Home · 2012 Chevrolet Traverse · Complaints

What 354 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (354)Crash / fire / injury (17)Engine (115)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (84)Steering (62)Airbags (48)Electrical system (48)Transmission & drivetrain (46)Speed control (37)Visibility & wipers (18)Fuel system (16)Brakes (15)

4 of 354 complaints match · Airbags · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jan 24, 2025AirbagsCrash1 injury

After sliding into a ditch, my drivers side, curtain airbag deployed but, instead of covering the drivers side door window, it came out and went across my face, hitting me on the right side of my head, slamming my head into the drivers side window glass and pinning me between the airbag and the window glass, obviously putting my safety at risk. I am currently being treated for neck injuries as a result of this airbag malfunction. The problem has not been reproduced/confirmed by dealer/independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone. Photos of the vehicle including the airbags have been sent to my insurance company (Allstate). There were no warnings or symptoms of the problem prior to the collision and no other vehicles were involved. Upon visual inspection, both the driver and passenger side curtain airbags are twisted around itself 4 or 5 times at the anchor point, located at the front of the door frame. The vehicle is currently in our shop at our residence.

NHTSA ODI 11638369

May 8, 2023AirbagsCrash2 injuries

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.

NHTSA ODI 11521019

Jul 18, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

THE DRIVER STEERING WHEEL FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. WHEN WE RECEIVED THE LETTER ABOUT RECALL WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO SERVICE CHEVROLET IN LAFAYETTE, LA.

NHTSA ODI 10885565

Jun 15, 2013SuspensionAirbagsBody & structureCrash

TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WE WERE HIT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DAMAGE TO THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WELL AND REAR RIGHT SIDE ON THE BODY WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE UNDERNEATH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ANYTIME IN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER'S COLLISION AND REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS IT WAS RETURNED. WITHIN A WEEK OF GETTING IT BACK THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, WE TOOK IT BACK TO COLLISION REPAIR CENTER THINKING IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ACCIDENT BUT THE COLLISION REPAIR SENT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SAYING IT WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE. I'VE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE BACK 4 TIMES NOW FOR THE SAME SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR KEEPS TELLING ME IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THERE NOT BEING A GREASE NEEDED ON THE SENSORS AND THAT THEY APPLY TO EACH SENSOR AS IT COMES UP, NOW ON THE 4TH TRIP BACK SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER CLAIMS THAT ISN'T CORRECT AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE. EACH AND EVERY TIME I'VE TAKEN THIS CAR IN I HAVE SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF IT MEANS MY AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN TOLD, "NO, YOUR AIRBAGS ARE OK, THERE IS NO RISK TO YOU OR YOUR FAMILY." DROPPED CAR OF FOR FINAL RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE SINCE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THIS WEEK AND SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME THAT YES IT DOES MEAN MY AIRBAGS ARE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10519954

Working with the data? Download all 354 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Chevrolet Traverse verdict →