SUV, gasoline, FWD/Front-Wheel Drive, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Jan 20, 2020 to Sep 26, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22V-210 | Mar 31, 2022 | Harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from… | Airbags | 89 | Part replacement |
| 21V-817 | Oct 18, 2021 | Screw and clip that hold the inner wheel-well plastic shroud in place may chafe against the transmission case, possibly resulting in a… | Powertrain | 639 | Part replacement |
| 21V-115 | Feb 25, 2021 | Affected tires were cured for too long during production | Tires | 33,838 | Part replacement |
| 20V-684 | Nov 5, 2020 | Vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured | Tires | 7,516 | Part replacement |
| 20V-668 | Oct 29, 2020 | Start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts | Powertrain | 194,105 | Part replacement |
| 20V-639 | Oct 15, 2020 | Fuel pump's jet nozzle may have a plastic burr remaining from the manufacturing process, possibly causing a blocked nozzle and an insufficient… | Fuel system | 2,781 | Part replacement |
| 20V-446 | Jul 30, 2020 | Diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly crimped to the inflator and could separate from the… | Airbags | 769 | Part replacement |
| 19V-643 | Sep 6, 2019 | Right-hand frame rail in the engine compartment may be cracked | Structure | 3,420 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
229 complaints on file, page 1 of 12.
My 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is experiencing a SHIFT to PARK issue. When the car is placed into PARK, the electrical system does not recognize it and will not shut off the vehicle. There is a defect with the button trigger that allows the gear shifter to move and it is not being recognized. The quick fix is to press this button around 15 times to reset it. Sometimes this works but when on an incline, it does not. It takes turning the vehicle on and off a few times to have this registered. The estimated cost to replace the gear shifter is around $600 to $900 dollars. Please have this item recalled.
NHTSA complaint 11767131The rear power liftgate closed on my finger severing the top part of my finger at the base of the finger nail.
NHTSA complaint 11766160On September 18,2026 owner #3 bought the vehicle on December 9,2026 at the time of purchase it had 46,545 on September 17 check engine light came on and the diagnostic code came up as P0171 lean bank one from Pep Boys.Pep Boys scan found P0171 lean bank 1 meaning that is sucking in too much oxygen, upon inspection found rear exhaust manifold is cracked, creating a vacuum and suck. ng in oxygen,causing the engine light, the exhaust hanger is broken and pictures from PepBoys show the exhaust hanger is broken and was held by poxy putty from previous owner #2 this was not disclosed at the time of sale on December 9,2026 and CarMax failed to complete a 125+ inspection before it left the dealership lot.The Poxy putty caused the manifold to crack with catalytic converter and 2 O2 sensors. Further another serious concerns owner #3 has as reported on history from Good Car reported from other consumers owning 2020 Chevy Traverse is the Shift to Park issue which was discovered on August 5,2026 at Affordable Transmission in Lancaster when i got my transmission service. This is also another pre-existing condition that was not disclosed by CarMax at the time of sale on December 9,2025. I feel the car is defective and not safe. The vehicle is at my mechanic getting evaluated. Per Car Facts this vehicle was involved in a minor accident which was not disclosed.
NHTSA complaint 11765950While the gears are shifted to park, as soon as the car is turned off, a message pops up advising me to "Shift to Park". The car will already be in park. I have to with jiggle the gear shift or turn the car back on and cycle gears a couple times in order for the car to recognize that it's in park.
NHTSA complaint 11764315My Autostop feature failed to work and did not restart my car on 2 occasions. 1) My kids and I was a stop sign at an intersection and the car would not turn back on. I had my truck towed. The next business day they told me it started on it own. 2) I was dropping my kids off at camp out of town and came to a red light. My truck would not restart. I was in the middle of the street. The police has to push me to safety until the tow truck driver arrived. After towing my truck 100 miles to the dealer near my home it started back up. The next day the dealer mis informed me that it was a programming that was coming up. I had to pay that fee plus diagnostics. When going out to test my truck the dealer experience the same issue. A severity case had to be opened to determine the solution to fix the issue. It took about 4 days. This issue is very concerning as I and my children safety was at risk while driving. I asked about turning the feature off but was told it's a state emissions law to have it on so they could not help me.
NHTSA complaint 11763231The front intermediate exhaust pipe mounting bracket weld fractured at the engine manifold, causing the exhaust pipe to break completely loose. We can now actively smell raw exhaust fumes inside the passenger cabin while operating the vehicle, creating an immediate safety hazard for carbon monoxide poisoning and driver disorientation. Additionally, the heavy steel exhaust system is completely unsupported at the front, creating an imminent risk of the pipe falling and dragging on the roadway at highway speeds, which could cause a catastrophic crash. The vehicle began getting progressively louder during cold weather between late 2025 and early 2026. A certified Chevrolet dealership technician officially inspected the vehicle, filmed an inspection video confirming this exact structural failure, and attempted to submit it for warranty coverage. GM Corporate denied the claim solely because my VIN is excluded from Special Coverage N212356540, despite the vehicle suffering from the identical manufacturing defect described in the bulletin. I possess the official dealer repair receipt and the technician's inspection video as proof.
