CHEVROLET TRAVERSE · model year

2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

294 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2013CHEVROLETTRAVERSE carries 294 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 6 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2013 TRAVERSE is electrical system with 53 filings, followed by engine (45) and electronic stability control (esc) (43). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2013 TRAVERSE, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

294
Complaints
14
Crashes
6
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths
2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

294 filings

Crashes Reported

14 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM53
ENGINE45
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)43
POWER TRAIN27
AIR BAGS25
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL19
STEERING18
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM18
UNKNOWN OR OTHER18
SERVICE BRAKES5
SEAT BELTS4
SUSPENSION2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
VISIBILITY/WIPER2
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION2

Recalls (4)

14V26600020/05/2014

SEAT BELTS

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 Satu

14V11800017/03/2014

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

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

21V24600008/04/2021

AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

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.

21V78200007/10/2021

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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.

Recent Complaints

20250804AIR BAGS

The "Service Airbag" light and notification comes up on the dash. This happened in the past as this vehicle was part of a recall NHTSA 14V118. The car was service for that recall already back on 3-18-2014 but the issue came back. This is dangerous because when that light is on, the airbags will not go off in the event of an accident. I need this fixed at no charge. Thank you.

20250226ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Fuse box

20240711ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Service Traction Control, Traction Control Off/On/Off, Service All Wheel Drive display on dash. Check Engine Light on at times, When starting vehicle Service All Wheel Drive displays immediately. Codes come up as fuel pressure high, fuel pressure low, no communication with BCM. Driving from a stop the engine has to idle high to switch gears, hard shift when it does. Goes into limp mode sometimes while driving. Been to dealership, can not duplicate problems. But they see display info and no current code, do have stored code of BCM lost communication.

20240711FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Service Traction Control, Traction Control Off/On/Off, Service All Wheel Drive display on dash. Check Engine Light on at times, When starting vehicle Service All Wheel Drive displays immediately. Codes come up as fuel pressure high, fuel pressure low, no communication with BCM. Driving from a stop the engine has to idle high to switch gears, hard shift when it does. Goes into limp mode sometimes while driving. Been to dealership, can not duplicate problems. But they see display info and no current code, do have stored code of BCM lost communication.

20240711POWER TRAIN

Service Traction Control, Traction Control Off/On/Off, Service All Wheel Drive display on dash. Check Engine Light on at times, When starting vehicle Service All Wheel Drive displays immediately. Codes come up as fuel pressure high, fuel pressure low, no communication with BCM. Driving from a stop the engine has to idle high to switch gears, hard shift when it does. Goes into limp mode sometimes while driving. Been to dealership, can not duplicate problems. But they see display info and no current code, do have stored code of BCM lost communication.

20240528ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Rain Water is getting into the door connectors and caused some pins on passenger side to corrode. All audio in vehicle has stopped including turn signals, pack up sensor audio, and radio ect. GM/Chevy knows about this and is quite common reading in a lot of forums but GM has done nothing about it. This is a safety hazard.

20240528BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

Rain Water is getting into the door connectors and caused some pins on passenger side to corrode. All audio in vehicle has stopped including turn signals, pack up sensor audio, and radio ect. GM/Chevy knows about this and is quite common reading in a lot of forums but GM has done nothing about it. This is a safety hazard.

20240225ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle dies while driving in traffic. Has done this since I bought it. Very unsafe. I have had my car since march 2022. While driving it says engine power reduced, traction control, stabli track, and loses power and I have to try to safely make sure I get it off the road. After it dies it won't start. I have to get tow truck to bring it home. Then next day it starts fine sometimes. Very unsafe. I have children . I have barley been able to prevent myself from being in a wreck. When it dies the whole cars jerks. It does it all the time. This last time it was doing it so much I haven't been able to drive it. To afraid of accident.

20240225ENGINE

Vehicle dies while driving in traffic. Has done this since I bought it. Very unsafe. I have had my car since march 2022. While driving it says engine power reduced, traction control, stabli track, and loses power and I have to try to safely make sure I get it off the road. After it dies it won't start. I have to get tow truck to bring it home. Then next day it starts fine sometimes. Very unsafe. I have children . I have barley been able to prevent myself from being in a wreck. When it dies the whole cars jerks. It does it all the time. This last time it was doing it so much I haven't been able to drive it. To afraid of accident.

20240225VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Vehicle dies while driving in traffic. Has done this since I bought it. Very unsafe. I have had my car since march 2022. While driving it says engine power reduced, traction control, stabli track, and loses power and I have to try to safely make sure I get it off the road. After it dies it won't start. I have to get tow truck to bring it home. Then next day it starts fine sometimes. Very unsafe. I have children . I have barley been able to prevent myself from being in a wreck. When it dies the whole cars jerks. It does it all the time. This last time it was doing it so much I haven't been able to drive it. To afraid of accident.

20231016ENGINE

It happened several times already and couple of times was so dangerous, I had 4 kids in my car. When I drive from Salem, OR to Portland, OR, in the middle of a highway, my car suddenly doesn't drive. On the dashboard signs are traction controll and stability track or something. Please help me. When it happens, car doesn't drive and stops on freeway. It's so dangerous.

Mileage: 134,426

20231016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

It happened several times already and couple of times was so dangerous, I had 4 kids in my car. When I drive from Salem, OR to Portland, OR, in the middle of a highway, my car suddenly doesn't drive. On the dashboard signs are traction controll and stability track or something. Please help me. When it happens, car doesn't drive and stops on freeway. It's so dangerous.

Mileage: 134,426

20231016STEERING

It happened several times already and couple of times was so dangerous, I had 4 kids in my car. When I drive from Salem, OR to Portland, OR, in the middle of a highway, my car suddenly doesn't drive. On the dashboard signs are traction controll and stability track or something. Please help me. When it happens, car doesn't drive and stops on freeway. It's so dangerous.

Mileage: 134,426

20231012AIR BAGS

There was a recall on the airbag on my vehicle a while back. I took my car to the dealer to have it serviced. They fixed it supposedly but periodically when I start the the car the airbag light would take a while to go out, like a delay. Reported to dealer now airbag light is on continuously and dealer says it's no longer under warranty or recall. Now I have a problem with the Stabilitrak system light comes on and the car sometimes slow down or shuts off. I've taken it to the dealer about the problem but they can't ever seem to find it during a diagnostic my car shut off on me while I was on the interstate driving 70 miles an hour in the left lane good thing I was an experienced driver me and my family could have gotten killed. I researched the internet and found that this has happened to many of these Traverse and there has been no recall are we waiting for someone to die before we look into this. I got no warning the light came on and the car shut off an it coast it didn't lock up

20231012SUSPENSION

There was a recall on the airbag on my vehicle a while back. I took my car to the dealer to have it serviced. They fixed it supposedly but periodically when I start the the car the airbag light would take a while to go out, like a delay. Reported to dealer now airbag light is on continuously and dealer says it's no longer under warranty or recall. Now I have a problem with the Stabilitrak system light comes on and the car sometimes slow down or shuts off. I've taken it to the dealer about the problem but they can't ever seem to find it during a diagnostic my car shut off on me while I was on the interstate driving 70 miles an hour in the left lane good thing I was an experienced driver me and my family could have gotten killed. I researched the internet and found that this has happened to many of these Traverse and there has been no recall are we waiting for someone to die before we look into this. I got no warning the light came on and the car shut off an it coast it didn't lock up

20230713POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving 25-35 MPH, the vehicle jolted and shuddered upon depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure mostly occurred while accelerating in 2nd and 3rd gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the torque converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Numbers: 13120 and 18-NA-358. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

20230508SERVICE BRAKES

the breaks grind and took it to a shop they said it was my anit break locked up when my car comes to a stop it shakes and my tacation control warning comes on

20230508POWER TRAIN

the breaks grind and took it to a shop they said it was my anit break locked up when my car comes to a stop it shakes and my tacation control warning comes on

20230405CrashENGINE

I was parking in front of a restaurant- my foot was on the brake and as I came to a stop the engine revved up and the car surged forwarded about 5 feet - The car pushed a pole and blew out the front door and the door frame- all this time my foot was on the brake. If someone was walking in to the restaurant they surly would have been killed. NO warning lamps or lights-I have not taken it to the dealer yet the body shop still has it. There was no police report the accident was on private property. If the dealer gives me the runaround I'll get rid of this car.

20230405CrashFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I was parking in front of a restaurant- my foot was on the brake and as I came to a stop the engine revved up and the car surged forwarded about 5 feet - The car pushed a pole and blew out the front door and the door frame- all this time my foot was on the brake. If someone was walking in to the restaurant they surly would have been killed. NO warning lamps or lights-I have not taken it to the dealer yet the body shop still has it. There was no police report the accident was on private property. If the dealer gives me the runaround I'll get rid of this car.

Compare 2013CHEVROLETTRAVERSE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE have?
The 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has 294 NHTSA complaints, 14 crashes, 6 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
The 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
Yes, the 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE?
The most-complained component for the 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 53 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC).
Is the 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.