2020 Chevrolet Traverse Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine8837.1%
- Powertrain (other)3916.5%
- Electrical2811.8%
- Fuel system198.0%
- Seat belts93.8%
- Brakes93.8%
- Driver assistance83.4%
- Steering73.0%
- Airbags62.5%
- Other / unspecified52.1%
- Suspension52.1%
- Interior & seats41.7%
- Visibility31.3%
- Body & structure31.3%
- Exterior lighting31.3%
- Tires & wheels10.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
GM published bulletin PIP5681A on 10/05/20 regarding defective welds on the exhaust brackets near the catalytic converter. I had the same exact weld failure and GM is not honoring the warranty coverage, even though their bulletin said that all 2020 Traverse SUVs were included.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
I own a 2020 Chevy Traverse with currently 16,000 miles. I am currently dealing with a know shudder issue that has returned. I have already taken the vehicle under warranty to the dealership where the transmission was replaced on 6/29/2022 at 4919 miles for “catastrophic failure” where the fluids were dark, burnt, and several burnt up clutches. Then the torque converter was replaced separately on 9/20/2022 at 8106 miles for engine shudder. Took the vehicle again in on 7/21/26 for shudder returning at 16,450k miles where diagnostic shows dark, burnt fluid, with metal debri. Repair recommendations are to flush again and if not fixed to again replace the torque converter. There are no open recalls on my vehicle when there should. There is the most recent bulletin, Bulletin No.: 23-NA-072 dated May 2023 that covers the 2020 Chevy Traverse for TCC Shudder: (Typically seen on 4th-5th Upshift as ISS Oscillation) which is referenced on my last car diagnostic report. This car is basically brand new and should never have needed a brand new transmission, torque converter replacement and still having shudder problems. These vehicles need to be recalled for their power train.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving the stereo went off, the ac, the car stopped in middle of the road and I lost all electrical. I tried turning back on and the emergency brake light was on and the dash said "Steering Assist is Reduced, Drive with Care.” I was able to put it in neutral and get it out of the way. Battery is good Fuses were all checked 350 replaced Car isn’t starting or Turing over, but some of the lights have turned on.
Brakes have screeching noise Transmission jumps when changing gear The shift to park is so constant can not even go out because it takes more than 20 to 30 tries for it to accept park and turn Vehicle off! I have taken it to the dealer for the concern stated no recall or warranty At this point I am afraid to even leave it in shift to park and walk to the store and it gets stolen or leaves me stranded with my children
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
There is a well known exhaust issue with the catalytic converter and the separating manifold and no recall has been issue yet. It causes the vehicle to lose pressure and shuts off in the middle of traffic. The seat belt secure locks are malfunctioning and could cause loss of life in the event of an accident.
Failing front exhaust pipe mounting bracket. GM has a special coverage program (N212356540) for 2019-2020 Chevrolet Traverse which covers the repair for 15 years or 150,000 miles from the original service date. The coverage is VIN specific. My vehicle has been having this issue for two years now and my VIN is not covered. This is unfair to the consumer/Chevrolet owners who's VIN's are not listed. This is an obvious ongoing problem for many Chevrolet Traverse owners, it should be an active recall on all 2018-2023 Chevrolet Traverse owners. Especially since Chevrolet/GM is aware of the problem. Most of us are paying off our vehicles because we can't afford a new one and GM is not providing assistance for some of us who at no fault of our own are having to pay for a defect they are aware of.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
There is a well known exhaust issue with the catalytic converter and the separating manifold and no recall has been issue yet. It causes the vehicle to lose pressure and shuts off in the middle of traffic. The seat belt secure locks are malfunctioning and could cause loss of life in the event of an accident.
My seat belts do not click when fastened or stay fastened. Sometimes I have to try several times to get the seabelt to click.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Brakes have screeching noise Transmission jumps when changing gear The shift to park is so constant can not even go out because it takes more than 20 to 30 tries for it to accept park and turn Vehicle off! I have taken it to the dealer for the concern stated no recall or warranty At this point I am afraid to even leave it in shift to park and walk to the store and it gets stolen or leaves me stranded with my children
Burning oil. There is something wrong. I took it to the dealership i still have warranty i really think this needs to be looked into.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Cracked exhaust & bracket back in 2023 causing a loud rattling noise. Now catalytic converter is cracked & gasket leak. Dealer does have notes that it was cracked & they noticed it in 2023 at 46k miles & that converter has now cracked causing engine light to turn on. Car does not speed up properly & GM only wants to cover 30 percent of cost.