NHTSA complaint 11761853I am filing a complaint regarding a persistent safety defect widely known as the "Shift to Park" issue. For over a year, my 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, VIN [XXX] has repeatedly displayed a "Shift to Park" warning message on the instrument cluster when the vehicle is placed in Park and the engine shutoff button is pressed. This occurs multiple times weekly. Despite the vehicle physically being in Park, the internal shifter sensor fails to recognize the gear position. This defect prevents the vehicle from shutting down properly, leaving the electrical system active and causing severe battery drain. Furthermore, because the vehicle does not recognize it is in Park, it creates a roll away risk if the driver exits assuming the vehicle is fully secured. General Motors is aware of this widespread component failure across this vehicle platform but refuses to issue a safety recall or cover the repair costs out of warranty. This is a systemic manufacturing defect that presents a clear financial and safety hazard to consumers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11761699Bracket on the exhaust pipes just before the flex pipes broke free and there is now a hole in the pipe.
NHTSA complaint 11761447I made an error and incorrectly submitted an issue under the wrong vehicle, with NHTSA Safety Issue ID 11759404. This is the same submission under the correct vehicle and VIN. Issue ID 11759404 can be merged here or canceled.
NHTSA complaint 11759407The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that over time the sound became louder. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cracked front exhaust pipe and battery failure. The contact was informed that the front exhaust pipe and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 84,701.
NHTSA complaint 11759199The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a loud sound coming from the exhaust pipes, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate, with exhaust fumes inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the exhaust mounting bracket had failed, causing the exhaust pipes to separate and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under a manufacturer-extended coverage that was associated with the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
NHTSA complaint 11757347Loses oil between oil changes. No visible signs of leaks or odor of burning oil.
NHTSA complaint 11756688The 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 150,970.
NHTSA complaint 11753792I 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 recalls on my vehicle when there should. There is the most recent bulletin, Bulletin No.: 23-NA-072 dated May 2023 that covers the 2020 Chevy Traverse for TCC Shudder: (Typically seen on 4th-5th Upshift as ISS Oscillation) which is referenced on my last car diagnostic report. This car is basically brand new and should never have needed a brand new transmission, torque converter replacement and still having shudder problems. These vehicles need to be recalled for their power train.
NHTSA complaint 11752600The 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 11752199GM 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 11751117There 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 11751031I 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 then the torque converter was replaced separately on 9/20/2022 at 8106 miles for engine shudder. This vehicle is practically brand new. I reached out to GM with no help other than to pay to have it diagnosed again at the dealership. There are no open recalls on my vehicle when there should. There is the most recent bulletin, Bulletin No.: 23-NA-072 dated May 2023 that covers the 2020 Chevy Traverse for TCC Shudder: (Typically seen on 4th-5th Upshift as ISS Oscillation) This car is brand new and should never have needed a brand new transmission, torque converter replacement and still having the exact same problems as before.
NHTSA complaint 11748672The welds that hold the catalytic converter and exhaust pipe together have pinhole leaks. The hose that connects to the exhaust system is also failing. This has been confirmed by the Chevy dealership we took it too. No warning lights were triggered. We heard a rattling noise after having a prior hose replaced. One week later we were back at the same dealership. At this appointment they discovered the pinhole leaks and confirmed there are pinhole leaks while revving the engine to 1,000 RPMs. We requested GM pay to fix the issue and they have refused. Our safety is at risk because no sensors were triggered and we could smell exhaust fumes in the vehicle while using the air conditioning. This is not the first issue we had with this vehicle. Prior to this the whole car died while my wife was driving it with our 2 kids in the car with her. She had no steering or braking.
NHTSA complaint 11748616Getting error message on and off last several weeks - "Shift into park" which does not allow the ignition to be turned off!! The only way to resolve this issue is to jiggle the gear shift or restart the car, changing gears and trying again. Sometimes it works on the second or third try! Frustrating!!! What is it doing to the shift assembly? Have called local dealer they will diagnose and repair at my cost! In the neighborhood of $250.00 for diagnostic, which will be applied to the total repair costs. No idea what that bill will be. General Motors just advises if it needs repair save my receipts in the event of recall for reimbursement. The car only has 21,600 miles!! I have seen other complaints on line and there are videos on You Tube on how to repair this issue, obviously I'm not the only one this is happening to. The gear shift boot and console have to be removed to repair. If the above actions do not work, how do you shut the ignition off??? Just let the car run until it's out of gas??? Not what I would classify as safe! General Motors should be taking steps to rectify this problem immediately but since they have not had "enough" complaints to warrant investigating further they are sitting idly by! HELP!
NHTSA complaint 11746904Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.