2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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5/5

★★★★★

Safety Rating

587

Owner Complaints

16 Crashes 4 Fires

5

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

17

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

The 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has received a total of 587 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, SEAT BELTS. 17 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (115 complaints), Electronic Stability Control Esc (84 complaints), and Steering (62 complaints).

Recalls for the 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, potentially affecting up to 3,254,860 vehicles.

Recall 21V246000 — AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

| 108 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service...

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Recall 15V415000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

| 691,144 vehicles affected

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected...

Consequence: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15,...

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Recall 14V266000 — SEAT BELTS

| 1,339,355 vehicles affected

Defect: General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the...

Consequence: If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice...

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Recall 14V118000 — AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

| 1,176,407 vehicles affected

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a...

Consequence: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at...

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Recall 12V151000 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

| 47,846 vehicles affected

Defect: GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA....

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM NUTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012.

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Owner Complaints for the 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

587 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Engine
Complaints: 115 2 Crashes 2 Fires 3 Injuries
Electronic Stability Control Esc
Complaints: 84
Steering
Complaints: 62 3 Crashes 1 Fire 3 Injuries
Air Bags
Complaints: 47 4 Crashes 4 Injuries
Electrical System
Complaints: 47 1 Fire
Power Train
Complaints: 46 1 Crash
Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints: 37 2 Crashes 2 Injuries
Unknown Or Other
Complaints: 35 2 Injuries
Visibilitywiper
Complaints: 17
Fuelpropulsion System
Complaints: 15
Service Brakes
Complaints: 15 1 Crash 3 Injuries
Seat Belts
Complaints: 14
Suspension
Complaints: 9 1 Crash
Seats
Complaints: 8 1 Crash
Structurebody
Complaints: 7 1 Crash 1 Injury
Traction Control System
Complaints: 3
Wheels
Complaints: 3
Back Over Prevention Warnings
Complaints: 2
Exterior Lighting
Complaints: 2
Structurebodyhatchbackliftgate
Complaints: 2 1 Injury
Air Bagssensoroccupant Classificationstatus Indicator Lamplight
Complaints: 1
Electrical Systemwiring
Complaints: 1
Engine And Engine Cooling
Complaints: 1
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor
Complaints: 1
Equipment Adaptivemobility
Complaints: 1
Equipmentelectricalnavigational Systemglobal Positioning System
Complaints: 1
Equipmentmechanicalaccessory Scissorscrewbottle Jacklift
Complaints: 1
Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection Systemthrottlebodymanifold
Complaints: 1
Latcheslockslinkages
Complaints: 1
Seat Beltsfront
Complaints: 1
Service Brakes Airantilockabs Warning Light
Complaints: 1
Structure
Complaints: 1
Structurebodyhatchbackliftgatehinge And Attachments
Complaints: 1 1 Injury
Structurebodytailgate
Complaints: 1
Tires
Complaints: 1
Tirestemporaryemergency Spare Tire
Complaints: 1
Visibility
Complaints: 1

Most Recent Complaints

#11698713 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | N/A miles
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 like they were being forced and drug that all u seen was wires coming out of the tread
#11698713 | STEERING | | N/A miles
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 like they were being forced and drug that all u seen was wires coming out of the tread
#11698713 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | | N/A miles
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 like they were being forced and drug that all u seen was wires coming out of the tread
#11692458 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | | N/A miles
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
#11692458 | SUSPENSION | | N/A miles
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

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Safety Rating for the 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

The 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Test Category Rating
Overall Rating ★★★★★ (5/5)
Frontal Crash ★★★★ (4/5)
Side Crash ★★★★★ (5/5)
Rollover ★★★★ (4/5)

Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

General Motors, LLC has issued 17 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

PIP5528A — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

This Preliminary information communicates the identification process for High Feature V6 camshafts in re-manufactured engines.

PIP5095F — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Service Engine Soon and may also have an oil or coolant leak. Technician may find coolant or oil in a spark plug tube. If the Spark Plug Tube is leaking and it is determined that the...

PIT5246D — EQUIPMENT

This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician to replace the right hand lift-gate strut on 2007-2016 GMC Acadia and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook if a clunk or pop is heard. If the vehicle is an 2008-2016 Buick Enclave and 2009-2016 Chevrolet Traverse and If the struts are not weak and can...

PIP5216D — ENGINE

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a knock noise, seized engine, lower end squeak or squeal from the engine. Technician will inspect the oil control solenoids for metal debris. Also inspect for damage to the cam caps Journals and camshaft journals on the...

PIT5165C — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ON THE STEP TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COOLER. TECHNICIAN WILL NEED TO BLOCK OFF THE HOSES NEAR THE COOLER CONNECTION WITH APPROPRIATE CLAMPS. AFTER THE HOSES ARE CLAMPED DISCONNECT THE COOLER FROM THE LINES AND REMOVE THE COOLER. BEFORE INSTALLING...

PI1296 — ENGINE

This preliminary bulletin provides additional diagnoses for engine misfires, popping noise after cylinder head or fuel rail repair.

14030B — AIR BAGS

PSR - Side Impact Airbag Connector

PI-0746 — ENGINE

GENERAL MOTORS: MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON, POOR ACCELERATION, THROTTLE BODY FREEZING, MULTIPLE DTCS SET. ICE DEPOSITS AND/OR OIL DEPOSITS PRESENT IN AIR INLET DUCT. *JS UPDATED 9/19/12. *PE UPDATED 12/5/12. *PE UPDATED 05/03/2013 *JS UPDATED 09/30/2013 *JS UPDATED 7/28/14. *PE

PIT5157B — UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Intermittent Map Disc Read Error.

PI-0595 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

BUICK/CHEVROLET/GMC: THE CARPET SIDE MAT RETAINER IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED OR IS ENGAGED WITH THE FLOOR MAT(S). THE FRONT OR SECOND ROW FLOOR MAT LOCATIONS CAN CAUSE THIS CONDITION TO OCCUR. *PE UPDATED 11/25/2013 *JS

Showing 10 of 17 technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

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Other CHEVROLET Models

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