VehicleVerdict

2014 Chevrolet Traverse problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 881 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.2 times the median Traverse year — the 2014 model ranks #3 of 18 Traverse years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 22 injuries in total across these filings.

Airbags leads the complaint categories with 259 reports (29% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

881

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

2

Investigations

11

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

22

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2014 compare to other Traverse years?

See all Traverse years to avoid →

What are the most common 2014 Chevrolet Traverse problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags25929%
Electrical System24728%
Engine11914%
Speed Control485%
Other445%
Transmission364%
Steering273%
Fuel System243%
Brakes233%
Seat Belts192%
Lighting101%
Tires & Wheels71%
Driver Assistance51%
Suspension40%
Body & Structure30%
Visibility & Wipers30%
Seats10%
Child Seat10%
Latches & Locks10%

Does the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

23V334000AirbagsMay 10, 2023 · 995,085 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

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.

21V782000AirbagsOctober 7, 2021 · 555 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

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.

21V246000AirbagsApril 8, 2021 · 108 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

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.

14V614000Electrical SystemOctober 1, 2014 · 106,307 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.

Consequence

If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.

14V266000Seat BeltsMay 20, 2014 · 1,339,355 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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 recall number for this campaign is 14187.

14V223000Electrical SystemApril 30, 2014 · 51,640 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured March 26, 2013, through August 15, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the engine control module (ECM) software may cause the fuel gauge to read inaccurately.

Consequence

An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM to correct the fuel gauge reading, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14007.

14V092000TransmissionFebruary 21, 2014 · 355 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence

If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy

General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Buick owners at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC owners at 1-800-462-8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

I had a major accident on Thursday, 10/14/2021 where I was it on my drivers side with the other party hitting me around 50-55mph. When the crash occurred, none of the airbags deployed. My side airbag should have deployed. That is a major safety issue, and I might not have hit my head or the…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · October 14, 2021 · crash

I was driving along the highway way at 60-65 mph when suddenly service traction control came on and vehicle started jerking and slowing down. As I tried to accelerate it continued to jerk and then just shut off completely. I hit the guard rail/ jersey wall on the drivers side because I had no…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 5, 2025 · crash

ON FEBRUARY 14 2019, I WENT OUTSIDE TO WARM UP MY CAR. 10 MINUTES LATER WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL PARKED THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. NO RECENT WORK HAD BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WORK EVER DONE IN THE 4 YEARS I OWNED IT WERE, NEW…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · February 14, 2019 · fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A GARAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · August 10, 2014 · crash

ON FEBRUARY 14 2019, I WENT OUTSIDE TO WARM UP MY CAR. 10 MINUTES LATER WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL PARKED THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. NO RECENT WORK HAD BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WORK EVER DONE IN THE 4 YEARS I OWNED IT WERE, NEW…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · February 14, 2019 · fire

2014 Chevrolet Traverse — common questions

Is the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 881 complaints put the 2014 model at #3 of 18 Traverse years. It is one of the Traverse years to avoid.

What are the most common 2014 Traverse problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (259 complaints), electrical system (247 complaints), engine (119 complaints).

Does the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 2 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Chevrolet Traverse years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Traverse years to avoid are 2011, 2010, 2014, 2018. The cleanest record among Traverse years belongs to 2026.

How safe is the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.