2012 Chevrolet Traverse Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

115Engine complaints

32.5%Of all 354 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE115 · 32.5%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)84 · 23.7%

STEERING62 · 17.5%

AIR BAGS47 · 13.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM47 · 13.3%

Share of the 354 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse overview page.

What owners report

“"TAKATA RECALL" I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 CHEVROLET TAVERSE WITH 35,000 MILES FROM SUPREME CHEVROLET CADILLAC OF PLAQUEMINE ON 5/23/2016. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN…”NHTSA complaint 10873572 — filed 06/10/2016

“MAJOR SAFTEY RISK: MY TRAVERSE WAS WELL MAINTAINED WAS OFTEN FILLED WITH SOCCER KIDS. THE SAFETY FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY! WHILE DRIVING, THE AUTO…”NHTSA complaint 10863512 — filed 05/05/2016

“WHILE TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON INTERSTATE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY WENT ON AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER TO 5MPH WITH ENGINE RUNNING ROUGHLY. I…”NHTSA complaint 10837156 — filed 02/19/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse: 115 of 354 complaints on file (32.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse have in total?

354 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 10 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 14 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.