NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls and 235 owner complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse.
Recalled components: air bags, powertrain, tires, body structure, and 1 more. Most-described problem: the check engine light coming on (35 complaints, 15%), then shifter errors or getting stuck in gear (24). Most-reported area: engine (70 complaints, 30%).
Fewer complaints than a typical Traverse year
The 2020 drew 35 owner complaints in its first three years, against 47 for a typical Traverse year. It is not picked as a best year: its first three years fell in the pandemic, when people drove less.
Years to avoid: 2018; best year: 2021. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Data: NHTSA recall, complaint and investigation filesUpdated
Year to avoidBest year
8 safety recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse
Grouped by the part recalled, largest group first, newest first within each part. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for what is wrong, the fix and the full notice.
Risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
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.
Fix: 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.
89 vehicles.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles.
NHTSA listing: TRAVERSE. Chevrolet campaign N212352140.
Risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
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.
Fix: 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.
769 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: TRAVERSE. Chevrolet campaign N202305380.
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.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
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.
Fix: 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.
639 vehicles.
Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Traverse wheelchair accessible vehicles with Power In-floor Ramp conversion.
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.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Fix: 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.
194,105 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: TRAVERSE. Chevrolet campaign N202313440.
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.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
Fix: 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.
33,838 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: TRAVERSE. Chevrolet campaign N212329050.
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.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured.
Fix: 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.
7,516 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: TRAVERSE. Chevrolet campaign N202319030.
Risk: A crack in the frame rail may reduce crash performance, increasing the risk of an injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The right-hand frame rail in the engine compartment may be cracked.
Fix: 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.
3,420 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles.
NHTSA listing: TRAVERSE. Chevrolet campaign N192268310.
Risk: Insufficient fuel supply can result in an engine stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
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.
Fix: 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.
2,781 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles.
NHTSA listing: TRAVERSE. Chevrolet campaign N202314760.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse.
What owners report
Owners have filed 235 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Traverse. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Check engine light35 · 15%
Median 85,600 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Most named: exhaust system (17); exhaust system, emission control, catalytic convertor (4) · Median 83,900 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system16 · 7%
Brakes10 · 4%
Seat belts9 · 4%
Unknown or other56 · 24%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Chevrolet Traverse recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2020 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Traverse drew the most (139) and the 2020 drew 35.
Owner complaints
2020: 235 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Chevrolet Traverse
Model year
Complaints
2010
669
2011
608
2012
354
2013
162
2014
549
2015
314
2016
292
2017
361
2018
466
2019
412
2020
235
2021
95
2022
103
2023
95
2024
148
2025
186
2026
30
Safety recalls
2020: 8 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Chevrolet Traverse
Model year
Recalls
2010
5
2011
5
2012
5
2013
4
2014
7
2015
5
2016
5
2017
3
2018
2
2019
3
2020
8
2021
3
2022
1
2023
2
2024
0
2025
0
2026
2
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 235 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, the problems described most are the check engine light coming on (35), shifter errors or getting stuck in gear (24), and shaking, shuddering or vibration (17). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse.
How do I check if my Traverse has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Chevrolet dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: TRAVERSE.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.