Unknown to some, but yesterday Saturday around 12:30 I was inspecting the speaker ports in the rear 3rd row passenger area and I noticed these square tabs that says airbags, also in the very middle of second row the same thing but in the rear I was removing one of the mouldings to see why the speakers were not playing, upon inspection there are no speakers and neither are there any form of side and or rear collision safety devices ( airbags) other than seatbelts. If that truck were in an accident say like a T-Bone, or rear end collision, or side rear impact no one is guaranteed safely making out without adverse affects on their bodies and health. I'm starting to wonder if this traverse was salvaged and or restored. Why are there no safety features in this truck?!!
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving the stereo went off, the ac, the car stopped in middle of the road and I lost all electrical. I tried turning back on and the emergency brake light was on and the dash said "Steering Assist is Reduced, Drive with Care.” I was able to put it in neutral and get it out of the way. Battery is good Fuses were all checked 350 replaced Car isn’t starting or Turing over, but some of the lights have turned on.
A few months ago I was driving and without any warning the steering wheel would lock up and I couldn’t turn it at all. I had to use my strength to wiggle it to unlock it. It happened several times on busy roads and highways. It’s currently at the dealership for the past 2 months because there is a short and the steering gear box needs to be replaced but the part is on back order with no date of when it’ll become available. I obviously can’t drive it due to the steering locking up and that it’s a danger to not only myself and my family but other drivers on the road. Anyone could have been seriously injured or killed had it locked up and caused an accident. It would happen no matter what speed I was going.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
Purchased the vehicle in 2024, the vehicle recently has been notifying “shift to park” when vehicle is on park and ignition is turned off, the notification stays on and alerting, so I am unable to leave the vehicle. I must turn the vehicle on and off again, while moving the shifting lever back and forth from drive to park, this must be done a minimum of four times before it reads the lever in park position. It’s a safety hazard because, the vehicle cannot be left on shift to park and possibly roll away or drive/excel on its own. Vehicle has not been inspected at this time, when purchasing the vehicle in 2024, car fax report did not indicate any issue with power train. Would also like vehicle to be inspected for missing airbags, when driving 65mph or more, you can hear and feel air coming in and out of side front left passenger side of the vehicle.
Unknown to some, but yesterday Saturday around 12:30 I was inspecting the speaker ports in the rear 3rd row passenger area and I noticed these square tabs that says airbags, also in the very middle of second row the same thing but in the rear I was removing one of the mouldings to see why the speakers were not playing, upon inspection there are no speakers and neither are there any form of side and or rear collision safety devices ( airbags) other than seatbelts. If that truck were in an accident say like a T-Bone, or rear end collision, or side rear impact no one is guaranteed safely making out without adverse affects on their bodies and health. I'm starting to wonder if this traverse was salvaged and or restored. Why are there no safety features in this truck?!!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I own a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. At the time of the incident, I was driving at 55 mph and heard a very loud and unusual sound. The vehicle then began to uncontrollably shake so I pulled over to the right shoulder. A truck driver pulled over with me as he thought it was something in his truck that had malfunctioned due to the intensity of the sound that it produced. At the rear right wheel of my vehicle, the metal rim was broken vertically causing the rim to separate into two parts. The tire is completely intact. Thank god, the outermost part of the rim that holds the nuts did not break and stayed completely whole and solid letting me pull off to the right shoulder. To put it into perspective, the wheel was left in three different parts. The first part was the tire. The second part was the cylindrical shaped metal rim that stayed inside the tire. The third part, being the outermost part of the metal rim, can be envisioned as a simple cap. There were not any warning lights that became illuminated on my dash. My vehicle has not been previously repaired or diagnosed by any independent mechanic or dealer. The wheel, tire, and rim are the original fabricated parts that came with my vehicle.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound. The vehicle then started shaking uncontrollably. The contact was able to pull over to the right shoulder. The passenger’s side rear tire had separated from the rim. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
Exhaust and catalytic converters keep breaking off causing loud noise and check engine light to stay on
