Used Chevy Traverse Buying Guide: V6 vs Turbo, Seats, Recalls and History

Buying a used Chevy Traverse starts with the generation. The 2013-2017 Traverse is the first-generation body with the 3.6-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic. The 2018-2023 Traverse got a 310-hp 3.6 V6 and a nine-speed (plus a 2.0 turbo RS), and the 2024-and-newer Traverse dropped the V6 for a 2.5-liter turbo four. Then confirm the big VIN-specific recalls, above all the driver air bag inflator recall on 2014-2017 SUVs, check whether it seats seven or eight, and run title and fleet history.

We decoded Traverse VIN patterns in NHTSA's vPIC decoder on October 13, 2026, and every one, from a 2013 1LT to a 2026 Z71, came back built at Lansing Delta Township in Michigan. So the plant tells you nothing. The engine code tells you plenty: our 2013 and 2017 patterns returned the LLT 3.6, our 2018, 2020 and 2023 patterns returned the LFY 3.6, and our 2025 RS and 2026 Z71 patterns returned the LK0 2.5. For the other VIN positions, see our Chevrolet VIN decoder.

Three generations, and one 2024 trap

The 2018 redesign is where most used shoppers should start. In its 2018 first drive, Car and Driver listed the 3.6-liter V6 at 310 hp with a nine-speed automatic, three more gears than the old truck, and noted a front-drive-only RS with a 255-hp turbo 2.0 and the same nine-speed. Shifts were smooth in that test, with some jerkiness under aggressive driving. The 2024 redesign is the turbo four. Car and Driver's current Traverse page lists a 2.5-liter turbo four with an eight-speed automatic as the only powertrain, and says the AWD model it tested was slower to 60 mph than the old V6.

The trap is the 2024 model year. MotorTrend explained that Chevy sold a 2024 Traverse Limited, the old second-generation SUV with the 310-hp V6, alongside the new 2024 Traverse with the turbo four. So a "2024 Traverse" listing could be either one. Look at the VIN engine code and the dash before you compare prices, because they are different vehicles with different parts.

Seven or eight seats

Seating is a real fork, so check it in person. Car and Driver says current trims seat seven with second-row captain's chairs, and a second-row bench on the LT raises that to eight. Older trucks came both ways too, and Car and Driver's 2018 specs list seven- or eight-passenger layouts. Sit in the third row, slide the second row forward, and work every latch, especially if the truck hauled kids every day for six years. Cross-shopping? Our used Honda Pilot buying guide and used Ford Explorer buying guide cover the closest rivals.

Recalls to confirm by VIN

The one we would not buy around is the driver air bag inflator. Recall 23V-334 covers about 995,000 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia SUVs whose driver air bag inflator may explode in a crash; dealers replace the module, and GM said it would keep mailing final owner letters through December 2025. A smaller earlier campaign, 21V-782, covered some 2013-2017 Traverses for the same failure. Older 2009-2013 trucks also had a large side air bag wiring recall, 14V-118, fixed with soldered connections.

Second-generation trucks have different issues. Recall 20V-668 covered about 194,000 GM vehicles, 2018-2020 Traverses included, whose start/stop transmission accumulator endcap may be missing bolts. Recall 19V-643 covered about 3,400 2020 Enclaves and Traverses with a possibly cracked right-hand frame rail in the engine bay, and GM's remedy was to inspect and, as necessary, replace the vehicle. On 2023 trucks, recall 23V-172 says some transmissions were built with the wrong sun gear, which can let the driver-side half-shaft disengage. Check the exact VIN with our post on checking recalls by VIN.

Fleet use, accidents and the title

Look, a three-row SUV this size often has a busy life, and the history report is where that shows. Read the ownership lines for rental or fleet use, check odometer readings for gaps, and look hard at any front-end damage on a 2020 given that frame rail recall. Our post on frame damage on CARFAX explains what that entry means. CARFAX says its reports can show title brands, odometer readings, ownership and reported accidents. Order it yourself; a seller's PDF can be edited, and a salvage brand is easy to crop out. As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle is about $6.75, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 at retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian.

Sources

• NHTSA vPIC VIN Decoder
• NHTSA: GM recall report 23V-334 (driver air bag inflator)
• NHTSA: GM recall report 20V-668 (start/stop accumulator)
• NHTSA: GM recall report 19V-643 (frame rail)
• Car and Driver: 2018 Traverse first drive
• Car and Driver: Chevrolet Traverse
• MotorTrend: 2024 Traverse vs Traverse Limited
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports