2016 Chevrolet Traverse · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 163owner reports
- 89,000median miles
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Jul 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
163 of the 292 complaints on this car describe airbag, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Traverse.
Narrower sheets: Takata airbag inflator recall (152 reports)
Tick what matches of 163 reports
Airbag on other Traverse years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Airbag complaints split into a few kinds. The most common is an airbag warning light that won't go out. Others involve the passenger seat sensor switching the passenger bag off with an adult sitting there, an airbag that didn't deploy in a crash, or one that went off without a crash at all. A large share also come from owners waiting on a recall part.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (11 reports), the inflator (8 reports) and the module (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the airbags cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
All 5 recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 12,000 and 130,000 miles, from the 9 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
THIS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON LOCATING AND RECONNECTING AIRBAG CONNECTORS THAT ARE NOT FULLY SEATED TO CORRECT A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF AN AIRBAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED, OR ONE, OR MORE, AIRBAG DTC(S) SET.
This informational bulletin provides information on Passenger Presence System (PPS) May Command Seat Belt Reminder Chime and Passenger Airbag Indicator On or Set DTC B101D When Electronic Devices or Conductive Objects are Placed on Front Passenger Seat
What owners wrote
“Recall of airbags was issued on May 10, 2023. We have been unable to use this vehicle in our fleet since the recall because of the safety issues. As of January 4, 2024, there is no fix or remedy available for this recall.”
Filed Jan 4, 2024
“There has been a recall for our vehicle, and the manufacturer has failed to remedy this serious safety recall for our 2016 Chevy Traverse in a timely manner. We no longer feel safe driving/riding in our traverse. I would like information on a refund and/or request the manufacturer to please purchase our traverse.”
Filed Nov 28, 2023
“The transmission blew while I was driving down the highway and my car dash was flashing transmission hot and My car would no longer move. It was smoking and leaked fluids everywhere. I was scared to death it was gonna catch fire but thankfully it didnât. I donât k it if the safety recall has anything to do with it but Larry Spacc has literally had my car at his shop waiting to be repaired since August!”
Filed Oct 8, 2023
“I received a recall notice from General Motors about the recall for my vehicle's airbags. I made an appointment to have the recall fixed at an authorized Chevrolet dealership. I was informed that there was no fix for the issue due to GM saying the recall had "No Remedy."”
Filed Aug 10, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 163 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works