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Research · Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

2013 Chevrolet TraverseRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 162 owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse. Most complaints involve electrical system (53) and engine (45). The EPA rates it 19 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Oct 2021
Owner complaints
162
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$3,400est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: frontal

Remedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported Oct 7, 2021NHTSA 21V782000

Air bags: critical fasteners

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Apr 8, 2021NHTSA 21V246000

Seat belts

Remedy pending

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.

Seat beltsReported May 20, 2014NHTSA 14V266000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

162 complaints filed with NHTSA · Apr 2013 – Aug 2026
  1. Electrical system53
  2. Engine45
  3. Electronic stability control (esc)43
  4. Power train28
  5. Air bags27
  6. Vehicle speed control19
  7. Fuel/propulsion system18
  8. Steering18
  9. Service brakes5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Traverse model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2009448
2010669
2011608
2012354
2013162
2014549
2015314
2016292
2017361
2018465
2019412
2020235
202194
2022101
202395
2024144
2025186
202629
20271
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
6
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

53 reports1 crash2 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2024Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11601162

Engine

45 reports1 crash1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2024Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11573847

Electronic stability control (esc)

43 reports2 crashes1 fire
“I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2013 CHEVY TRAVERSE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT/STABILITRAX COMES ON, WHICH MAKES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, WHICH THEN CAUSES MY ENGINE TO POWER DOWN, I WILL THEN HAVE TO WAIT 2-3 MINUTES AND IT WILL EITHER CRANK UP OR IT WON'T (HAS TO BE TOWED), IT ALSO CAUSES IT TO STALL OUT WHEN TAKING OFF OR COMING TO A STOP. STALLED OUT ON ME WHILE PULLING OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC THANKFULLY I WASN'T ALL THE WAY OUT IN THE ROAD OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN T-BONED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A TWO DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALERS WHICH IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO BOTH WITHIN A MONTH THE FIRST ONE TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE BATTERY $400 AND 4 DAYS LATER I WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY 3 KIDS AGAIN. I HAD TO TOWED TO ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER WHICH THEY REPLACED THE ECM, REPAIRED WIRING THAT HAD BURNT, REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AND FPCM THAT HAD ALSO BURNT AND PERFORMED A MULTIPOINT INSPECTION. I WAS CHARGED $1540.06 ON AUGUST 5, 2020 AND HEAR I AM OCTOBER 26, 2020 AND I AM ONCE AGAIN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY 3 KIDS DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUES AS BEFORE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2020Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11367028
All 2013 Traverse problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 6-spd
Drive
All-Wheel Drive · Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Traverse AWD
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · All-Wheel Drive
162319$3,400476
Traverse FWD
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172419$3,400465
  • Traverse AWD
    Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L
    16 city · 23 hwy · $3,400/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Traverse FWD
    Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,400/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Chevrolet Traverse SUV AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.5%
Overall
5 / 5
Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
16.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 7716Vehicle 7501
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2013 Traverse questions

How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2013 Chevrolet Traverse problems?

Owners filed 162 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (53), engine (45), electronic stability control (esc) (43). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse get?

The EPA rates the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse at 19 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026