Is the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse a bad year?
235 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 73, 2.9× a quiet Traverse year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 2.9× the complaints of a quiet Traverse year, spread over 13k–85k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2020 Traverse owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 38,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 73 (31%) | 13k–85k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 40 (17%) | 28k–91k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 28 (12%) | 14k–50k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Exhaust | 24 (10%) | 58k–95k miles · ahead | Exhaust leak repair $200–$1,500 · Catalytic converter replacement $500–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 19 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 38,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 235 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 6 report an injury · 14 say the car was towed.
58 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse: 8
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. Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
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. 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 affected tires were cured for too long during production. 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 vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured. 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 start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts. 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.
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. Insufficient fuel supply can result in an engine stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
General Motors, LLC. 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. If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The right-hand frame rail in the engine compartment may be cracked. A crack in the frame rail may reduce crash performance, increasing the risk of an injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 289
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
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…
Correct a customer concern of a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated - DTC P3055 Set
Correct a customer concern of Vehicle Will Not Lock and Unlock (Loss of Active Functions) Crank or Start (Loss of Passive Functions) with DTC P0513 Set
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Neighbouring years
2019 Traverse: 412 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2021 Traverse: 95 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Traverse year
2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Traverse years side by side
Other Chevrolet models: Chevrolet Astro · Chevrolet Avalanche · Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 · Chevrolet Aveo · Chevrolet Blazer · Chevrolet Bolt EV · Chevrolet Camaro · Chevrolet Captiva · Chevrolet Cavalier · Chevrolet Cobalt · Chevrolet Cobalt SS · Chevrolet Colorado · Chevrolet Corvette · Chevrolet Cruze · Chevrolet Equinox · Chevrolet Equinox EV · Chevrolet Express · Chevrolet HHR · Chevrolet Impala · Chevrolet Malibu · Chevrolet Malibu Classic · Chevrolet Malibu Maxx · Chevrolet Monte Carlo · Chevrolet S10 · Chevrolet Silverado · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD · Chevrolet Silverado 2500 · Chevrolet Silverado 3500 · Chevrolet Sonic · Chevrolet Spark · Chevrolet Suburban · Chevrolet Suburban 1500 · Chevrolet Tahoe · Chevrolet Tracker · Chevrolet Trailblazer · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370 · Chevrolet Trax · Chevrolet Uplander · Chevrolet Venture · Chevrolet Volt. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse a bad year?
235 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 73, 2.9× a quiet Traverse year. At 38,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 2.9× the complaints of a quiet Traverse year, spread over 13k–85k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (73), transmission and drivetrain (40), electrical system (28), exhaust (24), fuel system (19). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 13k–85k miles.
How many recalls does the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 22V-210), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 21V-817), Tires (NHTSA 21V-115), Tires (NHTSA 20V-684) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.