Last updated: 2026-03-04
Chevrolet Traverse vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared
Chevrolet Traverse
Toyota Highlander
Choosing between the Chevrolet Traverse and the Toyota Highlander? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Toyota Highlander currently leads with an average score of 72/100 compared to 69/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Chevrolet Traverse and Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Highlander is more reliable than the Chevrolet Traverse, scoring 72/100 vs 69/100.
The Toyota Highlander outperforms the Chevrolet Traverse in terms of reliability, with an average reliability score of 84/100 compared to the Traverse's 68/100. Despite the Highlander having more recalls (66 over 9 years versus the Traverse's 19), it has a lower owner complaint rate of 5.8 per 10,000 sold, compared to 7.2 for the Traverse. Additionally, the Highlander's estimated annual repair cost is significantly lower at $489 compared to the Traverse's $656. These factors, along with fewer common issues, make the Highlander a more reliable choice in the midsize SUV segment.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Highlander costs $167 less per year to repair
- 2Chevrolet Traverse has 47 fewer total recalls
- 3Toyota Highlander has 5% lower major repair risk
Category Scoreboard
Chevrolet Traverse vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Chevrolet Traverse | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 69/100 | 72/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 19 | 66 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 7.2 | 5.8 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $656/yr | $489/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.4/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 18% | 13% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 2 | 6 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Traverse and Toyota Highlander?
The Chevrolet Traverse and Toyota Highlander exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Traverse showing a higher frequency of power train and electrical system issues, totaling 431 and 222 complaints respectively, compared to the Highlander's 485 and 134 complaints in the same categories. Notably, the Highlander has a significant number of air bag complaints, with 162 reports and 41 of these linked to crashes, a concern that is not mirrored in the Traverse's data. Both vehicles have comparable issues with service brakes, but the Highlander records a higher number of crash-linked incidents at 10 compared to the Traverse's 7. While the Traverse reports more engine-related complaints overall, the Highlander has a diverse spread of issues across different systems, including a notable number of structure-related complaints.
| Component | Chevrolet Traverse | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 2.2Low | 1.5Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.1Low | 0.4Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.7Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.6Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.6Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| SUSPENSION | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —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 Toyota Highlander?
How Does Chevrolet Traverse vs Toyota Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Chevrolet Traverse | Toyota Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75/1000R / 132C | 76/1008R / 40C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2024 | 73/1000R / 107C | 67/10016R / 198C | Chevrolet Traverse |
| 2023 | 72/1002R / 62C | 73/10013R / 140C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2022 | 73/1001R / 76C | 74/1007R / 186C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2021 | 71/1003R / 72C | 70/1006R / 403C | Chevrolet Traverse |
| 2020 | 62/1008R / 188C | 71/1008R / 269C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2019 | 62/1003R / 358C | 70/1003R / 414C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2018 | 62/1002R / 416C | 72/1005R / 242C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2026(predicted) | 73/100(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | Chevrolet Traverse |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse scored 75/100 and the 2025 Toyota Highlander scored 76/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Traverse vs the Toyota Highlander?
Chevrolet Traverse vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions
- Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Toyota Highlander?
- Based on our data, the Toyota Highlander is more reliable with an average score of 72/100 compared to 69/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Traverse or the Toyota Highlander?
- The Toyota Highlander has more recalls (66) compared to the Chevrolet Traverse (19). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Chevrolet Traverse or the Toyota Highlander?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Toyota Highlander has a lower complaint rate at 5.8 per 10,000 sold versus 7.2 for the Chevrolet Traverse. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Traverse or the Toyota Highlander?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Toyota Highlander is cheaper to maintain at $489/year versus $656/year for the Chevrolet Traverse.
- Is the Chevrolet Traverse or Toyota Highlander safer?
- Both the Chevrolet Traverse and Toyota Highlander received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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