Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Dodge Durango?

No, the Durango has a slight edge. It drew 5.4 complaints per 10,000 sold against 7.2 for the Traverse. Its unscheduled shop visits are 0.2 a year versus 0.4, and 13% of its repairs are major versus 18%. Both are rated good, so the difference is small.

Which has more recalls, the Traverse or the Durango?

The Durango has more. Federal recall records show 27 across nine model years for the Durango and 19 for the Traverse. Recall count alone does not decide reliability, since several Durango owners report brake hydraulic recall parts being unavailable for a year or more.

Which costs less to repair, the Traverse or the Durango?

The Traverse costs slightly less, at about $656 a year against $675 for the Durango. That is roughly $95 over five years. The Durango is less likely to need a major repair, so the cheaper yearly figure does not mean lower risk.

What is the common exhaust problem on the Traverse?

Front exhaust pipe brackets crack at their welds, and the pipe then tears. It begins as a rattle at startup and can become a loud clang, with exhaust fumes in the cabin. Failures appear from about 53,000 miles. GM special coverage applies to 2019 and 2021 but not 2020.

What goes wrong with the Durango tail lights?

Water leaks into the liftgate racetrack tail light and burns out LED sections, often taking the license plate lights with it. Failures show up as early as 17,000 miles. Single bulbs cannot be replaced, so the fix is a full assembly quoted at roughly $1,500 to $2,000.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Traverse vs Dodge Durango: Reliability Compared

Chevrolet Traverse

Good

More Reliable

Dodge Durango

Good

Dodge Durango edges out the Chevrolet Traverse on reliability, though both rate good. The deciding fact is shop time: the Durango makes half as many unscheduled visits per year and is less likely to need a major repair. The Traverse has fewer recalls and a slightly lower repair bill.

How Do the Chevrolet Traverse and Dodge Durango Generations Compare?

Second-generation status defines the Traverse years a shopper will see. That generation ran from the 2018 model year through 2024, with a facelift in 2022, and a third generation is listed as starting in 2024. Anything from 2018 to 2021 is pre-facelift, and 2018 is among the weakest years. For the Durango, the third generation began in 2011 and is listed through 2023, with facelifts in 2014 and 2021. Every Durango from 2018 on belongs to that long-running design. Its 2021 facelift year is still one of its weaker years. Newer years of both have had less time to collect complaints, so they are not proven better.

Verdict

The Dodge Durango is more reliable than the Chevrolet Traverse, scoring 72/100 vs 70/100.

A slight edge goes to the Dodge Durango. Owners filed fewer complaints per vehicle sold, it makes about half as many unscheduled shop visits, and a repair is less likely to be major. The Traverse counters with fewer recalls and a marginally lower yearly repair bill, so the gap is narrow. Both stand as good. The deciding factor is how often each one needs the shop and how serious the visit turns out to be.

Key Differences

1Chevrolet Traverse costs $19 less per year to repair
2Chevrolet Traverse has 8 fewer total recalls
3Dodge Durango has 5% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

3Chevrolet Traverse

—

4Dodge Durango

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Traverse vs Dodge Durango: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Dodge Durango at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Traverse	Dodge Durango
Reliability Score	70/100	72/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	19	27
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.2	5.4
Annual Repair Cost	$656/yr	$675/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.2/yr
Major Repair Risk	18%	13%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2	7

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Traverse and Dodge Durango?

Drivetrain and safety systems dominate the Traverse complaints: AWD shutting off, RPM sticking high with a false park state, alternators dying early, and cracked front exhaust brackets that let fumes into the cabin. Its brake complaints include failure to stop at low speeds and carry 7 crash links, versus 2 for the Durango. Durango problems are more about water and parts supply. Racetrack tail lights fill with water, cooling lines rub through, and brake hydraulic recalls wait on parts. Exterior lighting is the one Durango area with a crash link that the Traverse lacks.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Dodge Durango common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Traverse	Dodge Durango
POWER TRAIN	2.2Low	0.5Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.1Low	1.3Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	1.3Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	0.2Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.7Very Low	0.3Very Low
ENGINE	0.6Very Low	0.3Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.2Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Traverse or Dodge Durango?

Annual repair cost favors the Traverse slightly, at about $656 against $675 for the Durango. That is $19 a year, or roughly $95 over five years. The gap runs the other way on risk. The Durango makes 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year against 0.4 for the Traverse, and 13% of its repairs are major versus 18%. One expensive Durango tail light assembly could erase the Traverse's savings.

How Does Chevrolet Traverse vs Dodge Durango Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Dodge Durango year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Traverse	Dodge Durango	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 6C	82/1000R / 0C	Dodge Durango
2025	75/1000R / 132C	78/1000R / 5C	Dodge Durango
2024	73/1000R / 107C	78/1000R / 6C	Dodge Durango
2023	72/1002R / 62C	75/1002R / 27C	Dodge Durango
2022	73/1001R / 76C	71/1006R / 47C	Chevrolet Traverse
2021	71/1003R / 72C	65/1007R / 159C	Chevrolet Traverse
2020	62/1008R / 188C	72/1003R / 62C	Dodge Durango
2019	62/1003R / 358C	67/1004R / 128C	Dodge Durango
2018	62/1002R / 416C	64/1005R / 219C	Dodge Durango

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse scored 73/100 and the 2024 Dodge Durango scored 78/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Traverse vs the Dodge Durango?

Pick the Durango if you want fewer shop trips and a lower chance of a big bill. It suits you if you can live with a possible tail light repair and can confirm that brake hydraulic recall work was done before you buy. Target 2024 over 2018 or 2021, which are its weakest years. Check the rear coolant lines and the tail light for moisture. Pick the Traverse if you want the lower yearly repair cost and fewer recalls, and you value a three-row layout in a midsize body. Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. Ask for proof of alternator history and listen for an exhaust rattle at startup. GM special coverage for the exhaust bracket applies to 2019 and 2021 but not 2020, so a 2020 leaves that cost on you. Test the brakes at parking speeds and watch for AWD Service messages on the drive.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Dodge Durango: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Dodge Durango?: No, the Durango has a slight edge. It drew 5.4 complaints per 10,000 sold against 7.2 for the Traverse. Its unscheduled shop visits are 0.2 a year versus 0.4, and 13% of its repairs are major versus 18%. Both are rated good, so the difference is small.
Which has more recalls, the Traverse or the Durango?: The Durango has more. Federal recall records show 27 across nine model years for the Durango and 19 for the Traverse. Recall count alone does not decide reliability, since several Durango owners report brake hydraulic recall parts being unavailable for a year or more.
Which costs less to repair, the Traverse or the Durango?: The Traverse costs slightly less, at about $656 a year against $675 for the Durango. That is roughly $95 over five years. The Durango is less likely to need a major repair, so the cheaper yearly figure does not mean lower risk.
What is the common exhaust problem on the Traverse?: Front exhaust pipe brackets crack at their welds, and the pipe then tears. It begins as a rattle at startup and can become a loud clang, with exhaust fumes in the cabin. Failures appear from about 53,000 miles. GM special coverage applies to 2019 and 2021 but not 2020.
What goes wrong with the Durango tail lights?: Water leaks into the liftgate racetrack tail light and burns out LED sections, often taking the license plate lights with it. Failures show up as early as 17,000 miles. Single bulbs cannot be replaced, so the fix is a full assembly quoted at roughly $1,500 to $2,000.

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More Dodge Durango comparisons

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How we score the Chevrolet Traverse and Dodge Durango

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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