2020 Chevrolet Traverse Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
40/100
#10 most-complained of 16 Traverse years
The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse ranks 10th worst out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 40 and a "Good" verdict relative to other Traverse years. It has 228 complaints, 8 recalls, and the top problem area is Engine at 42% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 228
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes / fires
- 11 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 17.5 city / 26 hwy
Top 2020 Chevrolet Traverse problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine95 (42%)
- Other55 (24%)
- Transmission & Powertrain39 (17%)
- Electrical System30 (13%)
- Fuel System19 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (4%)
- Brakes9 (4%)
- Seat Belts9 (4%)
- Steering7 (3%)
- Structure & Body7 (3%)
What owners report
- Brakes reportedly lock up or fail suddenly, in one case causing the steering wheel to lock and the vehicle to slide into a rear-end collision.
- Some owners report brake fluid leaking or a brake line detaching after a snapping sensation under the pedal at low speed.
- Airbags allegedly failed to deploy in moderate-speed collisions despite visible impact and an airbag odor inside the cabin.
- A driver's side seat belt pre-tensioner reportedly stayed loose and did not restrain the occupant during a rear-end crash.
- Owners describe the engine stalling without warning while merging at low speed.
- The steering wheel reportedly became stiff along with an illuminated ABS warning light before a later steering failure at highway speed.
2020 Chevrolet Traverse recalls
8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V210000Mar 31, 2022Airbags89 vehicles
Air bags:side/window:curtain
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 21V817000Oct 18, 2021Transmission & Powertrain639 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
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.
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.
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.
- NHTSA 21V115000Feb 25, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires33,838 vehicles
Tires
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.
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.
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.
2020 Chevrolet Traverse fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 20.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,175
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2020 compared with other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse a good year to buy?
- Yes, relative to other Traverse model years. It has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th worst out of 16 years tracked, earning a "Good" verdict compared to years like 2010, 2011, and 2019, which rank as "Avoid."
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
- NHTSA complaints show Engine issues make up 42% of complaints (95 complaints, median mileage at failure 82,000), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 17% (39 complaints) and Electrical System at 13% (30 complaints).
- Does the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, covering airbags, transmission/powertrain, suspension/wheels/tires, fuel system, and structure/body components. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2020 Traverse compare to the 2019 and 2021 models?
- The 2019 Traverse has a Complaint Index of 80 and an "Avoid" verdict, while the 2021 Traverse has a Complaint Index of 0 and a "Best" verdict. The 2020 model sits in between with a Complaint Index of 40.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
- EPA rates the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse at 20.5 mpg combined (17.5 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.