Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Traverse vs Hyundai Palisade: Reliability Compared

The Chevrolet Traverse comes out ahead of the Hyundai Palisade on reliability by a clear margin. Owners file far fewer complaints per vehicle sold on the Traverse. The Palisade costs a little less to repair each year, but it has more recalls and more brake complaints.

How Do the Chevrolet Traverse and Hyundai Palisade Generations Compare?

Most used Traverse shoppers will be looking at second-generation cars, which began with the 2018 model year and were facelifted for 2022. That run includes the weak 2018 and 2019 years and the 2020 year that lacks exhaust bracket coverage. Post-facelift cars are the newer option. For the Palisade, the first generation covers 2020 through 2025, with a facelift in 2022. A second generation is listed for 2026, so those cars are new and have little history. Shoppers on a typical used budget will mostly choose between early first-generation Palisades and post-facelift ones.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Traverse is more reliable than the Hyundai Palisade, scoring 70/100 vs 65/100.

A clear edge goes to the Chevrolet Traverse. Owners file far fewer complaints per vehicle sold, and federal recall records show fewer recalls even though it spans more model years. The Palisade is a bit cheaper to run, but its brake, seat belt, and windshield problems show up much more often. The Traverse has serious faults of its own, mainly AWD dropouts, early alternator failures, and cracked exhaust brackets. It is the better bet, not a safe one.

Key Differences

  1. 1Hyundai Palisade costs $83 less per year to repair
  2. 2Chevrolet Traverse has 24.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
  3. 3Chevrolet Traverse has 14 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

3Chevrolet Traverse
—
1Hyundai Palisade
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair Frequency

Chevrolet Traverse vs Hyundai Palisade: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Hyundai Palisade at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricChevrolet TraverseHyundai Palisade
Reliability Score70/10065/100
Years Tracked97
Total Recalls1933
Complaints per 10k Sold7.231.7
Annual Repair Cost$656/yr$573/yr
Repair Frequency0.4/yr0.4/yr
Year Wins70

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Traverse and Hyundai Palisade?

Drivetrain and electrical faults define the Traverse: AWD shutting off with service messages, RPM sticking high before the car acts as if it is in park, alternators dying early, and sudden power loss. Its engine complaints are mostly cracked front exhaust brackets, with no crash links. The Palisade's biggest area is brakes, where ABS pulses over bumps and the car keeps rolling at low speed. Its 15 crash-linked brake complaints outnumber the Traverse's 7. The Palisade also has seat belt buckles unlatching, windshields cracking within a few thousand miles, and rear shocks failing. Seat belt and suspension crash links appear only on the Palisade.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Hyundai Palisade common problem areas comparison
ComponentChevrolet TraverseHyundai Palisade
SERVICE BRAKES0.7Very Low5.3Average
SEAT BELTS0.1Very Low3.9Average
POWER TRAIN2.2Low1.6Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER—None3.7Average
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1.1Low2.1Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER0.9Very Low2.2Low
SUSPENSION0.1Very Low2.3Low
ENGINE0.6Very Low1.4Low
STEERING0.2Very Low0.9Very Low
STRUCTURE0.1Very Low1Very Low
VISIBILITY—None0.7Very Low
TRAILER HITCHES—None0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS0.1Very Low0.2Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING0.2Very Low—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL—None0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM0.1Very Low—None
SEATS—None—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE—None—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING—None—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION—None—None
LANE DEPARTURE—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 Hyundai Palisade?

Repair costs favor the Palisade slightly, at about $573 a year against $656 for the Traverse. That gap is $83 a year, or roughly $415 over five years. Each averages 0.4 unscheduled shop visits a year, so neither sends you back more often. The Traverse has an 18% chance that a repair is major. No major-repair figure is given for the Palisade, so that part cannot be compared. Traverse exhaust bracket repairs can fall on owners when coverage does not apply.

How Does Chevrolet Traverse vs Hyundai Palisade Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Hyundai Palisade year-by-year reliability scores
YearChevrolet TraverseHyundai PalisadeEdge
202676/1000R / 6C72/1002R / 23CChevrolet Traverse
202575/1000R / 132C70/1003R / 139CChevrolet Traverse
202473/1000R / 107C63/1005R / 304CChevrolet Traverse
202372/1002R / 62C62/1005R / 326CChevrolet Traverse
202273/1001R / 76C65/1005R / 241CChevrolet Traverse
202171/1003R / 72C61/1006R / 354CChevrolet Traverse
202062/1008R / 188C59/1007R / 521CChevrolet Traverse

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse scored 73/100 and the 2022 Hyundai Palisade scored 65/100 — 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 Hyundai Palisade?

Pick the Traverse if you want the better overall record and can live with its known weak spots. Avoid 2018 and 2019, the weakest years. Be careful with 2020, because GM special coverage for the cracked exhaust brackets applies to 2019 and 2021 but not 2020. Test that AWD stays engaged and the car shifts normally. Check for a charging system message. Pick the Palisade if lower running cost matters most and you want the larger, full-size body. Avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. Before buying, confirm the seat belt buckle recall repair was done, because owners report back-ordered parts. Look at the windshield for chips and listen for rear clunks, which can mean failing self-leveling shocks. Test the brakes over bumps at low speed. The 2025 and 2026 years look good on paper, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Hyundai Palisade: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Hyundai Palisade?
Yes, the Traverse has a clear edge. It draws 7.2 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 31.7 for the Palisade. It also has fewer recalls, 19 versus 33, despite covering two more model years. Both are rated good, so the gap is about how often problems appear.
Which has more recalls, the Traverse or the Palisade?
The Palisade has more. Federal recall records show 33 across its 7 model years, while the Traverse has 19 across 9. Palisade owners also report back-ordered parts for seat belt buckle recall 25V-607, so some cars wait for the repair.
Which costs less to repair, the Traverse or the Palisade?
The Palisade costs less, at an estimated $573 a year versus $656 for the Traverse. Over five years that is roughly $415 apart. Each averages 0.4 unscheduled shop visits a year. The Traverse has an 18% chance that any repair is major.
What is the most common Palisade problem?
Brakes are the largest area, with 317 complaints and 15 crash-linked. Owners say the ABS kicks in over bumps or road markings, the pedal shakes, and the car keeps rolling at low speed with no warning light. Dealers often cannot reproduce it. Seat belts and windshield cracks follow.
What goes wrong on the Chevrolet Traverse?
Powertrain faults lead, with 431 complaints. AWD shuts off with service messages, and RPM can stick high before the car acts as if it is in park. Alternators also fail early, and front exhaust brackets crack. GM coverage for the brackets applies to 2019 and 2021 but not 2020.

Decided between Chevrolet Traverse and Hyundai Palisade? 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 Hyundai Palisade

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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