CSR

Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2020 Chevrolet Traverse

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

218

Complaints

11

Crashes

1

Fires

7

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse have filed 218 safety complaints with NHTSA between January 2020 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 68 of them (31%). The typical failure was reported at 49,643 miles, the median across the 53 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose 31% year on year: 67 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 51 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 8 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (8)

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN

22V210000 · March 31, 2022

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
The risk
Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The 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.

General Motors, LLC · up to 89 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

21V817000 · October 18, 2021

The defect
Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Traverse wheelchair accessible vehicles with Power In-floor Ramp conversion. The screw and clip that hold the inner wheel-well plastic shroud in place may chafe against the transmission case, possibly resulting in a transmission fluid leak.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Braun Corporation · up to 639 vehicles across all model years covered

TIRES

21V115000 · February 25, 2021

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors, LLC · up to 33,838 vehicles across all model years covered

TIRES

20V684000 · November 5, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured.
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 7,516 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

20V668000 · October 29, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 194,105 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

20V639000 · October 15, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The fuel pump's jet nozzle may have a plastic burr remaining from the manufacturing process, possibly causing a blocked nozzle and an insufficient fuel supply to the engine.
The risk
Insufficient fuel supply can result in an engine stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 2,781 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

20V446000 · July 30, 2020

The defect
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly crimped to the inflator and could separate from the inflator during air bag deployment.
The risk
If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 769 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

19V643000 · September 6, 2019

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The right-hand frame rail in the engine compartment may be cracked.
The risk
A crack in the frame rail may reduce crash performance, increasing the risk of an injury.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,420 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 218.

ENGINE 68 31%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 48 22%
POWER TRAIN 39 18%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28 13%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 23 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 16 7%
SEAT BELTS 9 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 9 4%
STEERING 7 3%
AIR BAGS 6 3%
SUSPENSION 5 2%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 4 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 61.

2020 2025 2026
2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

Vehicle turned in front of our traverse we where traveling approximately 30mph struck other car broadside and no air bag deployment? But odor of airbag in our Vehicle was present. But there no deployment visible? Body shop states no issues with airbag system. But they are replacing airbags in repair of our vehicle. "The airbag systems are faulty and unsafe"

NHTSA complaint 11426703. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

2 injured · crash · towed

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.

NHTSA complaint 11512868. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 6,200 miles

GOT IN A 50 MPH ACCIDENT FRONT PASSENGER. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR WITH ONLY 6200 MILES. HAS AIRBAGS EVERYWHERE. THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND MYSELF CANNOT BELIEVE THIS.

NHTSA complaint 11398735. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

1 injured · crash · towed · 25,500 miles

The contact owned a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 - 40 MPH, the contact rear-ended another vehicle. The driver's side front seat belt pre-tensioner was loose and did not restrain the contact in the seat upon impact. The air bags were deployed upon impact. The contact suffered bruising on her chest, a lacerated thumb, and a fractured elbow from the air bag deployment. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,500.

NHTSA complaint 11470463. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Loses oil between oil changes. No visible signs of leaks or odor of burning oil.

NHTSA complaint 11756688. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 150,970 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 11753792, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
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

NHTSA complaint 11752600, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

26,818 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted into park(P); however, the “Shift to Park” message was displayed. The contact shifted the gear shifter back and forth and then shifted into park(P) before the proper gear was recognized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the gear shifter. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,818.

NHTSA complaint 11752199. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.

NHTSA complaint 11751031. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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.

NHTSA complaint 11751117. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Traverse

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 20 1
2025 171 0
2024 130 0
2023 85 2
2022 95 1
2021 86 3
2019 401 3
2018 454 2
2017 360 3 1
2016 291 5 1
2015 313 5
2014 547 7
2013 161 4
2012 354 5
2011 608 5 1
2010 668 5

Other 2020 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst