Complaint volume
84 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Chevrolet Traverse Complaints
84 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, grouped by component category.
84 Total complaints
4 Crash reports
0 Fire reports
4 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are electrical system, unknown or other, power train. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 4 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 4 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 14 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 51,196 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to electrical system, unknown or other, power train?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Chevrolet Traverse
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse complaints?
4 Crash
0 Fire
4 Injury
0 Fatality
6 Towed
2 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Chevrolet Traverse complaint categories?
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13
POWER TRAIN 10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6
SERVICE BRAKES 6
ENGINE 5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3
STEERING 3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2
SEAT BELTS 2
84 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | ENGINE | Check engine light came on and I noticed that the cooling fan would continue running for several minutes even after turning vehicle off. Had a mechanic run the diagnostics and the code came back as a thermostat/cooling issue. Although when I called to make an appointment and told him the issue and that it was a 2021 Traverse, he knew exactly what the issue was. He said that is a very common issue in all 2021 Chevy/GM engines. Online research provided a couple special coverages for repairs on 7 different GM vehicles from that same time period. Of course, the Traverse is one that is not included. Seems fairly obvious this was a GM engine issue from all vehicles in the 2021-2023 timeframe. Not sure how they can only pick out 7 models, but I am hoping an update can be made to add the Traverse and any other GM models that have that same 2021 engine. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I am filing a safety complaint regarding two vehicles provided through Bob Hook Chevrolet in [XXX] . My Chevrolet Traverse has been at the dealership for approximately one month due to a transmission failure. The vehicle has remained unrepaired during that time. The transmission issue has made the vehicle unreliable and unsafe to operate. While my Traverse was in the shop, the dealership provided me with a Buick Enclave loaner vehicle. On Thursday, while driving the Enclave, the vehicle repeatedly stalled. The entire electrical system shut down, and the power steering failed and locked up. This created a very dangerous situation and made it difficult to safely control the vehicle in traffic. After reporting the breakdown and safety concerns, the dealership’s only solution was to return my Chevrolet Traverse to me even though it had not been repaired. I am concerned about the serious safety risks involving sudden stalling, electrical failure, loss of steering assist, and unresolved transmission problems. I request that these issues be investigated to determine whether defects exist that could endanger other drivers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Alternator fail before 60,000 miles. Had the car almost 3 years and children in it. Apparently a known common issue yet no recall it’s not a reliable car | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | STEERING | While driving, the steering wheel became very hard to control. A system warning came up on the dashboard screen stating that the steering wheel was not working. With an 18-wheeler coming up behind me the decision to pull over was made. The left hand turn into an auto part store was made with much difficulty and so was trying to park. Gentleman inside inspected the vehicle and highly recommended NOT driving the vehicle since it was a safety issue not only for myself but others as well. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The car sometimes will not accelerate in the 25-35 mph range and will begin to shudder and shake. This can be very dangerous when attempting to merge on a highway. This also happens when completely stopped and and then accelerating. It will shake and shudders until or not accelerate at all forcing you to take your foot off the gas and reapplying pressure slowly or slower than what should be. This shuddering can also happen at higher speeds as well. This will likely cause an accident at some point if this continues. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | AIR BAGS | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? My wife and daughter were both involved in a car accident. My wife was driving the speed limit (30-35 mph) when a car traveling in the opposite direction turned left into her lane, cutting her off, and causing a collision of the two vehicles. The front driver side of the Traverse contacted the other driver's passenger side. Upon collision, none of the airbags deployed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My wife hit her face on the steering wheel and suffered a fractured nose, excessive bleeding, and head/neck pain. My daughter has bruising on her legs. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Police and paramedics responded to the scene and a police report was generated. My insurance company is currently assessing the damage, and the vehicle is being held in a lot. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Rear camera failed; worked intermittently then failed completely. Dealer took two hours to supposedly diagnose it; did what they called a "reboot"; camera failed again immediately. Ordered component, 699.00, plus another two hours to install. 1,339 total to repair. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I was driving and without any type of warning the car stopped shifting so I was barely touching the gas but my tac was all the way up. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH and stopping at a red light, the vehicle accelerated but failed to exceed 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the failure could not be replicated. The contact stated that on another occasion, while stopped and attempting to make a left turn onto a highway at 75 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 54,000 |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | Both exhaust pipes before the catalytic converter are cracked and leaking at the same welded mounting bracket. One of them GM is coving under the extended warranty but the other one also needs replaced the turn off the engine warning light. It is allowing exhaust gas to leak under the car and is preventing the emissions from operating properly. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to respond intermittently upon depression of the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that the gear shifter failed to respond or responded slowly when releasing the gear shifter button intermittently. The gear shifter was easily moved to a different gear from unintended contact. While accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated to respond, jerked, and made an abnormal sound while the RPMs were significantly elevated. The vehicle failed to respond upon shifting to reverse(R), and the gear shifter was sticky. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that there were fault codes found that were related to the transmission. An appointment was scheduled with the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 137,000 |
