13 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
The transmission in these Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC SUVs may have been built with the wrong gear inside. Because of that, the axle shaft on the driver's side can come apart from the transmission. If it does, the vehicle can suddenly lose the power that drives the wheels. It also means the vehicle may roll away after you shift into park, because park no longer holds it in place.
A small retaining ring may be missing from the left-side axle shaft, the part that carries engine power out to the wheel. Without that ring the shaft's inner joint can come apart. If it does, the vehicle can lose drive power and stop moving, and parking gear may no longer hold it in place, meaning it could roll away by itself after you park and step out. Dealers install a new left-side axle shaft assembly for free.
The wiring plug that connects to the airbags built into the roof above the side windows may have the wrong type of metal connectors inside. Because the parts don't match properly, the connection may not work, and the side curtain airbags on the left or right may not inflate during a crash. Owners of certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave models are affected. A dealer will replace the connector.
A screw and clip that hold a plastic cover inside the wheel well can rub against the transmission, the part that sends engine power to the wheels. That rubbing can wear through and let transmission fluid leak out. If enough fluid leaks, the vehicle can lose the power to move. Leaking fluid can also catch fire if it reaches something hot. This only affects Traverse vehicles converted by Braun with a power in-floor wheelchair ramp.
While these SUVs were in for service at a dealer, some of them had the wrong software loaded into the system that controls the front airbags. That software decides how the airbags fire in a front-end crash. With the wrong version in place, the front airbags may not go off the way they are supposed to in a crash. There is no warning light or symptom; a dealer loads the correct software.
The side curtain airbags are the long bags that drop down over the windows in a side crash or rollover. On these vehicles they may not be fastened to the body correctly, because the weld nuts holding them can be out of line. A bag that is not held firmly may not work the way it is supposed to. A dealer inspects the mounting and realigns or replaces those nuts. Owner letters went out in May 2021.
Some Continental tires on these vehicles were heated too long when they were made. A tire like that can crack in the sidewall and lose air all at once, or the tread can start peeling away from the tire. Either one can make the vehicle hard to control while you are driving. The dealer will look at your tires and replace any bad ones for free.
These Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles may have left the factory with Continental tires that were heated too long while being made. A tire made this way can crack in the sidewall and lose air suddenly, or the tread can start peeling away and come partly or completely off the tire. Either problem can happen while you are driving. Dealers will inspect your tires and replace any that match the specific tire codes Continental identified.
Inside the automatic transmission on these Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles is a part tied to the automatic stop/start system. The end cap on that part may be missing bolts. If bolts are missing, transmission fluid can leak out. A bad leak can leave the vehicle unable to move under its own power, which is dangerous if it happens in traffic. Leaking transmission fluid can also catch fire if it lands on something hot. A dealer will inspect the part and replace it if bolts are missing.
The fuel pump inside the gas tank pushes fuel to the engine. On these vehicles, a small piece of leftover plastic from the factory can be stuck in the pump's tiny nozzle. That bit can block the opening so the engine does not get enough fuel. If that happens, the engine can quit while you are driving, with no warning first. Dealers replace the whole fuel pump unit.
The roof-rail airbags run along the edge of the ceiling above the side windows and are meant to protect your head in a side crash or rollover. On these vehicles, a piece that directs gas into the airbag may not have been crimped onto the inflator tightly enough and can come off when the airbag deploys. If that happens, the airbag may not protect you as well in a crash. Dealers replace the affected airbag units at no cost.
The frame rail is a main steel beam that runs through the engine compartment and helps hold the vehicle together. On these SUVs, the rail on the passenger side may have left the factory with a crack in it. A cracked rail is weaker than it should be, so in a crash it may not crumple and absorb force the way it was designed to, and people inside could be hurt more badly. GM will replace the entire vehicle if the crack is found.
The computer that decides when to fire the airbags was left in a factory setting used during manufacturing. In that setting, it will not set off the airbags, so they may not inflate in a crash. Affected cars are certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Traverse and Chevrolet Trax models. The fix is quick: a dealer reprograms the computer to the correct setting at no charge.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Traverse. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 460 | 9 | 2 | 7 |
| 2019 | 404 | 14 | 2 | 16 |
| 2020 | 225 | 11 | 1 | 7 |
| 2021 | 89 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 2022 | 98 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 2023 | 87 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: