Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 24% | 5,000 miles |
| 2025 | 118 | 64% | 13,000 miles |
| 2024 | 62 | 44% | 28,000 miles |
| 2023 | 12 | 13% | 26,000 miles |
| 2022 | 9 | 9% | 21,000 miles |
| 2021 | 9 | 10% | 1,000 miles |
| 2020 | 10 | 4% | 7,000 miles |
| 2019 | 22 | 5% | 11,000 miles |
| 2018 | 37 | 8% | 39,000 miles |
| 2017 | 12 | 3% | 39,000 miles |
| 2016 | 7 | 2% | 19,000 miles |
| 2015 | 7 | 2% | 14,000 miles |
| 2014 | 23 | 4% | 41,000 miles |
| 2013 | 5 | 3% | 51,000 miles |
| 2012 | 16 | 5% | 92,000 miles |
| 2011 | 31 | 5% | 65,000 miles |
| 2010 | 17 | 3% | 87,000 miles |
| 2009 | 13 | 3% | 92,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The contact stated that while making a right turn into the dealer to have the vehicle diagnosed, the brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed, and determined that the brake master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because parts were on back order. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 500.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact's wife stated that while driving 55 MPH, the electronic control system and brake system failure the vehicle decelerated and went into LIMP Mode. The brake pedal became spongy, and while driving, the vehicle coasted to a stop. The vehicle was shifted into park(P), turned off, restarted, and the vehicle operated normally. The failure had reoccurred twice. The contact scheduled an appointment with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 4,900.
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH through a green light, another vehicle failed to yield at 50 MPH for a red light due to being impaired, causing a collision in which the contact's vehicle was T-boned. No warning lights were illuminated before the crash. The front and side curtain air bags failed to deploy. The contact reported that no injuries were immediately sustained, and no medical attention was provided at the scene. However, the contact was later transported to a local emergency facility and diagnosed with a back injury. A police report was filed.. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the air bags, service brakes, and battery of the vehicle had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. …
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 30 MPH on an expressway, occupied with his wife in the vehicle, seated on the front passenger side, attempting to depress the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended, causing the front end of the vehicle to crash with the rear end of the vehicle in front. The contact mentioned that the brake pedal felt abnormally hard and excessive force was applied; however failed to bring the vehicle to a stop, causing the crash. The air bags did deploy. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, the vehicle was then towed to the insurance company. The contact stated she and her husband did not sustain any injuries. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000.
The contact's wife owns a 2024 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to respond. The driver engaged the parking brake; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The driver swerved to avoid the vehicle in front, drove over an incline, jerked the steering wheel, and the vehicle eventually stopped. The message "Braking Module System Failure" was displayed. The contact stated that the incident was frightening for his wife and his two children, who were also inside the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was acknowledged that the braking system module and the parking brake had failed; however, no official diagnostic information was provided. …
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving out of the dealer's parking lot at 4-5 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the messages "Service ESC System" and "Brake System Failure - Press Hard to Brake - Do Not Drive" were displayed, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the brake pedal, and the vehicle rolled to a stop. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the failure was associated with the braking system. The dealer disconnected and reconnected the battery, and the dealer cleared the codes. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was repaired and returned the vehicle to the contact; however, the contact stated that the dealer had failed to determine the cause of the failure and to perform an adequate repair of the vehicle. …
The contact's wife owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the right turn signal light illuminated and blinked intermittently. The contact's wife noticed that the rear passenger's side brake light and signal light failed to work as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake light had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that on a separate occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and made an abnormal sound. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on 4 separate occasions. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.
I was trying to park on a little steep driveway. Somehow I got out of the car when it is D gear. In seconds I realized the car is moving forward and jumped right back in the car, hit the brakes and switch D to P. The car didn't stopped. I remember buckled up sign on display and I did. Then I pushed the start button tried to stop and start it again, the car didn't stopped. The car continued to move down from driveway to backyard down the slope hitting and badly damaging a tramboline and a chair on its way and only stopped after hitting a tree. Then the engine worked when I pushed start button.I was able to reverse back to driveway again. I was lucky the kids were at school and there was a tree stopping the car to fall the little creek at the end of property line. Did I forget the car in auto shut off or simply shut the engine while it is on D? …
Related recalls (1)
Parking brake
GM is recalling 15,393 my 2009 Chevrolet traverse vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, "passenger car brake systems." these vehicles May have a park brake cable link (connector) that is not to specification.
Remedy: Dealers are to replace the park brake cable link (connector) free of charge. GM anticipates that the dealer bulletin will be sent May 5, 2009 and owner letters will be mailed in June 2009.
NHTSA investigations
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Traverse years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2025 (118), 2024 (62), 2018 (37), 2011 (31) and 2014 (23) model years. Brake complaints make up 64% of all complaints for the 2025.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Traverse brake problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 09V-153 (parking brake, May 6, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Traverse brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles; 57% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the pedals and linkages (1 mentions), followed by the foundation components › master cylinder (1).
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.