Is the Ford Explorer more reliable than the Chevrolet Traverse?

No, but the gap is slight. The Traverse comes out ahead on far fewer recalls and a lower annual repair cost. The Explorer does better on shop visits and major repair odds. Both sit in good standing, so the specific model year and the car's history matter more than the badge.

Which has more recalls, the Explorer or the Traverse?

The Explorer, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 117 recalls across its nine model years, compared with 19 for the Traverse. Several Explorer owners also report waiting on parts for the rear camera recalls, so check a VIN for open recalls before buying.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Explorer or the Traverse?

The Traverse is cheaper per year, at an estimated $656 against $732 for the Explorer. That is roughly $380 less over five years. The Traverse does go to the shop more often, though, at 0.4 unscheduled visits a year against 0.2.

What is the common exhaust problem on the Chevrolet Traverse?

The front exhaust pipe bracket cracks at its welds, then the pipe tears. It starts as a rattle at startup and grows into a loud roar, sometimes with exhaust odor in the cabin. Reports run from about 53,000 to 118,000 miles. GM coverage applies to 2019 and 2021 but not 2020.

Do Ford Explorers have serious engine problems?

Some do. Owners report catastrophic failures, sometimes at low mileage, including metal in the oil, fractured timing chains, and coolant in the oil. Replacement quotes reach $11,000 to $12,000. Engine complaints are fewer than power train complaints, where harsh or erratic shifting is the main issue.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Traverse

Good

Ford Explorer

Good

A slight edge goes to the Chevrolet Traverse over the Ford Explorer, mainly on lower repair cost and far fewer recalls. Both rate good. The Explorer has fewer shop visits and a lower chance of a major repair, so the gap is small.

How Do the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Explorer Generations Compare?

Ford's data lists the Explorer's fifth generation running 2011 through 2019, with a 2016 facelift, and the sixth generation covering 2020 through 2023. That puts 2018 and 2019 in the older design, and 2020 and 2021, the weakest years, at the start of the sixth generation. Chevrolet's second-generation Traverse ran from 2018 with a 2022 facelift, and a third generation began with the 2024 model year. The Traverse's weakest years, 2018 and 2019, were the first two years of its second generation. Its strongest years, 2025 and 2026, are the newest, so they have had less time to collect complaints.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Traverse is more reliable than the Ford Explorer, scoring 70/100 vs 67/100.

A slight edge goes to the Traverse. Federal recall records show 19 recalls across its model years against 117 for the Explorer, and independent repair-cost data puts its yearly bill lower. The edge stays slight because the Explorer needs fewer unscheduled shop visits and is less likely to hit you with a major repair. Both land in good standing. Pick the Traverse if you want less recall paperwork and a cheaper average year. The Explorer is the fair alternative if you value fewer trips to the shop.

Key Differences

1Chevrolet Traverse has 98 fewer total recalls
2Chevrolet Traverse costs $76 less per year to repair
3Ford Explorer has 4% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

3Chevrolet Traverse

—

3Ford Explorer

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Traverse	Ford Explorer
Reliability Score	70/100	67/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	19	117
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.2	6.8
Annual Repair Cost	$656/yr	$732/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.2/yr
Major Repair Risk	18%	14%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	6 (1 tied)	2 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Explorer?

Each car fails in its own way, and the crash-linked areas differ. The Explorer's worst complaints are harsh or erratic shifting, power loss traced to wiring harness or ground faults, and engine failures with replacement quotes of $11,000 to $12,000. Its rear camera recall repairs are also stuck waiting on parts. The Traverse's pattern is AWD shutting off, early alternator failures, cracked front exhaust brackets, and brakes that fail to stop the car at low speed. Service brakes carry crash-linked complaints on the Traverse, and the Explorer has no such area. The Explorer has crash-linked structure, back over prevention, and engine complaints that the Traverse lacks.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Traverse	Ford Explorer
POWER TRAIN	2.2Low	1.6Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	1.1Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.1Low	0.7Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	1.1Low
ENGINE	0.6Very Low	0.4Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.7Very Low	0.2Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.2Very Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—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 Ford Explorer?

Yearly repair bills run lower on the Traverse: an estimated $656 against $732 for the Explorer. That gap is $76 a year, or about $380 over five years. The Explorer needs fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.2 a year against 0.4. It is also less likely to produce a major repair, at 14% against 18%. The Traverse is cheaper on average, but its visits are more frequent and its big bills more likely.

How Does Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Traverse	Ford Explorer	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 6C	70/1004R / 0C	Chevrolet Traverse
2025	75/1000R / 132C	72/10014R / 65C	Chevrolet Traverse
2024	73/1000R / 107C	73/1006R / 14C	Tie
2023	72/1002R / 62C	71/10012R / 84C	Chevrolet Traverse
2022	73/1001R / 76C	65/10021R / 208C	Chevrolet Traverse
2021	71/1003R / 72C	62/10022R / 354C	Chevrolet Traverse
2020	62/1008R / 188C	54/10029R / 1066C	Chevrolet Traverse
2019	62/1003R / 358C	69/1004R / 252C	Ford Explorer
2018	62/1002R / 416C	64/1005R / 651C	Ford Explorer

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse scored 73/100 and the 2024 Ford Explorer scored 73/100 — 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 Ford Explorer?

Choose the Traverse if you want fewer recalls to deal with and a lower yearly repair bill. Target 2025 or 2026, the strongest years, but remember the newest years have had less time to collect complaints. Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest. If you look at a 2020, ask about the front exhaust bracket, because GM special coverage applies to 2019 and 2021 but not 2020. Test the brakes at low speed and check for AWD Service messages. Choose the Explorer if you want fewer unscheduled shop visits and a lower chance that a repair turns major. Look at 2024 and 2025, again keeping in mind they are newer, and skip 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. Before you buy, have a dealer run the VIN for the rear camera recalls 23V342000 and 25V442000, and for the engine recall, since some owners paid for engines when their VIN fell outside it. Ask whether any shifting complaints show up in the car's service history.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer: Common Questions

Is the Ford Explorer more reliable than the Chevrolet Traverse?: No, but the gap is slight. The Traverse comes out ahead on far fewer recalls and a lower annual repair cost. The Explorer does better on shop visits and major repair odds. Both sit in good standing, so the specific model year and the car's history matter more than the badge.
Which has more recalls, the Explorer or the Traverse?: The Explorer, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 117 recalls across its nine model years, compared with 19 for the Traverse. Several Explorer owners also report waiting on parts for the rear camera recalls, so check a VIN for open recalls before buying.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Explorer or the Traverse?: The Traverse is cheaper per year, at an estimated $656 against $732 for the Explorer. That is roughly $380 less over five years. The Traverse does go to the shop more often, though, at 0.4 unscheduled visits a year against 0.2.
What is the common exhaust problem on the Chevrolet Traverse?: The front exhaust pipe bracket cracks at its welds, then the pipe tears. It starts as a rattle at startup and grows into a loud roar, sometimes with exhaust odor in the cabin. Reports run from about 53,000 to 118,000 miles. GM coverage applies to 2019 and 2021 but not 2020.
Do Ford Explorers have serious engine problems?: Some do. Owners report catastrophic failures, sometimes at low mileage, including metal in the oil, fractured timing chains, and coolant in the oil. Replacement quotes reach $11,000 to $12,000. Engine complaints are fewer than power train complaints, where harsh or erratic shifting is the main issue.

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Decided between Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Explorer? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Explorer

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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