| Feb 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I AM HAVING A LOT OF TRANSMISSION SHUDDER ESPECALLY WHEN ACCELERATING. NOTICED THAT CONSUMER REPORTS STATED IN THEIR MAGAZINE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NHTSA HAS NOT MADE CHEVROLET DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I was driving 45 mph on a state route when all of a sudden my drive shaft bolt came completely out and split my drive shaft in two causing me to lose control. No damage at all or rust or anything is visible on the drive shaft. Could have caused a serious injury or worse. I just had a Multi Point Inspection done the day before the incident occurred | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | STEERING | UNKNOWN Steering assist reduced has been issued to the vehicle. Upon inspection we are being told that the steering rack needs to be replaced to resolve the issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Shift to park message comes on 50% of the time when shutting down the engine, Tapping the shift lever forward sometimes Removes the message, other times restarting the engine and shifting to drive and back to park several times will remove the message | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the front exhaust pipe made an abnormally loud sound, and there was an odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 74,000 |
| Nov 2025 | STEERING | The electronic stability control (ESC) system and power steering system malfunctioned. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The power steering warning indicated a potential loss or reduction of steering assist, which could have made it difficult to steer and control the vehicle—especially at higher speeds or in traffic. This posed a potential safety risk to me and others on the road. Yes. The issue was confirmed by my local Chevrolet dealership. They determined that a software update was required to correct the malfunction. The vehicle was inspected and serviced by my local Chevrolet dealership. It has not been inspected by police, insurance representatives, or others. Yes. Immediately after shifting from reverse into drive while backing down a driveway (at approximately 5–10 mph), two warning messages appeared: “Service ESC” and “Service Power Steering, Drive with Care.” There were no prior warning lights or symptoms before this occurred. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 49,000. It was later discovered, after checking the Carfax report, that the mileage was 75,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 75,000 |
| Oct 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | In the first 51,000 on my vehicle I have had 3 issues with the emissions system which has a negative impact on the environment and would prevent my vehicle from passing state inspection. GM covered the first 2 under warranty, but I now have a leak in my muffler which seems that it could be related to other issues involving brackets on the exhaust pipes breaking. This is widely reported by other Traverse owners yet GM has not extended the warranty to cover this. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES | Right Rear upper and lower toe links broke nearly causing a serious accident when brakes were applied, vehicle pulled severely to the right causing it to swerve and narrowly missing another vehicle. The toe link failure on my vehicle which has only 29702 miles put my life and the life of my family members at risk. The vehicle was brought to our local licensed repair shop in Massapequa, NY where the prblem was diagnosed and repaired. No warning lights or symptoms occurred prior to this first incident. I researched this safety item for any recalls on this issue, however there are none currenlty on file for my vehicle but several for other Cheverolet vehicle with same toe link issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | Carry Handle, Shell, Base | The base does not look in place. The buttons do not look to put in position. The entire car seat slides back and forth on its base. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Front exhaust pipe is seperating | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine and oil warning lights illuminated. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed that the engine oil was abnormally low and required 2-quarts of oil to top off the oil level even though the vehicle had recently been serviced. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 41,000 |
| Oct 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Received a "Service Battery Charging System" dash warning message driving down the highway. Made it home and changed the battery but the issue persists and I can't drive the car. Reading online many complaints/problems with alternator and electrical premature failures. Car is a little more than 4 years old and has only 23,600 miles. Getting the car to the Chevy dealer tomorrow to diagnose problem and fix. If car were to stall out at highway speeds it could be very dangerous. This problem should receive further investigation by NHTSA. Shouldn't have electrical failures on cars with 23,000 miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES | While going around 40mph I approached a stopped vehicle and tried to come to a stop. At this time my braking system failed, speeding the car up instead of slowing it down, this resulted in my car rear ending another vehicle. When the car accident occurred my steering wheel air bag came out but did not inflate. There were no warning lamps or messages at the time of the crash. Due to the laws in Mississippi it was declared I was at fault and the insurance company will not inspect or cover the damages. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed | Unknown |