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2010 Chevrolet Traverse problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
37%
232 of 622 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

37% of relevant owner complaints on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 47 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 35%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 232 of 622 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%), and the largest group is filed under engine (178). For comparison, the 2011 scores 49%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
232
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
669
this model year
Fires reported
6
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
17 crashes · 12 injuries

Complaints by component

STEERING331 · 49%
ENGINE178 · 27%
POWER TRAIN66 · 10%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM60 · 9%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)57 · 9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL42 · 6%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2010 compares with other Chevrolet Traverse years

Of the 14 Chevrolet Traverse years with enough complaints to score, the 2010 is the best on engine and transmission share (37%). The worst is the 2018 (65%). By volume, the 2010 drew 669 complaints (232 drivetrain), against 608 for the 2011.

Chevrolet Traverse years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE08/08/2023
This vehicle is dangerous. Looks great on the outside but horrible on the inside under the hood! Since my son bought one for me it’s had problems with engine revving and not shifting gears, and air conditioner continually going out even after repairs, and power steering leaks. I kept taking it to repair and oddly no te…

One of 232 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2010 Chevrolet Traverse engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
air bags: critical fasteners21V246000 · Apr 2021
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.
structure: body: hatchback/liftgate15V415000 · Jun 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6,…
seat belts14V266000 · May 2014
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…
air bags: side/window14V118000 · Mar 2014
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,…
seat belts10V375000 · Aug 2010
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES. THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELD RESTRICTS THE UPWARD…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2010 Chevrolet Traverse? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse

Does the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 232 of 622 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse is steering: 331 of 669 complaints (49%) name it, followed by engine (178) and power train (66). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 37% of the relevant total.

Is the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 37% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Chevrolet Traverse years we score, it ranks best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?

No. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Chevrolet Traverse years are better?

The 2010 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Chevrolet Traverse years we track (37%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chevrolet-traverse

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.