Purchased the 2020 traverse on [XXX] from Basswood in Ft. Payne Alabama. Under the guise of the salesman I was assured that the vehicle was in great shape, with no issues at all, and a very clean Carfax. Well I'm new to purchasing a car via financing with a co-signer in which he was assured the vehicle was in great shape. Well unbeknownst to us my household the car was nothing of the sort. Within a few days the Start/Stop malfunctioned to the point it would not restart 98% of the time without sounding like a Demo Saw, it's a dangerous problem and there's times we smelled fuel once we were able to restart the vehicle. The front right wheel assembly looks as if it were on fire and if that's brake dust and it has a grinding whomp whomp sound when in motion,that's really not good no wonder it's hard to stop at times. The front end sounds like drums when going over bumps, speed bumps, road imperfections etc.. on morning start-up there's an absurd amount of exhaust coming into the cabin area, the codes [P3055 and P3056] are registered from the computer of vehicle. Now the smell of fuel is blowing through all vents whenever the defrost is running or all vents are used front and rear, with the truck in motion. It was so bad today that my entire family had to pull over to a gas station and get fresh air our eyes were burning and my [XXX] son nose started to bleed., so that's two parents and 6 children scrambling for safety. This is our only reliable vehicle other than an old 99 suburban that is hardly even road worthy anymore. I spoke with several people that have purchased vehicles and all agreed that the salesman and mostly the sales managers knew that the vehicle came from an auction and was never serviced nor inspected at the basswood dealership, which equates to them actively concealing major effects and problems with the vehicle in question. Just to make a one time commission on a fraudulent deal! They didn't provide any inspection papers to me! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was in a collision at 60 mph and flipped through the air without hitting the roof and landed on my wheels. I had a car doing 80 lost control as he was passing me sideways and into my lane. The front on the car was completely unrecognizable z no side impact or sudden stop.
I reached between the driver seat and center console to retrieve my keys. When I pulled my hand back up something on the seat sliced my hand open and I needed 5 stitches. After looking closely at both the front seats (driver and passenger) there is a very sharp piece between the seat and console on both seats. Chevrolet corporate was contacted and they said to take it to a dealer so it doesn’t happen again. My vehicle is scheduled to be inspected by a dealer on 12/08/21. 1. Sharp piece on seat and yes it’s available for inspection 2. Hand was cut when reaching between seat and center console resulting in 5 stitches. 3. Chevy corporate said thanks for letting them know and advised taking it to a dealer so it “doesn’t happen again.” The local dealer scheduled me for an inspection but did not say whether or not this is something they’ve heard before. 4. The vehicle will be inspected by a dealer on 12/08/21 (the soonest they had available). 5. No warnings/messages prior to incident
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The backup camera system on my 2020 Chevrolet Traverse fails repeatedly and intermittently. When shifting into reverse, the camera frequently displays a black screen, a crossed-out camera icon, or an error message indicating the camera is unavailable. I have brought the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealership multiple times for this issue. The dealer has replaced the rear/front camera twice and replaced a corroded cable, but the problem continues to occur. The repairs have not permanently resolved the issue. The failure happens unpredictably and makes it unsafe to reverse the vehicle, especially around pedestrians, children, or obstacles. This vehicle is equipped with a federally required backup camera, and its repeated failure presents a safety concern. The problem appears to be a recurring defect rather than normal wear, as many other Chevrolet Traverse owners have reported similar issues online. I am concerned this may indicate a broader defect affecting this model year.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, there was a loud explosion and the sunroof exploded. The contact stated that the sunroof was closed during the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the sunroof glass needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not under recall for the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,213.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
2020 traverse was at Chevy dealership for state inspection & emissions test, maintenance service- oil & filter change, rotate tires, check all systems, update system & computer, flush & fill all fluids in car. Chevy certified technician preformed vehicle health inspection, multi point inspection . Car was not picking up acceleration will on a 351 mile trip alone, after stopping I notice the car hood was not on correctly when opened the oil cap was not in place but was on molding, oil had been pouring out leaving engine with no oil, the technician had not replaced cap during service and had no replaced brake fluid, antifreeze coolant, washer fluid and transmission fluid. He had force closed the hood, which could have opened at any time while driving, there was oil pouring from vehicle causes hazardous driving for myself and everyone else on highway. Car has OnStar coverage as well as Chevy safe driver function’s, and alerts on all systems all fluid levels, tire pressure, temperature ext. non of these alerts showed or alerted me putting my safety and the safety of others on the roads in danger. The technician in fact disarmed these systems and alerts when servicing my vehicle. Ciocca Chevrolet dealership in Quakertown pa, caused permanent damage to the engine and power train system, as well as putting myself and others in serious danger. The car was towed by OnStar roadside assist back to dealership where they tried to down play the severity of the damage . I refused to take back the car due to it not being drivable or safe. The service manager agreed to buy out my loan and the car is on lot for sale with tag stating ‘sold as is , no warranty” . Due to the computer system being compromised there is no data showing the service or showing the car being in distress , this issue needs to be know as driving this vehicle with out knowledge of engine damage caused from dealership failure to add all fluids during service puts driver, passenger’s and all others in danger.
