How Many Miles & Years Do Chevrolet Traverses Last? (9 Important Facts)

The Chevrolet Traverse is a mid-size SUV ideal for families.

It has a spacious seating space, comfortable interior, and a powerful engine perfect for towing.

With these excellent features, the big question is how long does a Traverse last?

In this article, we provide answers to questions about the reliability and longevity of the Chevrolet Traverse.

Check also our list of the most common issues with the Chevy Traverse.

Here Is the Short Answer to How Long the Chevrolet Traverse Lasts

You can expect a Chevrolet Traverse to last 200,000 miles. If you drive 15,000 miles per year like the average American driver, that translates to 13.5 years of problem-free performance before you need to carry out major repairs on the vehicle. 

How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Chevrolet Traverse?

During its lifetime, a well-maintained Chevrolet Traverse can last an average of 200,000 miles with no major issues.

Nevertheless, checking several Traverse owners forums reveals this vehicle can last longer than 200,000 miles. In fact, we found an individual on one Transverse forum with over 250,000 miles on his vehicle who claims the car has no issues.

Interestingly, the owner said that he has experienced no major issues such as transmission failure at that mileage.

There are a lot of factors to be considered regarding the lifespan of a vehicle. The most important is the maintenance and the driving habit of the driver. 

Keep up to date with manufacturer-recommended maintenance and servicing such as changing oils and fluids. If you do this and drive your Traverse conscientiously, you will probably get more than 200k miles from the vehicle.

The latest models feature some great upgrades.

How Soon Should You Expect Rust on a Chevrolet Traverse?

The experience of several owners suggests the Traverse has a serious rust problem. The rust problem is not exclusive to this model, but it is a general Chevrolet issue.

Based on customer complaints, you can expect rust to appear on your Traverse approximately three years after ownership.

Also, it is well known that coastal areas, the salt and belt states, and regions with heavy snowfall are prone to salt induced and moisture related rust.

Therefore, owners living in these regions often get rust on their vehicles earlier compared to others.

The exhaust pipes of Traverse vehicles are prone to rusting. Also, undercarriage rust occurs in most Traverses after 5,000 to 7,000 miles.

Most rust complaints on Traverse forums come from the 2009 model year, particularly exhaust pipes and undercarriage. 

Other rust-prone areas on the Traverse are the seat frame, wheels, under the glove box, undercarriage and under the hitch.

Make sure to also read our article about the Chevrolet Traverse facts and statistics. 

How Long Does Chevrolet Traverse Last Compared to Similar Mini SUVs?

The Traverse is a fairly durable vehicle. However, how long does it last compared to rival models?

To compare the Chevy Traverse with rival mini SUVs, we will use three criteria, which are:

• Miles covered before service
• Reliability rating
• Maintenance costs per year

Chevrolet Traverse vs. Toyota Highlander

Comparing the longevity of Chevrolet Traverse vs. Toyota Highlander, the Highlander beats the Traverse with 100,000 miles.

While the Chevy Traverse can cover about 200,000 miles in a lifespan, the Toyota Highlander can cover 300,000 miles or more with no major problems.

On reliability rating, RepairPal rated the Highlander 4 out of 5 and rated the Traverse 3 out of 5.

Based on maintenance costs per year, the Chevrolet Traverse costs $656 to maintain annually while the Toyota Highlander costs $489. That means the Highlander is $167 cheaper to maintain than the Chevy Traverse.

Chevrolet Traverse vs. Ford Explorer

Based on miles covered, the Chevy Traverse beats the Ford Traverse with 50,000 miles. The Explorer covers an average of 150,000 miles in a lifespan.

RepairPal rates the Explorer 3.5 out of 5, giving it a higher reliability rating than the Chevy Traverse. This suggests that the Explorer is more reliable than Traverse.

Based on cost of maintenance, the Traverse is $76 cheaper to maintain than the Explorer. Approximately, the Traverse cost $656 to maintain while the Explorer costs $732.

Also read our article about where the Chevrolet Traverse is made.

How Reliable Is a Chevrolet Traverse?

The Chevy Traverse can be classified as a fairly reliable midsize SUV car in the market.

J.D. Power rates the 2021 Traverse 85 out of 100 on reliability. The ratings are based on consumer verified quality and reliability ratings for the model.

RepairPal rated the reliability of the Traverse a 3.0 out of 5.0. Furthermore, the Traverse was ranked 22nd out of 26 for midsize SUVs. The rating is based on an average calculation of complaints across all the Traverse years.

Based on the reliability rating from these respected agencies, we can say the Traverse has average reliability. The abysmal RepairPal rating can be attributed to many of the problem from the Traverse’s earlier years.

Recent models of the vehicle show much more promise than the early models. Notwithstanding, a lot of competitors in the segment are doing better with higher reliability rating.

The Best and Worst Years for Chevrolet Traverse

It is quite difficult to choose the best years of the Chevy Traverse because the model had a rocky start from inception in 2008.

You can see a full list of the best and worst Chevy Traverse models here.

After two years of its debut, there was a significant number of complaints. GM was unable to resolve many of the problems even after several years of production.

According to CarCompliant, the 2011 model was rated the worst model of the Traverse series. The number of complaints from Traverse owners about engine failure spiked.

Interestingly, most of these complaints on engine failure come after 88,000 miles. It cost an average of $5,200 to fix the engine failure problem, and many owners had to pay for the repair out-of-pocket.

The Traverse has received a positive decline in complaints year on year after they released the 2016 model. In recent years, there have been very few complaints on engine failure and other components issues.

Please also read our article about the Chevrolet Traverse in snow and winter driving.

What About Recalls for These Models?

Over the years, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and Chevrolet have issued 32 recalls for the Traverse.

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) or the car manufacturer might consider a vehicle eligible for recall for one of the following reasons:

• If one or more of its components create an unreasonable safety risk
• It does not meet minimum safety requirements

If a car is recalled, such related problems are fixed free.

Here is the full list of recalls with 2009 topping the list with 8 recalls.

• 2009: 8 recalls
• 2010: 4 recalls
• 2011: 4 recalls
• 2012: 4 recalls
• 2014: 4 recalls
• 2013: 2 recalls
• 2016: 2 recalls
• 2020: 2 recalls
• 2015: 1 recall
• 2019: 1 recall
• 2017: 0 recalls
• 2018: 0 recalls
• 2021: 0 recalls

Chevrolet Traverse Model Year List

Here is a list of all the model years of the Chevrolet Traverse:

Are Chevrolet Traverse Expensive to Maintain?

With an annual maintenance cost of $656, the Chevy Traverse can be categorized as fairly expensive to maintain as the average of maintenance cost of other midsize SUVs is $573.

According to RepairPal, about 18% of the Chevy Traverse problems turn out to be major issues. This is above the average for midsize SUVs, which is 13%. 

The severe repairs of the Traverse cost 3x the average, making it more expensive to maintain than other midsize SUV’s.

Below are some common repairs on the Chevy Traverse and their respective cost:

1. Battery Cable Replacement: $194 – $259
2. Car Starter Repair: $848 – $1292
3. Brake Pads: Front Replacement $288 – $412
4. Head Light Bulb: High Beam Replacement $142 – $178
5. Old Pump replacement: $1,411 – $1,709
6. Heater Hose Replacement: $250 – $271

How Long Do the Brakes Last?

The longevity of your brakes depends primarily on how you drive your Traverse. It has been estimated that Chevy Traverse brake pads can last up to 70,000 miles.

The estimation is further stretched to a lower bound of 30,000 miles and a higher bound of 70,000 miles based on how the brake is handled.

If you are used to applying brakes heavily e.g., in stop-and-go traffic, the brake might wear out fast.

How Long Do the Tires Last?

A well-maintained Chevrolet Traverse tire can last about 50,000 miles, which is about 3 to 4 years if you drive an average of 15,000 miles per year.

For tire maintenance, the most important factor to consider is the tire pressure. The recommended tire pressure for the Chevy Traverse is inscribed in the driver’s door jamb.

Also, regular wheel alignment and tire rotation will prolong the tires’ life by reducing the uneven wear.

How Long Do the Transmissions Last?

Your Chevy Traverse’s transmission should last up to 130,000 to 180,000 miles.

However, proper servicing is paramount to keep the transmission system in a good shape.

Transmission maintenance activities include:

• Ensure regular topping/flushing of the fluid level.
• Never skip scheduled servicing.
• Fix problems immediately you discover it.
• Don’t abuse your transmission, especially if you have an automatic transmission.

How Long Do the Spark Plugs Last?

The Chevy Traverse spark plugs can last between 30,000 and 40,000 miles before it’s due for replacement.

Check the spark plugs at intervals to see if they still ignite the air/fuel mixture which makes the engine produce power.

What About Insurance Cost?

The insurance cost varies from person to person and company to company.

According to finder.com, the average insurance costs for a Chevy Traverse is $129 per month or $1,552 annually.

Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Chevrolet Traverse

Tips to prolong the life of your Chevy Traverse are in two broad categories:

1. Component/Body Maintenance

• Avoid over-the-top modifications
• Use only high-quality spare parts or after-market attachments
• Check your tire pressures at regular intervals
• Keep up to date with factory scheduled maintenance
• Keep the vehicle stored in a garage, out of the outdoor elements
• Use ceramic or wax coating to protect the bodywork against contaminants and minor scratches
• Wash the vehicle regularly, particularly after driving over salt and snow

2. Engine Servicing

• Keep fluids topped up and check fluid levels regularly
• Check engine oil every two weeks
• Use quality engine parts and fluids
• Do not overload your vehicle engine by exceeding the towing limits.

Resources

Chevrolet Traverse Engine Problems | carcomplaints.com

Chevrolet Transverse Reliability Rating |repairpal.com

Chevrolet Traverse | jdpower.com

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