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FWD platform

2016 Chevrolet Traverse

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Traverse.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2016 Chevrolet Traverse is a front-wheel-drive SUV equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and an EPA fuel economy rating of 15 city, 22 highway, and 17 combined mpg, with an engine oil capacity of 6.0 quarts using 5W-30 or 0W-30 viscosity. This model year accumulated 290 total owner complaints, with air bags representing the top complaint area, alongside five recalls during its production run. Compared to the Traverse's complaint history spanning 2009 to 2026, the 2016 model falls between the 2010 peak of 668 complaints and the 2026 low of 18, placing it in the middle range of the model's reliability trajectory. For researchers evaluating this generation, these figures indicate moderate but notable complaint frequency relative to both earlier and later model years.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 0W-30OEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/22/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 660 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 660 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Tire sizeP245/70R17OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731742
Engine air filter	15278634
Spark plug	12681660
Battery	88866309
Front wiper blades	20945800 alt 20945799
Serpentine belt	12654815
Thermostat	12689041
Cabin air filter	20958479

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	203.5 in
Overall width	78.3 in
Overall height	70.1 in
Wheelbase	118.9 in
Curb weight	4844 lb
Track (front / rear)	67.3 / 66.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 22 / 17 mpg
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Traverse of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.3–7.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.30 sec — 2018 LT Leather

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2018	LT Leather 3.6L V6	6.30 sec	14.90 sec	310 hp	FWD
2018	High Country 3.6L V6	6.50 sec	15.10 sec	310 hp	AWD
2018	Premier 3.6L V6	6.70 sec	15.10 sec	310 hp	AWD
2018	Premier 3.6L V6	6.70 sec	15.20 sec	310 hp	AWD
2018	RS 2.0L Turbo I-4	6.80 sec	15.30 sec	257 hp	FWD
2018	LT Leather 3.6L V6	6.90 sec	15.30 sec	310 hp	FWD
2018	RS 2.0L Turbo I-4	7.10 sec	15.50 sec	257 hp	FWD
2019	RS 3.6L V6	6.70 sec	15.10 sec	310 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 / 0W-30 engine oil, SAE 75W · GL-5 · Synthetic in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 15.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-4-3-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	DEXRON(R)-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	4.0-6.0
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SAE 75W · GL-5 · Synthetic
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.7 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · SAE 5W · synthetic · 0W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	6.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	GM part number 89021185

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	89 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15 ft/lbs.
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	15.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	6.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission	43.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	Install a new nut and torque to 173.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	Install a new nut and torque to 151.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	Install a new nut and torque to 173.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-5-4-3-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Ac Delco
Spark Plug Gap	.037 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque	13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	7.80 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	660 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	194-225 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	43-58 psi at idle psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-100
Engine Compression	125 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	Front: 47; Rear: 20 /; Front: 47; Rear: 20
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	Front: 129; Rear: 129 /
ABS Sensor Torque	6.6 / NS
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: 1.080; Rear: .720
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish	Front: 1.090; Rear: .730
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	.001
Maximum Rotor Runout	.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

120

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: loosen all bolts completely, Step 3: 18.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 110

22 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep M11 Bolts

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	150 degrees; M8 Bolts	150 degrees
1	11.0 ft. lbs.	11 ft. lbs
2	75 degrees	75 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 22,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Traverse sits at a notable inflection point in the first-generation arc: its 290 complaints represent a local low between the 2014 spike (547) and the 2017–2018 resurgence (358 and 452), while investigations drop to zero for the first time since 2009. Recalls hold at five — consistent with the 2011–2015 range — but technical service bulletins decline to 1,141 from a generation peak of 1,669 in 2013, suggesting diminishing factory service activity. Air-bag complaints dominate the 2016 profile at 154 of 290 total, with power-train and steering each at 16; the data does not specify root causes for any category. Crash and fire complaints remain low at eight and one respectively. Compared to adjacent years, 2016 shows improving federal metrics on complaints and investigations, though the air-bag concentration warrants verification of related recall completion. This is a comparatively strong year to buy provided all five recalls and the air-bag campaign are documented as resolved.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

1141

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

290

Owner complaints

8 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15’16’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 290 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags154

Power Train16

Steering16

Electrical System9

Unknown Or Other9

Power Train,Engine4

Seat Belts4

Visibility/Wiper3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V609000Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:MotorReported 29/09/2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured August 18, 2015 to September 24, 2015. Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield… Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover assembly, free of charge. Owners are advised not to use their front windshield wipers until the…

15V833000SeatsReported 11/12/2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured November 6, 2015, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a the third row… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row left side lower seat frame, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1141 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U	2026-01-08	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G	2025-11-20	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Traverse. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 battery Vehicles taking 6.0 qt FWD-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 12731742 Engine air filter 15278634 Spark plug 12681660 Battery 88866309

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2016 Traverse take?

6.0 qt of 5W-30 meeting GM Dexos 1 specification or equivalent. Where temperatures fall below -20 degreesF, GM recommends using either an SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or an SAN 0W-30 oil., per the factory manual.

Does the 2016 Traverse have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Traverse get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 17 combined mpg.