Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Honda Pilot?

Slightly, yes. Both have a good standing, but the Traverse has 7.2 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 9.1 for the Pilot, and far fewer recalls. The Pilot costs less to repair, so the lead is narrow and depends on your priorities.

Which has more recalls, the Traverse or the Pilot?

The Pilot, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 51 recalls across its 2018 to 2026 model years, compared with 19 for the Traverse over the same span. Check the VIN of any used Pilot for open recall work before you buy.

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

The Pilot. Independent repair-cost data estimates $542 a year for the Pilot and $656 for the Traverse, about $570 apart over five years. A repair is also less likely to be major on the Pilot, at 13% against 18%.

Which model years of the Traverse and Pilot should I avoid?

For the Traverse, avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years, and check a 2020 for exhaust bracket cracks, which GM coverage does not reach. For the Pilot, avoid 2019 and 2020. Very new years look good partly because they have had less time to collect complaints.

What are the most common Honda Pilot problems?

Electrical trouble leads the Pilot's complaints. Infotainment screens go blank with a "Network Communication Lost" message, taking the backup camera with them, and stop/start sometimes fails to restart the engine. Transmission shudder around 50,000 to 60,000 miles and sudden engine failure are the more serious patterns.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Traverse vs Honda Pilot: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Traverse

Good

Honda Pilot

Good

The Chevrolet Traverse edges out the Honda Pilot on reliability, though both rate good. The Traverse has far fewer federal recalls and fewer owner complaints per vehicle sold. The Pilot wins on repair cost, so the better choice depends on what worries you most.

How Do the Chevrolet Traverse and Honda Pilot Generations Compare?

Most used Traverse shoppers will be looking at the second generation, which began with the 2018 model year and ran through 2024, with a facelift in 2022. Its weakest years, 2018 and 2019, came at the start of that run. The data also lists a third generation starting in 2024, but its year range is unclear, so confirm details on any 2024 or newer car. On the Pilot side, the third generation ran from 2016 to 2022, with a refresh in 2019, and its weakest years of 2019 and 2020 fall there. The fourth generation started in 2023, and a facelift followed for 2026. Used shoppers will mostly compare late third-generation and early fourth-generation Pilots.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Traverse is more reliable than the Honda Pilot, scoring 70/100 vs 68/100.

A slight edge goes to the Chevrolet Traverse. Both sit in good standing, so the gap is small. The Traverse has fewer owner complaints per vehicle sold and far fewer federal recalls. The Pilot answers with lower repair costs and a smaller chance that a repair is major. The Traverse's weak spots, including brake failures and sudden power loss, carry real safety weight, which keeps the lead narrow. Shoppers who put complaints and recalls first should lean Traverse. Shoppers who put repair bills first will find the Pilot hard to dismiss.

Key Differences

1Honda Pilot costs $114 less per year to repair
2Chevrolet Traverse has 32 fewer total recalls
3Honda Pilot has 5% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

4Chevrolet Traverse

—

2Honda Pilot

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Traverse vs Honda Pilot: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Honda Pilot at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Traverse	Honda Pilot
Reliability Score	70/100	68/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	19	51
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.2	9.1
Annual Repair Cost	$656/yr	$542/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.5/yr
Major Repair Risk	18%	13%
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 Honda Pilot?

Drivetrain and safety systems dominate the Traverse's complaints. AWD shuts off with service messages, alternators fail early, and brakes sometimes fail to stop the car at low speeds. Service brakes carry the most crash-linked reports of its areas, and the Pilot's main list has no brake category. Exhaust bracket cracks add rattles and cabin fumes. Pilot problems lean electrical and mechanical. Infotainment screens go blank, stop/start fails to restart the engine, and transmissions shudder around 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Some engines fail suddenly, including rod bearing cases. The Pilot also has crash-linked reports in forward collision avoidance, where the system brakes with nothing ahead. The Traverse list has none there.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Honda Pilot common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Traverse	Honda Pilot
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.1Low	2.4Low
POWER TRAIN	2.2Low	0.9Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	1.1Low
ENGINE	0.6Very Low	1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.7Very Low	0.3Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.6Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.6Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.2Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—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 Honda Pilot?