March 30, 2022 I was driving on a highway with no other vehicles nearby and I heard a sudden loud pop. At first I thought is was a tire but no pressure changes on the screen. Few minutes later I heard a plinking noise and realized it was above my head and my sunroof had shattered. Luckily my visor was pulled across so I didn't have glass raining on my head while driving. Brought it into my dealership who sent me to a auto body glass division. The glass was on back order for 10 days and repaired on 4/12/22. I paid my $500 deductible through my car insurance. My vehicle has a front sunroof and a back moonroof that does not open. On May 15, 2023 I was driving on a country road and again there was a sudden pop. Again thought it was a tire but there was a gravel truck about 5 cars ahead of me but my sister was in the front passenger seat and did not see a rock or gravel. Rear moonroof had 2 small cracks on top but luckily again my visor was closed. We had a 30 min ride home so we tried to wrap plastic wrap around and over it but the wind got underneath so the hardware store told us to duct tape it and it worked well for about a week until the roof completely caved in on May 24 th. I called my dealership and the claim was filed for replacement with same glass company but now the part is on back order until mid July!!! I paid $300 for my car insurance and my dealership is keeping it and I traded it in for a new 2023 Chevy Traverse which I paid $19,000 for and hoping the glass will not do this again on my new car. Grateful nobody was hurt but I feel this a safety problem that needs to be reported.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
19 Sep 2025. The headlights turn off at night while driving. With the switch in the "auto" position, I turned the switch to "off" then back to "auto" and they came back on for a short period of time. They turned off again, I turned them to "on", they came back on for a brief period. I had to keep switching the headlight switch from "on" to "off" and back to "on" every 20 to 30 seconds (estimated) to keep driving. The dealership could not schedule a diagnosis until 8 Oct 2025. This is a potentially fatal issue.
Sunday night 4/7/24, I was on my way to the emergency department with my 5 month old baby to be seen. 30min into my drive i came to a stop light when my truck completely shut off (BLACKOUT) No Power, NO LIGHTS not even my hazard would turn on, my car wouldn't go into park or allow me to press on my breaks it was like they were glued stuck. all my doors locked and I couldn't get them to open, not even manually because of the nobs that go all the way in. I couldn't put the car into park or anything just got locked in my car and I couldn't even hit the OnStar because everything was off! I started to see cars coming from a distance so i started to panic because they were going to rear end us really bad, so i broke the driver window and went to warn drivers to please stop by putting myself at risk to get hit by a car because i didn't know what else to do, i had a 5month old baby in the back seat that would have died if I didn't pull her out and we got hit. I started to scream for help because it was dark and we were stuck. two cars came inches from rear ending us, which caused an accident between the two vehicles. thankfully a police officer was passing by and got behind my traverse to stop traffic. but if it wasn't for the cop i don't know what the outcome would have been. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE WE WOULD HAVE BURNED. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP. Why would they design a car where you cannot get out. and why did it shut off like this. ???? I NEED ANSWERS PLEASE. I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR AND THIS WAS A $38,000 VEHICAL THIS IS NOT OK!!!!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
255/65R18 11T M+S I have to keep taking my vehicle in to get air filled into the tires due to losing air in them after a few days.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .