Wrench.Pro

2012 Chevrolet Traverse Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering hatchback/liftgate and seat belts. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Stabilitrak/traction fault with limp mode.” Chevrolet vehicles use the GM Oil Life System (OLS) — a percentage-based monitor that calculates oil life from driving conditions, not fixed mileage. When the OLS drops to 0%, oil and filter are due. The schedule below reflects GM's Normal Use intervals for everything else.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

Campaign #15V415000 · Jun 30, 2015

Issue: 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 vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

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

Fix: 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, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.

SEAT BELTS

Campaign #14V266000 · May 20, 2014

Issue: 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 flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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 will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Campaign #14V118000 · Mar 17, 2014

Issue: 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 crash.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Campaign #12V151000 · Sep 4, 2012

Issue: 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. SNOW OR ICE BUILDUP ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPER MAY RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, CAUSING THE WIPER ARM TO LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE WIPER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

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

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

AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Campaign #21V246000 · Aug 4, 2021

Issue: 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.

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

Fix: 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 at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse.

Reported to NHTSA

Stabilitrak/traction fault with limp mode

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

72 NHTSA complaints · 2018-02 → 2025-02

“RECEIVING 'SERVICE STABILITRAK' 'SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL' 'TRACTION CONTROL OFF' MESSAGES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11288662
“THE SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING COMES ACROSS THE DASH AND THE POWERS MOTOR DOWN TO HALF POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 AND WAS LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11301040
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, "REDUCE ENGINE POWER" AND "STABILITRAK" SUDDENLY APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. NEXT, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11166188

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power liftgate falling unexpectedly during operation

STRUCTURE

8 NHTSA complaints · 2018-07 → 2024-01

“The liftgate goes half up then back down multiple times I have gotten hit in the head because it does that”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11564142
“BACK HATCH DOES NOT STAY OPEN, WILL SUDDENLY FALL AND HIT YOU IN THE HEAD. OTHER 2012 HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11232914
“LIFTGATE CLOSED ON ITS OWN AFTER OPENING ONLY THREE QUARTER'S THE WAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11151682

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt lap-belt cable snapping or disintegrating

SEAT BELTS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2018-03 → 2022-12

“I got in the car to put the seatbelt on and it just snapped at the floor, the lap belt cable which runs down to the left of the drivers seat. That braided cable just snapped. Shoulder harness still works, but no lap belt”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11495607
“MY SEAT BELT SNAPPED AT THE CABLE - FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER VEHICLES THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL BUT A DIFFERENT VIN DESPITE THIS BEING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11348505
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CABLE THAT CONNECTED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TO THE FLOORBOARD DISINTEGRATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS HELD ON BY A FEW THREADS OF STEEL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11076704

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Timing chain wear leading to engine failure

ENGINE

36 NHTSA complaints · 2018-02 → 2022-09

“2012 CHEVY TRAVERSE HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING SIGNS WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR REPAIR SHOP SAID IT NEEDS A COMPLETE NEW ENGINE. THEY SAID IT LOOKS AS IF SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE FAILED AND STOPED PUMPING THE OIL THROUGH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11365472
“CAR LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT START. ADVANCE AUTO DIAGNOSTIC TIMING CHAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11081168
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11312077

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power steering assist loss at low speed

STEERING

16 NHTSA complaints · 2018-02 → 2021-06

“WHEN TURNING ONTO A ROAD, FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLES STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED, REQUIRING IMMEDIATE REVERSE TO AVOID COLLISION OR NOT END UP OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF A VEHICLE WAS BEHIND US PREVENTING REVERSE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11075246
“POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK AT LOW RPM. IT IS VERY HARD TO PARK CAR IN PARKING SPACES, AND ALSO VERY HARD TO MAKE TIGHT TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. IT SEEMS AS IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11093871
“Power steering intermittently fails at low speed we have had near collisions and as a result my wife cannot drive the car she’s not strong enough to turn the wheel at low speeds”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11419250

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Service air bag warning light and deployment faults

AIR BAGS

16 NHTSA complaints · 2018-03 → 2025-01

“2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE WITH ABOUT 38,000 MILES OWNED SINCE PURCHASED NEW. "SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE AND WARNING LIGHT ARE CONSTANTLY BEING DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR IN MOTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11300551
“"SERVICE AIR BAG" IS INDICATED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. THIS HAPPENS, STOPPED, OR WHILE IN MOTION. IT COMES AND GOES AT NO SET TIME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11127929
“Airbags failed to deploy on drivers side and in the front after an impact of 35 MPH. My daughter and myself got severely hurt due to this malfunction. yes it has been inspected. no there were never any indicators for the airbags ever in the four years I have owned the car”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11521019

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 2 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (per Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change oil when the Oil Life System reaches 0% or every 12 months — whichever comes first. dexos1-approved synthetic oil required on all gas engines since 2011.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Silverado 4x4 and Tahoe owners benefit from earlier rotations to even out drivetrain wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at each tire rotation. Equinox and Malibu front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

GM specifies brake fluid replacement based on contamination testing. Test every 30,000 miles; replace if moisture content exceeds 3% or fluid appears dark.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM long-life cellulose air filters are rated 45,000 miles. Direct-injection engines are sensitive to airflow restriction; inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Severe service (heavy towing, frequent stop-and-go, dusty conditions): replace every 45,000 miles. Normal service: 97,500 miles. Use Dexron-VI on 6L80/8L90 transmissions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 45,000 mi

Silverado 4WD and Tahoe 4WD: replace transfer case fluid every 45,000 miles, sooner if towing or off-roading. Use GM Auto-Trak II fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

GM iridium spark plugs are rated 100,000 miles on most LS and LT engines. The 5.3L V8 in Silverado 1500 commonly fouls plugs early under heavy idling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Dex-Cool Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

GM Dex-Cool (orange): first change at 150,000 miles or 5 years, then every 50,000 miles. Mixing with green coolant creates a sludge that destroys the cooling system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 50,000 mi

Silverado and Tahoe: replace rear axle fluid every 50,000 miles, or 25,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip differentials require GM friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 22,500 miles. Silverado and Tahoe owners in dusty climates should replace earlier.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

53 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

10

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse reflects Chevrolet's published service intervals and the Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →