2022 Chevrolet Traverse: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, engine, and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2022- Owner complaints
- 76
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes reported
- 2
- 5 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2022 Chevrolet Traverse: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Traverse is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 20–21 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Traverse that averages well under the EPA 20 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Early transmission failure
13,000–14,000 miles
False Shift to Park warning
22,168–65,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Transmission311 crash
A "Shift to Park" warning appears even when the lever is already in park, and the car will not shut off. Drivers restart, cycle through gears and wiggle the shifter to clear it. Reports cluster between about 22,168 and 65,000 miles, and dealers often replace the shifter at the owner's cost. A second pattern is outright transmission failure under 14,000 miles: lost power, limp mode, refusal to accelerate and a check engine light, sometimes ending in a valve body or full transmission replacement. One injury report describes the car lunging backward while stopped.
Engine8No crashes
The front exhaust pipe bracket breaks, cracking one or both exhaust pipes. Symptoms include a rattle, hissing, a loud exhaust leak and fumes entering the cabin. GM special coverage exists, but owners say it covers only one pipe and some 2022 cars were left out. One report cites a parts shortage that left the car undriveable without a loaner. A cracked manifold drew a quote of almost $2500. Separate reports describe sudden loss of power or stalling at speed, including one with lost power steering on the highway.
Electrical7No crashes
Electrical faults vary widely. Some cars will not start and show "Battery Saver Active", needing jump starts at only 6K miles. Others have the radio and instrument cluster go black, cruise control drop out, or the pedestrian warning brake the car for no reason, which nearly caused a collision in one report. OnStar failures trace to a telematics module that was backordered for weeks. Several filings here also describe the false "Shift to Park" warning and front exhaust pipe leaks that let fumes into the cabin.
Brakes51 crash
Front brakes grind intermittently, as early as 5K miles, and some owners report repeated pad replacements as stopping power fades. One crash report describes a stiff pedal at about 59 mph that failed to slow the car, ending in a sideswipe stopped only with the parking brake. Other reports describe the forward collision alert triggering a grinding brake action without slowing the car, and a parking brake that would not release. Dealers often cannot reproduce the problems.
Exterior lights3No crashes
Low-mounted LED headlights with a sharp horizontal cutoff leave the road dark over small hills and dips. Drivers say they lose sight of animals and the road ahead unless they use high beams. In rain and snow, visibility drops further, and the low position lets slush from other cars cover the lenses, forcing stops to wipe them. These reports describe headlight design, not a part failure.
Steering2No crashes
An ESC failure with a reduced steering warning appears within the first year, in one case at 8574 miles. Another report describes the steering wheel pulling with a grinding noise, along with the vehicle shutting down at 60 mph on the highway. Active electrical codes were present, but the dealer could not duplicate the stopping problem, so it went unrepaired. Only two complaints are on file.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Traverse owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Around 65,000 miles I started to get a "Shift to Park" message when I tried to turn off the engine. The car was already in park. This is continuing to happen. I see that it has been an issue on this model since 2016. There needs to be a recall on this issue. You need to be able to turn off your car. Service Bulletins have been sent out but no recall.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
On January 20th 2023 I was involved in a 4 car wreck, I was hit twice very hard and non of my air bags deployed sending me into the steering wheel causing extreme injuries.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2023
Auto developed a rattle and we could not locate the noise. Then we started hearing an exhaust leak and that was leaving carbon deposits on the flex pipe and bracket. Took car to dealership and it was 11,000 out of warranty. The broken pipe and gasket were replaced at my cost. This appears to be a known issue caused by broken or poor weld. GM has a service bulletin for this issue (PIP5681C) but it just covers cars up to year 2021 and not the 2022 year.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2024
After buying 2022 Chevrolet Traverse premier started to notice a hissing noise. When I got somone to look at it I was informed that the weld on the bracket had broke. Since then due to vibration my exhaust manifold has cracked and I was quoted almost $2500 to repair it. I have noticed that I'm Not The Only One online but it's dealing with this issue that there are several people that have the exact same issue.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2025
2022 Traverse won't start everyday, needs Jump start multiple times a day. "Battery Saver Active" is displayed on dashboard. Randomly noticed "service ECS", "service parking brake" messages on dashboard. This vehicle is not reliable and will have you stranded in middle of road, vehicle is driven only 6K miles.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2023
When returning home I had trouble turning off the vehicle. I was getting error to shift to park when it was already in park. Had to cycle multiple times before it registered it was in park. Less than 60k miles but does not appear as a recall and does not appear to be under warranty.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
2022 Chevy Traverse LS with 5K miles only. Brakes have been a problem. The front brakes make grinding noise randomly. Sometimes I feel that car runs fine and few days, it make lot of grinding noise. Did a search on Internet and noticed that 2021 Traverse is having similar issue with brake parts (material). Disappointed that this vehicle is having issue.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2022
Brakes began making noise soon after purchasing, was told the sound was normal. Eventually brakes started to fail car would not stop even at slow speeds. Was told it needed new brake pads. Replaced pads then a couple months pads began to grind and again brakes would not stop. Was told I needed to replace pads ice again.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
How the 2022 compares with other Traverse years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2022 ranks sixth for owner complaints among 9 Traverse years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Transmission3150
- Engine819
- Electrical727
- Brakes517
- Exterior lights31
- Steering25
Where the 2022 fits in the Traverse's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2022 is the fifth model year of the Traverse's second generation (2018–2024).
It is also the first year of a mid-cycle update.
What changed for 2022
- Grille similar to redesigned Suburban/Tahoe
- Thin LED headlights and tail lights
- New daytime running lights with integrated LED turn signals
- New interior seating options
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Recalls to confirm (1)
Recall repairs are free at any Chevrolet dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
22V210000AirbagsMar 2022
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
Risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212352140.
Also looking at these instead of a Traverse?
Cars shoppers compare with the Chevrolet Traverse, with their own 2022 checklists.
2022 owner complaints, side by side
- Buick Enclave12
- 2022 Chevrolet Traverse76
- Ford Edge113
- Nissan Pathfinder119
- Toyota Highlander186
- Ford Explorer208
- Volkswagen Atlas217
