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2017 Chevrolet Traverse

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

358 owner complaints · 3 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Why caution?

3 recall campaigns (3 safety-critical) — confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.

Airbags problems dominate (73% of complaints).

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)71
Severity (30%)60
Recall load (20%)74
Trend (10%)59

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20172026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k mi

Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (262) · Engine (25) · Electrical system (22) · Transmission & drivetrain (17)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Airbags

73%

262 complaints · 55 in the last 2 years

THERE is a recall for the year, make and model for driver side airbag, also to do with transmission slipping and both of those I'm currently having issues with on my v…

Engine

7%

25 complaints · 8 in the last 2 years

THERE is a recall for the year, make and model for driver side airbag, also to do with transmission slipping and both of those I'm currently having issues with on my v…

Electrical system

6%

22 complaints · 6 in the last 2 years

While driving my entire dashboard goes dark and once I shut my car off it did not start again. Brought it to the mechanic who is rated as 5 stars, to have no codes com…

Transmission & drivetrain

5%

17 complaints · 7 in the last 2 years

The transmission is going out at 107K miles and needs to be completely replaced for around $8500 (see attached quote). It has a shudder and has a hard time shifting in…

Recalls (3)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Air Bags · 23V334000

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.

Air Bags · 21V782000

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.

Air Bags · 21V246000

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.

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Chevrolet TRAVERSE beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2017? See how every Traverse model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2017 Chevrolet Traverse as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.