2015 Chevrolet Traverse

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2015 models.

Chevrolet Traverse
Pictured: 2023 Chevrolet Traverse LT 3.6 V6 in Sterling Gray Metallic, front left. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Body styles
Ls/Lt/Ltz AWD 4dr SUV, Ls/Lt/Ltz FWD 4dr SUV
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
MPG (best)
19 combined · 17 city / 24 hwy
Length
203.5 in
Curb weight
4,645–4,844 lb
NHTSA rating
★★★★★
Recalls
5 campaigns

Pros & cons

What's good

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.

Watch out for

No weak spots against similar models in the data.

Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 13 similar 2015 models — not a review. How we calculate this →

Overview

The 2015 Chevrolet Traverse is a standard SUV offered with a 3.6L 6-cyl engine and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.

It measures about 204 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 119-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,844 lb (Ls/Lt/Ltz AWD 4dr SUV).

EPA rates its most efficient version at 19 MPG combined (17 city / 24 highway), 2% better than the 2015 standard SUV average of 18.7 MPG, for an estimated $3,550 a year in fuel.

In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.

It has 5 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 313 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.

What changed for 2015

No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2014 Traverse — a carry-over year in the data.

Compared with 2014; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2014 Traverse →

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
Ls/Lt/Ltz AWD 4dr SUV203.5 in78.3 in70.1 in118.9 in67.3 / 66.9 in4,844 lb55/45
Ls/Lt/Ltz FWD 4dr SUV203.5 in78.3 in70.1 in118.9 in67.3 / 66.9 in4,645 lb55/45

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Traverse FWD3.6L 6-cylAutomatic 6-spdFront-Wheel Drive17 / 24 / 19+2%$3,550465
Traverse AWD3.6L 6-cylAutomatic 6-spdAll-Wheel Drive16 / 23 / 19+4%$3,550476
4/10EPA fuel economy score (best version)
4/10EPA greenhouse gas score
Spend $5,750Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
18.7 MPG2015 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2015 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

VersionOverallFrontalDriver / passengerSideSide poleRolloverRollover risk
2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★5★ / 5★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★16.9%
2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★5★ / 5★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★15.5%
StandardElectronic stability control
OptionalForward collision warning
OptionalLane departure warning
Frontal crash test — 2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD
Frontal crash test — 2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD. Photo: NHTSA.
Side crash test — 2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD
Side crash test — 2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV FWD. Photo: NHTSA.

Similar 2015 standard SUVs

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2015 Chevrolet Traverse (this car)19 MPG★★★★★5
2015 Toyota Land Cruiser15 MPGNot rated4
2015 Ford Explorer23 MPG★★★★★8
2015 GMC Yukon18 MPG★★★★★10
2015 Chevrolet Tahoe18 MPG★★★★★16
2015 Ford Expedition18 MPG★★★★★3
2015 Nissan Pathfinder26 MPG★★★★★6

Recalls (5)

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · May 10, 2023

NHTSA campaign 23V334000 · 995,085 vehicles

Problem
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · Apr 14, 2022

NHTSA campaign 22V246000 · 2,687 vehicles

Problem
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix
Dealers will replace the drivers air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222366190.
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · Oct 7, 2021

NHTSA campaign 21V782000 · 555 vehicles

Problem
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 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 N212349040.
Air Bags › Critical Fasteners · Apr 8, 2021

NHTSA campaign 21V246000 · 108 vehicles

Problem
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
Risk
Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.
Tires · Jan 28, 2015

NHTSA campaign 15V044000 · 9,074 vehicles

Problem
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured December 9, 2014, to January 14, 2015, 2015 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured December 9, 2014, to January 20, 2015, and 2015 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured December 9, 2014, to January 16, 2015, and all equipped with Goodyear P255/65R18 Fortera HL tires. These vehicles are equipped with tires that may experience tread cracking. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less."
Risk
If the tire treads crack, a loss of tire pressure and possible tire failure may result, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tires that were manufactured within a specific date range, free of charge. The rec all began on March 9, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 15025/15067. Note: This recall is for Goodyear P255/65R18 Fortera HL tires installed as original equipment. For tires that were purchased as replacement equipment, see recall 15T-002.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2015 Chevrolet Traverse is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

313Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
10Involved a crash
3Involved a fire
11Injuries reported
52,000 miTypical mileage at failure
Air Bags160
Engine37
Electrical System27
Steering26
Unknown Or Other23
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)22
Vehicle Speed Control21
Power Train20
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
23/09: 1123/10: 1323/11: 923/12: 524/01: 1524/02: 1224/03: 624/04: 324/05: 324/07: 624/09: 124/10: 124/12: 125/01: 225/03: 325/07: 225/08: 225/09: 125/11: 125/12: 226/01: 126/02: 126/04: 326/08: 123/0923/1224/0324/0724/1225/0725/1126/02max 15

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Used 2015 Chevrolet Traverse buyer's checklist

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
  2. Air Bags — 160 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
  3. Engine — 37 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
  4. Electrical System — 27 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
  5. Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 52,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
  6. Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.

Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Traverse. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Other Traverse years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2027 Traverse22–Not rated01
2026 Traverse22204.3 inNot rated126
2025 Traverse23204.3 in★★★★★0185
2024 Traverse23204.3 in★★★★★0143
2023 Traverse21205.9 in★★★★★295
2022 Traverse21205.9 in★★★★★1101
2021 Traverse21204.3 in★★★★★392
2020 Traverse21204.3 in★★★★★8235
2019 Traverse22204.3 in★★★★★3412
2018 Traverse22204.3 in★★★★★2465
2017 Traverse18203.5 in★★★★★3361
2016 Traverse18203.5 in★★★★★5292

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Chevrolet. How we calculate this →