Midsize and three-row SUVs · 9 model years, 2014 to 2026
Ford Explorer vs Chevrolet Traverse: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Traverse looks better on 4 and the Explorer on 2, with 1 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2026 | Explorer | Traverse |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.0% | 2.8% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 2.2% | 1.9% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 57,000 | 49,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 8.8 | 2.3 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 8 | 3 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Explorer owners complain about most is structure; for the Traverse it is airbags. Complaints citing structure make up 24% of all Explorer complaints, against 1.8% on the Traverse. The Traverse leans the other way on airbags: 31% of its complaints, against 2.9% for the Explorer.
Ford ExplorerChevrolet Traverse
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Explorer is windshield problems (9.7% of its complaints). On the Traverse it is airbag problems (31% of its complaints), against 2.8% on the Explorer.
| Problem | Explorer | Traverse |
|---|---|---|
| Airbag warning light or recall | 2.8% 278most in 2016 · 60k mi | 31% 865most in 2017 · 65k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 4.4% 441most in 2016 · 44k mi | 9.9% 275most in 2014 · 44k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 6.0% 597most in 2015 · 67k mi | 4.7% 131most in 2018 · 50k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 2.1% 205most in 2020 · 20k mi | 8.3% 231most in 2025 · 17k mi |
| Power steering cuts out or goes heavy | 8.1% 802most in 2014 · 70k mi | 2.3% 6359k mi |
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 9.7% 967most in 2017 · 79k mi | 0.2% 6 |
| Check engine light or misfire | 2.3% 227most in 2016 · 80k mi | 6.7% 186most in 2014 · 65k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 3.5% 345most in 2020 · 64k mi | 4.7% 130most in 2018 · 60k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Traverse owners report problems earlier. Half the Traverse complaints that give a mileage come before 49,000 miles; for the Explorer the halfway point is 57,000. 43% of Explorer reports and 51% of Traverse reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Ford ExplorerChevrolet Traverse
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 5,475 for the Explorer and 1,044 for the Traverse.
Worst and best years
The 2016 Explorer draws 2.7 times the complaints of a typical Explorer year for its age. The 2018 Traverse draws 1.6 times the complaints of a typical Traverse year for its age.
Ford Explorer
Ford ExplorerChevrolet Traverse
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Explorer draws more recalls: 8.8 campaigns per model year against 2.3 for the Traverse. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Ford Explorer
79 recall campaigns and 8 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: backup camera (12), transmission and drivetrain (11) and seats (8).
- 24V-031 (structure) covers 6 model years
- 19V-435 (suspension) covers 4 model years
Investigations
- DP25001: Underbody shields detachment (closed)
- RQ23002: Rear axle bolt failure (closed, led to a recall)
- PE23001: Windshield trim molding item detachment (closed, led to a recall)
Chevrolet Traverse
21 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (7), transmission and drivetrain (3) and tires (3).
- 21V-246 (airbags) covers 6 model years
- 21V-782 (airbags) covers 4 model years
Investigations
- EA26006: Electronic brake module component failure (open)
- EA20002: Outboard front seat belt anchor cable failure (closed, led to a recall)
- RQ19003: Seat belt anchor cable failure (closed)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Traverse complaints report a crash: 2.8%, against 2.0% for the Explorer. Fires are rare on both. Complaints on file report 2 deaths in the Explorer and 2 in the Traverse for these model years.
Ford ExplorerChevrolet Traverse
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Ford Explorer or the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Traverse looks better on 4 and the Explorer on 2, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Explorer has 9,918 complaints and the Traverse 2,785 for the 9 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Explorer or the Traverse?
The Explorer has 79 recall campaigns and the Traverse 21 across the 9 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file. The Explorer draws more recalls: 8.8 campaigns per model year against 2.3 for the Traverse.
What are the most common problems on the Explorer and the Traverse?
The most reported problem on the Explorer is windshield problems (9.7% of its complaints). On the Traverse it is airbag problems (31% of its complaints), against 2.8% on the Explorer.
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