AI Damage2020 Chevrolet Traverse: common problems
Owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse filed 234 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. The maker issued 732 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 234
- involving a crash
- 11
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 732
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 30% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 4% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 3% of all complaints
- Engine: 70 complaints (30% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 67.
- Powertrain: 39 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 78.
- Electrical system: 28 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 170.
- Engine and cooling: 27 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 98.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 16 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 9-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 234 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 70 | 1 | 67 |
| Powertrain | 39 | 0 | 78 |
| Electrical system | 28 | 2 | 170 |
| Engine and cooling | 27 | 0 | 98 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 16 | 0 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 3 | 34 |
| Seat belts | 9 | 1 | 3 |
| Steering | 7 | 1 | 15 |
| Air bags | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 16 |
| Wheels | 4 | 0 | 39 |
| Backover prevention | 4 | 0 | 17 |
| Seats | 4 | 2 | 10 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 43 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
A light came on that read "service ESC". Within 2 minutes of this light coming on, I heard a loud noise and the tail end of my car started to spin out. My power steering went out, my brakes did not work and I hit the guard rail very hard.
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…
The seatbelts locked in place, hazard lights turned on, and my vehicle was slowing, but my airbags did not deploy. They did however release a white powder substance. I was safely able to get my vehicle off to the side of the road and evaluate the situation. My husband was moaning and grunting in the passenger seat.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The vehicle then caught on fire. The air bag did deploy. No warning light illuminated on the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the utility truck driver on the scene. There were no injuries reported. No medical treatment was needed at the scene. A police report was filed.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 275 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Traverse has 196 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 234, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic…
This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC'ss
- This PI advised dealer technicians of possible causes of diesel fuel contamination in gasoline powered…
This PI advised dealer technicians of possible causes of diesel fuel contamination in gasoline powered vehicles and advises of warranty direction.
- This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic…
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
NHTSA lists 732 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 234. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (26%), knocking, grinding or other noise (14%), jerking, harsh shifts (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA lists 732 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2020 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.