Mechanic Starts Working On Chevy Traverse. Then He Sees Where the Battery Is

"Messed up my whole morning changing it out."

2017 Traverse

Photo by: YouTube

Chad Swiatecki

By: Chad Swiatecki

Sep 16, 2025 at 5:00am ET

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Imagine needing jumper cables and having to yank up the floor of your SUV to use them.
That’s the reality for some Chevy Traverse owners, as one incredulous mechanic demonstrates in a now-viral video that’s sparking conversation about terrible battery placement decisions.

In the clip from mechanic and creator Bladimir (@mr.speedtec), you can hear the resignation and frustration in his voice as he begins burrowing into the rear passenger area, pulling up floormats and more to access the battery on the Traverse.

“One of the worst locations for the battery on a vehicle,” he said, leaving no room for debate.

Why Do Automakers Move the Battery?

Car manufacturers don’t randomly hide the 12‑volt or main battery beneath carpets or under seats. Often, the design is driven by engineering trade‑offs. Moving the battery away from the engine bay helps free up space for emissions control systems, turbochargers, or other engine‑accessory packaging. It also lets engineers shift weight toward the center of the vehicle, improving front/rear balance, which can enhance handling.

For electric vehicles especially, battery mass distribution is a key factor in vehicle dynamics: studies show that when the battery mass is placed toward the center of a vehicle’s floor (roughly 1.2 to 1.4 m from the front axle in many test cases), it minimizes pitching motions at speed and improves ride stability.

That said, those benefits often come with serious drawbacks for access and maintenance. Long cable runs increase the risk of voltage drop and corrosion. Hidden batteries must be protected from moisture and road splash; hiding them inside the cabin or under floor panels can complicate ventilation. Designing safety features for crash protection adds complexity, since a battery located under a passenger seat or behind trim must still be protected in various impact scenarios. These concerns sometimes force extra protective measures and increased labor costs when replacing or servicing the battery.

The 2017 Chevy Traverse is a prime example of these trade‑offs in practice and how badly they can backfire. Owners and mechanics have documented that the battery on models from 2009 through 2017 is located under a panel beneath the passenger‑compartment floor, requiring pulling up floor mats, removing carpet, loosening a Torx fastener, and lifting out a floor panel to reach the battery. According to a Chevrolet dealership DIY guide for a 2025 Traverse, the battery sits under the front passenger seat’s floorboard. Replacing it requires moving the seat forward, removing the carpet, and lifting a floorboard.

For mechanics like Bladimir, that means even routine tasks like jump‑starting or battery replacement become time‑consuming excavations into the cabin. Trim must be removed carefully, fasteners like Torx bolts accessed, and interior panels handled with care to avoid damaging wiring or upholstery. That compounds both cost and frustration for owners and independent repair shops alike.

Uncommon and “Worst” Battery Locations

The Chevy Traverse isn’t alone in having battery placement that frustrates users. Multiple forum threads and social media posts point out that under‑seat or behind‑rear‑seat battery locations are commonplace among certain SUVs and luxury models.

For instance, a 2009 Mercedes ML has its battery under the front passenger seat. In some cases, vehicle owners reported needing to move power‑adjustable seats manually (which can be difficult or impossible if the battery is dead) in order to access the battery.

Other oddly placed batteries include those located under fender wells behind the front wheels, under trim far from hood access, or behind large plastic covers that are hard to remove without special tools. Each design may have valid engineering reasons, but when battery life is finite and replacement is inevitable, these placements become sources of user annoyance and costly labor.

For current Traverse owners, or anyone with a vehicle whose battery might be hidden, the first step is simply knowing what to expect. Check the owner’s manual and search forums or video tutorials for your model year. Be prepared for a job that might require pulling up carpet or floor mats, unbolting panels, and possibly having to move seats. Even if it's not permanent, battery maintenance often costs more in labor when access is restricted.

Prospective buyers should also include battery placement in their checklist, particularly when looking at used or lightly used crossovers or SUVs. A vehicle with a rarely replaced or hard-to-access battery could mean higher ownership costs down the road. For repair shops, stocking the right tools and planning time in their estimates can avoid surprises.

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Finally, for automakers and designers, the Traverse and similar examples highlight that packaging decisions should factor in not only performance and space, but also serviceability and customer experience. A battery might be engineering‑optimum tucked away under the floor, but if it’s effectively “lost” behind trim every time you need a jump start or replacement, it might end up being one of the worst design trade‑offs in practice.

Motor1 reached out to Bladimir via direct message.

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