2012 Chevrolet Traverse reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 587
- 65 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 115 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 16 reported crashes · 20 injuries · 4 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#844
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+279
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2010-2014
+295
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
20%
Engine: 115 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
- ENGINE 115
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 84
- STEERING 62
- AIR BAGS 47
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 47
5 recalls on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
- NHTSA 21V246000 · 2021 · AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 15V415000 · 2016 · STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
- NHTSA 14V266000 · 2014 · SEAT BELTS If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing t
- NHTSA 14V118000 · 2014 · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the
- NHTSA 12V151000 · 2012 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKA IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Chevrolet Traverse units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?
NHTSA has 587 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (115 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Chevrolet Traverse units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (115), electronic stability control (esc) (84), steering (62), air bags (47). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.