AI Damage2017 Chevrolet Traverse: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse filed 361 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. The maker issued 700 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 361
- involving a crash
- 13
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 700
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 73% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 7% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 3% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 3% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 3% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints
- Air bags: 263 complaints (73% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Engine: 25 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 72.
- Electrical system: 22 complaints (6% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 122.
- Powertrain: 18 complaints (5% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 55.
- Service brakes: 12 complaints (3% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 17.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 361 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 263 | 5 | 3 |
| Engine | 25 | 0 | 72 |
| Electrical system | 22 | 2 | 122 |
| Powertrain | 18 | 1 | 55 |
| Service brakes | 12 | 5 | 17 |
| Steering | 11 | 0 | 17 |
| Seat belts | 11 | 0 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 1 | 4 |
| Tires | 5 | 0 | 29 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 17 |
| Electronic stability control | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Lane departure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 28 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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,…
Consumer writes in regard to brake failure and unintended acceleration. The consumer stated when the vehicle accelerated it crashed into an apartment building. The airbags did not deploy and the seat belt did not function properly. The driver was not hurt but, a resident was injured.
I purchased this vehicle in June, 2021 and had noticed that it sometimes lurched forward a few feet when I applied the brakes. I made an appointment to have the vehicle’s brakes checked.
There were no warning lights. The airbag did not deploy and the onstar did not activate although the impact was substantial. I explained this both to the dealer and the insurance company. I was told a gm engineer would need to investigate this issue. I have found numerous accounts of this online.
The contact stated the air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated he and his passenger were transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact sustained a concussion, broken ribs and bruising as well his passenger sustained back injuries. A police report was filed.
My wife was driving the car and got hit t-bones on the driver side and the airbags didn't deploy. The vehicle was in motion on the highway and another car came from the opposite direction of the highway and hit her t-bone and the airbags didn't deploy.
I was stopped to pump gas, tried to start vehicle and it would just make a shaking and start but not turn over, check engine light came on, car had to be towed to dealer and they said an issue with defective part, fixed it and it happened again as so as they turned it on said it was the ecm.
After the contact shifted into park and exited the vehicle, the vehicle independently shifted out of park and rolled away approximately one minute later. As a result, the vehicle was involved in a rear end collision. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 174 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Traverse has 196 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 361, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
- This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000…
This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
NHTSA lists 700 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 361. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (9%), airbag warning light (4%), jerking, harsh shifts (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA lists 700 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.