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2013 Chevrolet Traverse Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 162 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse, most often about the electrical (33% of complaints, typically around 89,000 miles). It is 13th of 19 Traverse model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2013 Chevrolet Traverse problems
Electrical
53 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles.
Driving on the highway. The headlight bulb burnt while driving on the highway. This could have been more serious then it was if I would not have been warned by a passing motorist.
The engine loses power as you drive a normal speed it just stops it flashes engine power is reduced , service traction control, service stabiltrak. I don't know what it mean but when you get it to the dealer these codes don't come up they can't find these things wrong. In the mean time I've been nearly rear ended on…
Engine
46 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the check engine warning light and traction control warning light illuminated and the vehicle speed was reduced from 40 to 20 MPH. After turning the engine off and back on the vehicle operate as intended. The vehicle was taken…
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Traverse. Upon starting the vehicle, a rattling noise was heard emerging from the engine compartment and the "battery charging system needs service" message appeared. The contact noticed a pulley lying on the ground under the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer…
Stability control
43 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 74,500 miles.
On all occasions, my car was in motion on major city streets and side roads and my driving speeds ranged from 25mph to 55mph. The following messages flash across the dashboard: traction control off, engine power is reduced, service traction control, service stabilitrak. The check engine light comes on with the…
Service stabilitrac, traction control off, engine power is reduced, service traction control. The vehicle will not driver more than 30 miles per hour. Dealer and other service shops have not been able to find any codes. If you turn the vehicle off and back on it will work fine and it can be weeks or even months before…
Transmission
28 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Driving on the highway. The headlight bulb burnt while driving on the highway. This could have been more serious then it was if I would not have been warned by a passing motorist.
I purchased this vehicle, 2013 chevy Traverse ls on 5/6/2030, a couple weeks after purchasing the vehicle I noticed the transmission slipping, I brought it back three times to sun used cars, all within my warranty period and they could not duplicate the issue, so now they will no longer fix the vehicle, and I am still…
Air bags
27 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 80,500 miles.
Service airbag came on while driving - had it serviced a dealer which resulted in passenger side airbag warning along with the passenger sensor bell to constantly ring even with no one in the seat. I took it back to the dealer again and after them looking at the passenger side, the driver's side airbag is back on…
My "check air bag" light has gone on intermittently while driving for over a year. It is now permanently illuminated, and has been for the past 4-5 months. My vehicle is not covered by the recall on this issue. I am nervous that the airbag will not work if I am in an accident.
Speed control
19 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles.
While driving I experienced 'traction control off'; 'service stabilitrac'; 'service traction control' and then the car went into 'reduced engine power. I was in traffic and had to quickly make an unsafe turn to avoid being rear-ended by the vehicle behind me. This has happened twice now.
Traction control light turned on and car speed decreased from 55 to 20 on wet freeway, car skid into side rail. Turned car off then back on traction control light off and able to drive away. Chevrolet repair shop was not able to detect problem since traction control light was off (actual date unsure but this is 2nd…
Steering
18 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles.
I have a 2013 Traverse with this same problem it has done this a few times now without any warning at all, the latest was today when I was pulling out of my local gas station in to on coming traffic the steering just quit had a hell of a time trying to keep my car into my lane. My SUV is in perfect condition I take…
Driving the Traverse on the freeway and it cuts out, the steering wheel locks, making it hard to steer. Endangering everyone in the vehicle. Other cars are coming at high speed and this one does with no warning. Other times it protects a reaction control check stabilise message and reduces engine power, greatly…
Fuel system
18 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles.
I was driving to work like any other day. As I was about ten minutes away from my work. My Traverse suddenly started to shake. And then the check engine light came on and engine power reduce, service stabilitrak, traction control off popped up on my dash board. I went from 70 MPH to under 20 MPH with in seconds. Thank…
The fuel gauge started fluctuating at first after going from drive to park. The fuel gauge reading would be off anywhere from 1/8 to 1/4 of a tank. The first problems were the gauge undercompensating for the actual fuel in the tank, then overcompensating, now it goes back and forth. Now the problem is no longer…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Chevrolet Traverse recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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 bags: critical fasteners
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts
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 re
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: side/window
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Outboard front seat belt anchor cable failure
Summary
On august 31, 2020, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened engineering analysis (ea) ea20002, as an upgrade of recall query (rq) rq19003. This investigation, related to recall 14v-266, was opened to investigate instances of detachment of the flexible steel seat belt anchor cable attached to the outboard side of the front seats in vehicles manufactured by general motors (gm). The subject vehicles included model year (my) 2009 through 2014 gmc acadia, buick enclave, and chevrolet traverse suvs as well as my 2009 through 2010 saturn outlook suvs. These vehicles were previously repaired for this defect under recall 14v-266. The subject vehicle population is approximately 1.3 million v
Seat belt anchor cable failure
Summary
On may 19, 2014, general motors llc (gm) notified the office of defects investigation (odi) that it would conduct safety recall 14v266 to address fatigue and separation of the flexible steel cable that connects the front outboard seat belts to the seat-mounted belt pre-tensioner in 1.4 million model year (my) 2009-2010 saturn outlook, 2009-2014 buick enclave, gmc acadia and chevrolet traverse (lambda platform) vehicles.the remedy was to inspect for signs of damage and replace pre-tensioner anchor cables as needed. Re-work was conducted to relocate the pre-tensioner anchor cable out of the occupant entry path. Odi has subsequently received four (4) vehicle owners questionnaires (voq) reportin
Questions about the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (53 complaints, typically around 89,000 miles); engine (46 complaints, typically around 89,000 miles); stability control (43 complaints, typically around 74,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 7, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Chevrolet Traverse?
- It is 13th of 19 Traverse model years by number of complaints, with 162 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.