Problem Lookup âș Chevrolet âș Traverse âș 2021
Car problem report
2021 Chevrolet Traverse problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 3safety recalls
- 92owner complaints
- 4crash reports
- 1fire report
- 6injuries reported
92 complaints, against an average of 263 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 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?
The components named most often in the 92 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2021 Chevrolet Traverse owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 92 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse stall, lose power or shut off while driving?12 owners · 13%
- Does the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse have emissions system or DPF problems?5 owners · 5.4%
- Why does my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?4 owners · 4.3%
- Why does the battery keep dying on my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?4 owners · 4.3%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?3 owners · 3.3%
- Why does the infotainment screen freeze, reboot or go black in my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?3 owners · 3.3%
- Why does the seat belt not latch or retract properly in my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?3 owners · 3.3%
Has the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse been recalled?
3 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
Risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 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 N212352140.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Traverse wheelchair accessible vehicles with Power In-floor Ramp conversion. The screw and clip that hold the inner wheel-well plastic shroud in place may chafe against the transmission case, possibly resulting in a transmission fluid leak.
Risk: A transmission fluid leak can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, a leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the screw and clip, and inspect for signs of contact with the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.
Air Bags: Sensor: Frontal Impact General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the air bag calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 29, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N212340220.
What do 2021 Chevrolet Traverse owners report?
12 of the 92 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.
When I accelerate at a stoplight the car shuddered and slammed into gear then it shop the rpms up to 8000 and back down i was barely able to make it home and when I arrived at home I tried to park and it would not go into reverse tostraighten my vehicle. I had it towed to a shop the next morning and they informed me I needed a new transmission that would cost $12400.00 to repair. This is a car that is only 5 years old and this is a catastrophic failure that I can't afford to fix and in a car that is 5 years old.
I went in for service at Chey 112 in Medford, NY they advised me that my computer needed to be replaced they replaced the computer and I started having transmission issues.
The welding that holds the exhaust together has failed. They offer a Special Warranty to cover only the passenger side, however it has failed and exhaust is super loud. Also reading 4 codes from check engine alert. All are P0420 (cat convertor). The smell of exhaust and cat convertor is super disgusting
The contact owned a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an inspection, where a leaking oil pan gasket was diagnosed. The contact stated that the failure had also occurred on a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse he owned. Although the vehicle had been taken to the dealer two months prior, the dealer did not find the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,400.
Check engine light came on and I noticed that the cooling fan would continue running for several minutes even after turning vehicle off. Had a mechanic run the diagnostics and the code came back as a thermostat/cooling issue. Although when I called to make an appointment and told him the issue and that it was a 2021 Traverse, he knew exactly what the issue was. He said that is a very common issue in all 2021 Chevy/GM engines. Online research provided a couple special coverages for repairs on 7 different GM vehicles from that same time period. Of course, the Traverse is one that is notâŠ
Alternator fail before 60,000 miles. Had the car almost 3 years and children in it. Apparently a known common issue yet no recall itâs not a reliable car
While driving, the steering wheel became very hard to control. A system warning came up on the dashboard screen stating that the steering wheel was not working. With an 18-wheeler coming up behind me the decision to pull over was made. The left hand turn into an auto part store was made with much difficulty and so was trying to park. Gentleman inside inspected the vehicle and highly recommended NOT driving the vehicle since it was a safety issue not only for myself but others as well.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? My wife and daughter were both involved in a car accident. My wife was driving the speed limit (30-35 mph) when a car traveling in the opposite direction turned left into her lane, cutting her off, and causing a collision of the two vehicles. The front driver side of the Traverse contacted the other driver's passenger side. Upon collision, none of the airbags deployed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My wife hit herâŠ
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 49,000. It was later discovered, after checking the Carfax report, that the mileage was 75,000.
Right Rear upper and lower toe links broke nearly causing a serious accident when brakes were applied, vehicle pulled severely to the right causing it to swerve and narrowly missing another vehicle. The toe link failure on my vehicle which has only 29702 miles put my life and the life of my family members at risk. The vehicle was brought to our local licensed repair shop in Massapequa, NY where the prblem was diagnosed and repaired. No warning lights or symptoms occurred prior to this first incident. I researched this safety item for any recalls on this issue, however there are none currenltyâŠ
While going around 40mph I approached a stopped vehicle and tried to come to a stop. At this time my braking system failed, speeding the car up instead of slowing it down, this resulted in my car rear ending another vehicle. When the car accident occurred my steering wheel air bag came out but did not inflate. There were no warning lamps or messages at the time of the crash. Due to the laws in Mississippi it was declared I was at fault and the insurance company will not inspect or cover the damages.
2021 Chevy Traverse went out in September, it would shutter causing take off to jerk so hard and cause traffic to stall, hurting passengers necks, and almost causing accidents
2021 Chevrolet Traverse: questions owners ask
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse; the most common categories were electrical system (22, 23.9%), power train (16, 17.4%), engine (11, 12%). There are 3 safety recalls. 4 complaints mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 6 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?
Across 92 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (23.9% of complaints), power train (17.4% of complaints), engine (12% of complaints), service brakes (9.8% of complaints), engine and engine cooling (7.6% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse; the most recent (campaign 22V210000, 2022-03-31) concerns Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
12 of the 92 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse (13%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Received a "Service Battery Charging System" dash warning message driving down the highway. Made it home and changed the battery but the issue persists and I can't drive the car." (NHTSA complaint 11691507, October 2025). 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.
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse have emissions system or DPF problems?
5 of the 92 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse (5.4%) describe emissions faults such as DPF, EGR, catalytic converter, AdBlue/DEF or NOx sensor problems. One owner wrote: "Both exhaust pipes before the catalytic converter are cracked and leaking at the same welded mounting bracket. One of them GM is coving under the extended warranty but the other one also needs replaced the turn off the engine warning light." (NHTSA complaint 11721747, March 2026). 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 2021 Chevrolet Traverse transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?
4 of the 92 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse (4.3%) describe harsh, jerky or delayed transmission shifting or shuddering. One owner wrote: "When I accelerate at a stoplight the car shuddered and slammed into gear then it shop the rpms up to 8000 and back down i was barely able to make it home and when I arrived at home I tried to park and it would not go into reverse tostraighten my vehicle." (NHTSA complaint 11770889, October 2026). 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 the battery keep dying on my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?
4 of the 92 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse (4.3%) describe a dead or draining battery. One owner wrote: "The vehicle does not recognize when the vehicle is shifted to park. It states âshift to parkâ when the vehicle is already shifted to park." (NHTSA complaint 11653342, April 2025). 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 check engine light on in my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?
3 of the 92 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse (3.3%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Check engine light came on and I noticed that the cooling fan would continue running for several minutes even after turning vehicle off. Had a mechanic run the diagnostics and the code came back as a thermostat/cooling issue." (NHTSA complaint 11737628, May 2026). 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 the infotainment screen freeze, reboot or go black in my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?
3 of the 92 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse (3.3%) describe the infotainment or touch screen freezing, rebooting or going black. One owner wrote: "Radio went blank unable to access screen. Not sure reason. Upon start up couldnât access any parts of radio. Couldnât reset and issue still current as of today." (NHTSA complaint 11690062, September 2025). 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 the seat belt not latch or retract properly in my 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?
3 of the 92 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse (3.3%) describe seat belts not latching, retracting or locking. One owner wrote: "My front passenger seat belt has started to not latch. I have to push the button and insert the seatbelt in order for it to latch. Sometimes it will release on itâs own." (NHTSA complaint 11631717, December 2024). 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 2021 only.