2017 Chevrolet Traverse Problems & Complaints

Averageabout as many complaints as a typical year of the Traverse at the same age

Owners have filed 361 complaints about the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the Traverse at the same age. The most reported problem area is the air bags (263 complaints, typically around 38,000 miles). 3 recalls cover this model year.

361complaints
3recalls
13crashes
2fires
11injuries
1deaths

Most common 2017 Chevrolet Traverse problems

  • Air bags~38,000 miles
    26373%
  • Engine & cooling~39,000 miles
    257%
  • Electrical system~39,000 miles
    226%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~83,000 miles
    185%
  • Other / not specified~42,000 miles
    185%
  • Brakes~39,000 miles
    123%
  • Steering~42,000 miles
    113%
  • Seat belts~36,000 miles
    113%
  • Speed control & acceleration~22,000 miles
    103%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~83,000 miles
    92%
  • Wheels & tires~36,000 miles
    72%
  • Driver assistance
    51%
  • Stability & traction control~39,000 miles
    41%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~23,000 miles
    41%
  • Body & structure~15,000 miles
    31%
  • Suspension~44,000 miles
    31%
  • Lights~6,000 miles
    10%
  • Seats~15,000 miles
    10%

Share of the 361 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Chevrolet Traverse complaints by model year

’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26448669608354162548313292361464412234921009314118525
Owner complaints per model year, Chevrolet Traverse. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Traverse years: 2013, 2021, 2020. Years to avoid: 2025, 2024, 2011, 2023, 2010. Compare all years →

2017 Chevrolet Traverse recalls (3)

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 23V-334 · May 10, 2023 · 995,085 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025.

Air bags › Frontal

NHTSA recall 21V-782 · Oct 7, 2021 · 555 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022.

Air bags › Critical fasteners

NHTSA recall 21V-246 · Apr 8, 2021 · 108 vehicles

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.

What 2017 Chevrolet Traverse owners say

Air bags all 263 →

The driver door main window control panel and steering wheel, where the airbags seem to deploy from, have both had to be repaired/recalled parts installed on multiple occasions however the main window control panel still does not work and it started shorting out my battery ultimately locking my keys in the ignition, leaving OnStar as well as my key fob panic alarm unable to be used. After getting the steering wheel recalled airbag part installed at Penske Chevy, I received yet another recall notice saying that despite that install they still feared for my safety driving it, and that they would let me know when a new part was available. However now my battery is completely dead, I have not been m able to work and have been evicted from my home forced to live in my sweltering 2017 Traverse with no AC, No OnStar emergency services, not even a panic alarm to rely on. …

Aug 2025 · crash · fire · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The message "Service Air Bag" was displayed. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered to buy back the vehicle. The manufacturer later called the contact and informed her that they would not buy back the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 32,980. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

33,000 miles · Nov 2023

Engine & cooling all 25 →

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving between the 1500 - 2000 RPMs the engine would begin to feel as if it were misfiring. The vehicle would seem to hesitate and jerk whenever accelerating as if there was a delayed throttle response. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer twice at which time the spark plugs and boots had been replaced. Sometime after doing so, while driving approximately 35 MPH there was suddenly grinding noise coming from the front-end. After slowing down to approximately 20 MPH, in response to the grinding noise, the vehicle suddenly jerked then stalled. There were no warning lights. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

130,000 miles · Apr 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact had detected smoke coming from the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

180,000 miles · Jan 2023

Electrical system all 22 →

The driver door main window control panel and steering wheel, where the airbags seem to deploy from, have both had to be repaired/recalled parts installed on multiple occasions however the main window control panel still does not work and it started shorting out my battery ultimately locking my keys in the ignition, leaving OnStar as well as my key fob panic alarm unable to be used. After getting the steering wheel recalled airbag part installed at Penske Chevy, I received yet another recall notice saying that despite that install they still feared for my safety driving it, and that they would let me know when a new part was available. However now my battery is completely dead, I have not been m able to work and have been evicted from my home forced to live in my sweltering 2017 Traverse with no AC, No OnStar emergency services, not even a panic alarm to rely on. …

Aug 2025 · crash · fire · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera screen displayed a distorted image. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the front driver's side window failed to roll up or down occasionally while the power window switch was depressed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, the result of the diagnostic test was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

60,000 miles · Apr 2026

2017 Chevrolet Traverse engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
3.6L 6-cyl6-speed automaticFWD15 / 22 / 18
3.6L 6-cyl6-speed automaticAWD15 / 22 / 17

EPA ratings. Class: SUV.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse a good car?

Based on 361 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Traverse rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Traverse at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse?

The air bags — 263 complaints, 73% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the engine & cooling (25) and electrical system (22).

How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse have?

There are 3 recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse, the most recent from May 10, 2023 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Traverse?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2021 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2024, 2011, 2023 and 2010. See the full Chevrolet Traverse years comparison.

At what mileage do 2017 Chevrolet Traverse problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 38,000 miles; 72% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

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.