What is the best year for a Chevrolet Traverse?

The 2021 (85 complaints, 10/10 safety, 4 severe) and 2023 (75 complaints, 8/10 safety, 7 severe) Traverse are the cleanest years on record. Avoid the pre-2021 era, where complaint counts exceeded 200 every year from 2010 through 2020. Note that 2024-2025 ticked back up to 121 and 164 complaints — the improvement wasn't fully sustained. The 2021-2023 window is the safest range for used buying.

How much does Chevrolet Traverse insurance cost?

Traverse insurance averages around $2,393/year — roughly $199/month.

Is the Chevrolet Traverse or Ford Explorer cheaper to maintain?

The Traverse is cheaper to maintain by $76/year — $656 versus $732 for the Ford Explorer. However, the Explorer has a higher reliability score (7 vs. 6), lower major repair probability (14% vs. 18%), and significantly lower repair frequency (24% vs. 43%). On total maintenance value beyond annual dollar cost, the Explorer holds a meaningful edge.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Chevrolet Traverse?

Major repair probability of 18% is the second-highest in the three-row segment, and reliability score of 6 is below the class average. Extended warranty is worth considering for most used Traverse models, particularly any purchased from the 2010-2020 era of consistently elevated complaints.

Is the Ford Expedition expensive to maintain?

The Expedition costs $861/year to maintain — $77 above the fullsize segment average of $784. Repair frequency of 25% is well below the class average of 40% — the lowest in the fullsize segment. Reliability score of 6 and major repair probability of 15% both match segment averages. Above-average cost, but meaningfully lower repair frequency than most fullsize rivals.

What is the best year for a Ford Expedition?

Avoid 2017-2019, which logged 350, 351, and 432 complaints respectively. The 2023 Expedition (56 complaints, 10/10 safety, 8 severe) is the strongest mature used pick. 2025 (21 complaints) is even cleaner but very recent. The 2022-2024 window reflects significant improvement from the troubled prior generation.

How much does Ford Expedition insurance cost?

Expedition insurance averages around $2,681/year — roughly $223/month. The highest insurance rate in the fullsize class.

Is the Ford Expedition or Chevrolet Suburban cheaper to maintain?

The Expedition is cheaper to maintain by $83/year — $861 versus $944 for the Suburban. The Expedition also has significantly lower repair frequency (25% vs. 51%). Both carry the same reliability score and major repair probability. The Expedition is the better maintenance value.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Ford Expedition?

Repair frequency of 25% is the lowest in the fullsize segment — a meaningful positive. Major repair probability at the class average. Not a strong warranty case for 2022+ models. For 2017-2019 used models, documented complaint spikes make coverage worth considering.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Expedition

Two three-row SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Chevrolet Traverse to minimise 5-year ownership cost.

Buy the Ford Expedition if long-term reliability matters most.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Chevrolet Traverse	Ford Expedition
Annual maintenance	$656winner	$861
5-year total cost	$3,280winner	$4,305
Reliability score	6 / 10	6 / 10
Major repair risk (5yr)	18%	15%winner
Cargo space	97.6 cu ft	108.5 cu ftwinner
Starting price (new)	$42,300winner	$63,400
Best years to buy	2013, 2021	—

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Chevrolet Traverse	Ford Expedition
RepairPal score	6 / 10	6 / 10
NHTSA complaints / 100k	257.3winner	272.2
Years to avoid	2018, 2019, 2025	2010, 2014, 2017
Value retained · 3 yr	73.5%winner	68.4%
Value retained · 5 yr	51.7%winner	47.4%
Value retained · 7 yr	37.6%winner	33.7%

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Chevrolet Traverse	Ford Expedition
Engine	19.9%	18.2%winner
Electrical	8.1%winner	10.0%
ADAS	8.3%	8.0%winner
Brakes	4.5%winner	6.4%
Suspension	—winner	2.0%
Steering	11.9%	—winner
Fuel system	2.0%winner	2.3%
Tires/Wheels	1.4%	—winner
Glass/Windows	1.1%winner	2.5%
Airbags	20.3%	2.5%winner
Lighting	—winner	1.7%
Seatbelt	2.4%winner	3.4%

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Chevrolet Traverse	Ford Expedition
Avg annual premium	$2,393winner	$2,681

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Chevrolet Traverse

$656/yr maint · 6 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Ford Expedition

$861/yr maint · 6 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Traverse costs $656/year to maintain — $83 above the three-row segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 43% is slightly above the class average of 40%. Reliability score of 6 is below the segment average of 7, and major repair probability of 18% is well above the 13% norm. It trails the three-row class average on most ownership-cost metrics.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →