2020 Chevrolet Traverse Problems and Recalls (224 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is Engine (34% of 224 owner reports). There are 8 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 224 complaints · 8 recalls
What problems show up on the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
76 of 224 filings named Engine (34% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Transmission / driveline (32 reports).
There are 8 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Body / frame, Airbags, Fuel system, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2019 has 401 reports on file; this year has 224. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Engine 76 complaints · 33.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 11
- Fires 1
- Injuries 7
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine (ENGINE) | 76 | 33.9% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 32 | 14.3% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 15 | 6.7% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 13 | 5.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) | 7 | 3.1% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 5 | 2.2% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) | 4 | 1.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 4 | 1.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 3 | 1.3% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 86 | 38.4% | 5 crashes · 0 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 21V817000 was reported 299 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V643000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V446000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V639000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V668000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V684000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V115000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V817000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V210000 |
Safety Recalls (8)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Body / frame, Airbags, Fuel system, and Transmission / driveline.
-
Recall campaign 19V643000
Body / frame
- Report date
- Component:
- Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
- Consequence:
- A crack in the frame rail may reduce crash performance, increasing the risk of an injury.
- Remedy:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N192268310.
-
Recall campaign 20V446000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N202305380.
-
Recall campaign 20V639000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- Insufficient fuel supply can result in an engine stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module. The recall began November 16, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202314760.
-
Recall campaign 20V668000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
- Remedy:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
-
Recall campaign 20V684000
Safety recall 20V684000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- Overcured tires may experience a carcass break in the sidewall resulting in a sudden air loss or could develop a belt edge separation which could lead to partial or full tread/belt loss. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles and replace tires that have DOT number and production mold number combinations identified by Continental, free of charge. The recall began December 17, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202319030.
-
Recall campaign 21V115000
Safety recall 21V115000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.
-
Recall campaign 21V817000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- A transmission fluid leak can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, a leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will replace the screw and clip, and inspect for signs of contact with the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.
-
Recall campaign 22V210000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212352140.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 8 of 224 complaints · page 1 of 9
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The front intermediate exhaust pipe mounting bracket weld fractured at the engine manifold, causing the exhaust pipe to break completely loose. We can now actively smell raw exhaust fumes inside the passenger cabin while operating the vehicle, creating an immediate safety hazard for carbon monoxide poisoning and driver disorientation. Additionally, the heavy steel exhaust system is completely unsupported at the front, creating an imminent risk of the pipe falling and dragging on the roadway at highway speeds, which could cause a catastrophic crash. The vehicle began getting progressively louder during cold weather between late 2025 and early 2026. A certified Chevrolet dealership technician officially inspected the vehicle, filmed an inspection video confirming this exact structural failure, and attempted to submit it for warranty coverage. GM Corporate denied the claim solely because my VIN is excluded from Special Coverage N212356540, despite the vehicle suffering from the identical manufacturing defect described in the bulletin. I possess the official dealer repair receipt and the technician's inspection video as proof.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I am filing a complaint regarding a persistent safety defect widely known as the "Shift to Park" issue. For over a year, my 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, VIN [XXX] has repeatedly displayed a "Shift to Park" warning message on the instrument cluster when the vehicle is placed in Park and the engine shutoff button is pressed. This occurs multiple times weekly. Despite the vehicle physically being in Park, the internal shifter sensor fails to recognize the gear position. This defect prevents the vehicle from shutting down properly, leaving the electrical system active and causing severe battery drain. Furthermore, because the vehicle does not recognize it is in Park, it creates a roll away risk if the driver exits assuming the vehicle is fully secured. General Motors is aware of this widespread component failure across this vehicle platform but refuses to issue a safety recall or cover the repair costs out of warranty. This is a systemic manufacturing defect that presents a clear financial and safety hazard to consumers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Bracket on the exhaust pipes just before the flex pipes broke free and there is now a hole in the pipe.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I made an error and incorrectly submitted an issue under the wrong vehicle, with NHTSA Safety Issue ID 11759404. This is the same submission under the correct vehicle and VIN. Issue ID 11759404 can be merged here or canceled.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that over time the sound became louder. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cracked front exhaust pipe and battery failure. The contact was informed that the front exhaust pipe and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 84,701.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a loud sound coming from the exhaust pipes, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate, with exhaust fumes inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the exhaust mounting bracket had failed, causing the exhaust pipes to separate and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under a manufacturer-extended coverage that was associated with the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Loses oil between oil changes. No visible signs of leaks or odor of burning oil.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping and there was a delay while the transmission was shifting gears. The vehicle was sputtering and jerking while driving. While turning out of a driveway and driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted and informed that there was no recall on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but referred the owner back to the local dealer for assistance. There was no additional assistance provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,970.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
Owners named Engine most often — 76 of 224 reports (34%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA lists 8 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Body / frame, Airbags, Fuel system, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.