2012 Chevrolet Traverse: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse: 5 recalls, 354 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #12V151000 · 2012 · 47,846 vehicles
What's wrong: Snow or ice buildup on the windshield or on the wiper May restrict the movement of the wiper arm, causing the wiper arm to loosen and cause the wiper to become inoperative.
Why it matters: If this occurs, driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper arm nuts, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 20, 2012.
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V118000 · 2014 · 1,176,407 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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
Seat belts Vehicle recall #14V266000 · 2014 · 1,339,355 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions May fatigue and separate over time.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.…
Body & structure Vehicle recall #15V415000 · 2015 · 691,144 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts May prematurely wear and the open liftgate May suddenly fall.
Why it matters: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it May strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016.
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V246000 · 2021 · 108 vehicles
What's wrong: The side curtain air bags May not be properly attached.
Why it matters: Unsecured side curtain air bags May not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 14 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (115): the most common themes are warning light on (54), stalls / loses power (30), noise or vibration (18).
- Stability control (84): the most common themes are warning light on (34), stalls / loses power (20), electrical failure (11).
- Steering (62): the most common themes are steering problems (54), noise or vibration (17), leaks (15).
- Airbags (48): the most common themes are warning light on (16).
The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse has 354 owner complaints, ranking #8 of 18 Traverse model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 305). Complaints peaked in 2019 (67 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 85,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (608 complaints, 5 recalls), 2013 (162 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Traverse problems?
Owners have filed 354 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (115), stability control (84), steering (62).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (3.6 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.