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Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer: reliability compared

From 2009 to 2026, owners filed an average of 307 complaints per model year about the Chevrolet Traverse and 856 about the Ford Explorer.

Side by side

Chevrolet TraverseFord Explorer
Model years compared2009-20262009-2026
Owner complaints5,52715,407
Complaints per model year307856
Recalls33101
Years to avoidNone stand out20132014201520162017
Best years20132021202220192022
Most common problemEngineSteering
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy21-22 mpg combined (2026)19-24 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2009 Chevrolet Traverse: 4482009 Ford Explorer: 3320092010 Chevrolet Traverse: 6692010 Ford Explorer: 1152011 Chevrolet Traverse: 6082011 Ford Explorer: 1,19820112012 Chevrolet Traverse: 3542012 Ford Explorer: 8312013 Chevrolet Traverse: 1622013 Ford Explorer: 2,23920132014 Chevrolet Traverse: 5492014 Ford Explorer: 1,6842015 Chevrolet Traverse: 3142015 Ford Explorer: 1,82020152016 Chevrolet Traverse: 2922016 Ford Explorer: 2,4672017 Chevrolet Traverse: 3612017 Ford Explorer: 1,70620172018 Chevrolet Traverse: 4662018 Ford Explorer: 7362019 Chevrolet Traverse: 4122019 Ford Explorer: 30320192020 Chevrolet Traverse: 2352020 Ford Explorer: 1,2542021 Chevrolet Traverse: 952021 Ford Explorer: 45620212022 Chevrolet Traverse: 1032022 Ford Explorer: 2762023 Chevrolet Traverse: 952023 Ford Explorer: 11320232024 Chevrolet Traverse: 1482024 Ford Explorer: 212025 Chevrolet Traverse: 1862025 Ford Explorer: 11120252026 Chevrolet Traverse: 302026 Ford Explorer: 44
Chevrolet TraverseFord Explorer

Problems compared

TraverseExplorer
Engine1,2112,249
Airbags1,054407
Steering9563,500
Transmission9261,590
Electrical8601,161
Driver assistance671828
Body1083,180

Questions about the Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer

Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Traverse or the Ford Explorer?

Between 2009 and 2026, the Chevrolet Traverse has 0 years to avoid and the Ford Explorer 5. The Chevrolet Traverse has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Chevrolet Traverse drew fewer complaints per model year (307 vs 856), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Traverse or the Ford Explorer?

From 2009 to 2026, the Chevrolet Traverse was covered by 33 recalls and the Ford Explorer by 101.

What years of the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Explorer should you avoid?

Chevrolet Traverse: no year stands out. Ford Explorer: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

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