2012 Chevrolet Traverse problems and complaints

Owners have filed 354 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. The most-reported areas: Engine (115), Electronic Stability Control (esc) (84), Steering (62).

Key takeaways

  • 354 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 10 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 14 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine11532%
Electronic Stability Control (esc)8424%
Steering6218%
Electrical System4814%
Air Bags4814%
Power Train4613%
Vehicle Speed Control3710%
Unknown Or Other3510%
Visibility/Wiper175%
Service Brakes165%
Fuel/Propulsion System154%
Seat Belts154%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2012 Chevrolet Traverse SUV AWD5/54/55/54/5
2012 Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD5/54/55/54/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Steering,electrical System,vehicle Speed Control - filed 2025-11-11

It sways left to right really bad.. but when it rains or even even the car detected that it's going to rain.. as soon as the car senses it is going to rain u can't even drive it.. it like hydro plains even before it starts to officially rain.. very dangerous plus I had to replace the two back tires because they seemed ...

Suspension,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2025-10-09

The car feels like it’s bouncing everywhere on any kind of surface and now there is a loud very loud rattling noise coming from underneath the car and the car starts shaking excessively if you try to accelerate

Steering,electrical System,engine - filed 2025-08-25

White smoke was coming out the car and my car eventually sat on fire. I had to call the fire department.. fire department stated that it was a electrical issue

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More for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.