hitting me on the right side of my head, slamming my head into the drivers side window glass and pinning me between the airbag and the window glass, obviously putting my safety at risk. I am currently being treated for neck injuries as a result of this airbag malfunction. The problem has not been reproduced/confirmed by dealer/independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone. Photos of the vehicle including the…
When driving the vehicle it will lose power and flash service stabilitrack and low engine mode enabled without warning. This has happened many times since 2016. When the conditions cannot be replicated gm/chevrolet has not been concerned but to refer to dealership. The dealership replaced ECM due to warranty conditions. Issue with emissions and electrical modules continued to cause intermittent power loss. Corrosion was found in the internal fuse box due to poor sun roof drainage emptying into glovebox and onto internal fuse box. GM and Chevrolet describes this as a known issue but insists my…
The air conditioning stopped working after working amazing, Traction Control Disabled light keeps coming on, The RPM's would rev up seems like it gets stuck then drops to normal. stabilitrak messages with the ABS warning light lit up, Power steering (or power control) goes limp (at the worse times pulling out in traffic) It’s on issue after the other. Once I get one fixed another goes, then we’re back to the first one that was replaced that is now not working again. I still have a car payment so I’m without my car more than I’m driving it. I have to save up to get it fixed, and I won’t drive…
Traveling at 70 MPH on a highway Traction control/stabilitrac and engine turn on and acceleration stopped, car wont accelerate causing to cars behind me to start swirling around due to my car lost of acceleration, then pulled over to the shoulder thankfully with no accidents, then turn off car and turn on again and car worked normally for about 100 miles and it did it again.
The rear Sun/Moon Roof on my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ (FWD) exploded while driving on the highway in Houston, Texas on [XXX]. There were no known scratches, dents or damage to the window prior to it self-destructing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Airbags deployed unexpectedly while I was driving on the freeway.
I was driving down the freeway at about 67 MPH when the message "Traction Control Disabled" came on my display & the car immediately went into "limp mode"! By some miracle I was able to muscle the car out of the slow lane, onto the shoulder as I lost my power steering once in limp mode. I waited a few minutes, car started up just fine, so I shrugged it off. Fast forward 1 week later & the same thing happened to me on my way home on a curvy mountain road. The power steering was again non-existent & luckily, there was no one behind me, nor did anyone come around the corner & hit my disabled car…
crus traction control problem raking pinion. problems
WHILE DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY WITH MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN THE POWER WENT INTO REDUCE ENGINE MODE AND THE ERROR MESSAGE STABILITY TREK AND TRACTION CONTROL KEPT BLINKING THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 4 OCCASIONS NOW I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY CHILDREN. I HAVE GOTTEN IT LOOKED AT NOW THE 4TH TIME IT HAS COST ME OVER 2 GRAND SO FAR NOW MY MECHANIC SAYING IT'S MY FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENSOR THIS IS COSTING ME ANOTHER GRAND. IF I COULD AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE I WOULD TRADE THIS TRUCK IN. VERY UNHAPPY AND SCARED WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 CHEVY TRAVERSE LTZ
2012 Chevrolet Traverse: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 354 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse; the most common categories were engine (115, 32.5%), electronic stability control (esc) (84, 23.7%), steering (62, 17.5%). There are 5 safety recalls. 10 complaints mention a crash, 2 mention a fire, 14 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
Across 354 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (32.5% of complaints), electronic stability control (esc) (23.7% of complaints), steering (17.5% of complaints), air bags (13.6% of complaints), electrical system (13.6% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse; the most recent (campaign 21V246000, 2021-04-08) concerns Air Bags: Critical Fasteners. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
53 of the 354 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse (15%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Dash is throwing different codes such as service and check traction control, stabilitrack, air bag, and at times while driving it will say reduced engine power and my foot would be on gas not wanting to barely move. one time i almost got hit." (NHTSA complaint 11414663, April 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
44 of the 354 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse (12.4%) describe ABS, traction or stability control warnings or faults. One owner wrote: "After driving about 500yards , speed not a factor, my abs light and traction control light come on when i put code reader in obd port it shows no codes. shut the vehicle off for few moments." (NHTSA complaint 11337275, July 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
43 of the 354 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse (12.1%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "This car keeps shutting off due to a faulty engine switch it is unsafe as the car will just shut off while on the highway or just driving" (NHTSA complaint 11414054, April 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
What causes a knocking, ticking or rattling noise in the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse engine?
29 of the 354 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse (8.2%) describe a knocking, ticking or rattling engine noise. One owner wrote: "Check engine light came on had the codes checked and i had the engine taken apart twice because the timing chain had jumped causing it to run rough and light came back had to do again and it was fine for a few months but mechanic said the engine is the same…" (NHTSA complaint 11407749, April 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
28 of the 354 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse (7.9%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. 2 related recalls exist: campaign 21V246000 (air bags: critical fasteners). The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. One owner wrote: "The airbag connector piece under the passenger seat comes apart triggering. airbag light on. dealer charges over $100 for a problem that keeps happening. this issue is also listed on every forum so t's a common issue." (NHTSA complaint 11408320, April 2021). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse had engine failures?
15 of the 354 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse (4.2%) describe complete engine failure or a replaced engine. One owner wrote: "2012 chevy traverse had complete engine failure with no warning signs while driving. the car repair shop said it needs a complete new engine. they said it looks as if something in the engine failed and stoped pumping the oil through." (NHTSA complaint 11365472, October 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2012 Chevrolet Traverse idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
12 of the 354 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse (3.4%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "I was driving to the store and my car dinged and a message saying something like service stabilitrack flashed. The car slowed and I pulled over and turned off the car." (NHTSA complaint 11430066, August 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Traverse
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only.