Lower repair bills favor the Pilot. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $542 a year against $656 for the Traverse. That is $114 a year, or about $570 over five years. The Traverse needs slightly fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.4 a year against 0.5. When something does break, the Traverse is more likely to be a big job, at 18% against 13% for the Pilot. The Pilot costs less to run, while the Traverse visits the shop a bit less often.

How Does Chevrolet Traverse vs Honda Pilot Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Honda Pilot year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Traverse	Honda Pilot	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 6C	81/1000R / 0C	Honda Pilot
2025	75/1000R / 132C	71/1004R / 111C	Chevrolet Traverse
2024	73/1000R / 107C	72/1006R / 82C	Chevrolet Traverse
2023	72/1002R / 62C	72/1005R / 93C	Tie
2022	73/1001R / 76C	72/1003R / 105C	Chevrolet Traverse
2021	71/1003R / 72C	63/1008R / 358C	Chevrolet Traverse
2020	62/1008R / 188C	60/1009R / 431C	Chevrolet Traverse
2019	62/1003R / 358C	56/10011R / 794C	Chevrolet Traverse
2018	62/1002R / 416C	63/1005R / 408C	Honda Pilot

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse scored 73/100 and the 2024 Honda Pilot scored 72/100 — 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 Honda Pilot?

Pick the Traverse if you want fewer recalls and a lower complaint rate, and you plan to keep the car on dry or mild roads where a lost AWD system matters less. Skip 2018 and 2019, the weakest years. Check any 2020 closely for exhaust bracket cracks, since GM special coverage applies to 2019 and 2021 but not 2020. Test the brakes at parking speeds before you buy. Pick the Pilot if you want the lower repair bill and fewer major repairs. Avoid 2019 and 2020, its weakest years. Test the infotainment screen, the backup camera, and the stop/start restart on your drive, and ask for transmission service history on higher-mileage examples. The 2023 model is a strong year, but 2026 is too new to have collected a fair complaint record, so do not treat it as the safer pick. Whichever you choose, run the VIN for open recalls first, since the Pilot has many more on file.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Honda Pilot: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Honda Pilot?: Slightly, yes. Both have a good standing, but the Traverse has 7.2 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 9.1 for the Pilot, and far fewer recalls. The Pilot costs less to repair, so the lead is narrow and depends on your priorities.
Which has more recalls, the Traverse or the Pilot?: The Pilot, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 51 recalls across its 2018 to 2026 model years, compared with 19 for the Traverse over the same span. Check the VIN of any used Pilot for open recall work before you buy.
Which costs less to repair, the Traverse or the Pilot?: The Pilot. Independent repair-cost data estimates $542 a year for the Pilot and $656 for the Traverse, about $570 apart over five years. A repair is also less likely to be major on the Pilot, at 13% against 18%.
Which model years of the Traverse and Pilot should I avoid?: For the Traverse, avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years, and check a 2020 for exhaust bracket cracks, which GM coverage does not reach. For the Pilot, avoid 2019 and 2020. Very new years look good partly because they have had less time to collect complaints.
What are the most common Honda Pilot problems?: Electrical trouble leads the Pilot's complaints. Infotainment screens go blank with a "Network Communication Lost" message, taking the backup camera with them, and stop/start sometimes fails to restart the engine. Transmission shudder around 50,000 to 60,000 miles and sudden engine failure are the more serious patterns.

More Chevrolet Traverse comparisons

Chevrolet Traverse vs Buick Enclave reliability Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer reliability Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder reliability Chevrolet Traverse vs Toyota Grand Highlander reliability Chevrolet Traverse reliability by year Chevrolet Traverse years to avoid

More Honda Pilot comparisons

Honda Pilot vs Toyota Grand Highlander reliability Honda Pilot vs Mazda CX-90 reliability Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander reliability Honda Pilot vs Nissan Pathfinder reliability Honda Pilot reliability by year Honda Pilot years to avoid

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

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Chevrolet Traverse and Honda Pilot

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.

See incorrect data? Report an issue