Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Chevrolet Traverse owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Side airbags deployed when we slid off the road. No impact not even a scratch or dent on the vehicle. We did not hit anything but only slid sideways off the road. The insurance company inspected the vehicle nothing but the airbags were damaged. No other warnings.
For several years now, when someone sits on the front passenger seat, the airbag light will intermittently come on. It also comes on if the person gets out of the seat. I took the vehicle to a dealership and they charged me over $100 to diagnose, and said the cable was loose and they fixed it. The next day it started doing this same thing again, but it doesn't happen when the dealer looks at the vehicle to replicate and fix the issue.
The airbag light on the dash keeps coming off and on randomly. Stays on for a period of time or goes off after a couple seconds. Also for electrical, I was driving down Hwy and the vehicle died and turned back on within 5 seconds. Had to jiggle battery cables for it to come back on. I had two small children in the vehicle and I don't feel it's safe to drive any longer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle was hit by another vehicle coming from the opposite direction as it was making a turn into a parking lot. The contact was injured but not transported by ambulance to a hospital she went to the doctor the same day day. A police report was filed the vehicle was totaled and towed away to a salvage lot. The frontal air bags did not deploy during the crash.the failure mileage was 103,000. Tf
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving at an unknown speed attempting to make a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained unknown injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
Driving east in the far left lane when another vehicle, Ford taurus, entered the lane causing a head on collision. I was traveling within the speed limits. I have injuries and reinjured parts of my body. October 26 2020.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic light, another vehicle crashed into the rear of his vehicle and as a result of the impact his vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle in front. The contact also mentioned the vehicle in the rear crashed into the truck next to it, causing it to crash into the contacts front driver side door. The airbags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The contact suffered multiple injuries and was hospitalized. The contact was aware of recall NHTSA campaign number: 14V118000 (air bags).the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was not available.
1. Stopped at red light in 2010 Chevrolet Traverse SUV and rear ended by a Nissan frontier pick up truck traveling at a high rate of speed. Driver's seat belt on but driver's head thrown against windshield and then driver's body slammed against the back of the driver's seat which was forced back to a reclining position. Airbag did not deploy. 2. Seat belt failed to prevent driver's head from hitting windshield if it is supposed to in this type of collision. Did the seat back act properly in such a collision? Was the airbag supposed to deploy in this type of collision. 3. In body shop to repair to pre-accident condition..
Vehicle has 140,000 miles on it and my air bag light as well as "service air bag" showing up in my indicator is on constant. My mechanic is stating this falls under an existing recall #15536, but yet my VIN is not part of that specific recall so the dealership I purchased my vehicle wants to charge me to repair this. My mechanic states the connector under the driver's seat is the issue. This light initially started as just flashing on occasion, now it is on solid, never goes off. I have never had an accident in my vehicle. No reason as to why this would all of a sudden become an issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be inspected. The contact was informed that the passenger side air bag module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V118000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,999.
Related recalls
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.
Remedy: 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.
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…
Remedy: 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.
Airbag complaints in other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the air bags of the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse, 4% of the model year's 669 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Chevrolet Traverse airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-246 (critical fasteners, Apr 8, 2021); NHTSA recall 14V-118 (side/window, Mar 17, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Traverse airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.