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Your vehicleHome›Chevrolet›Traverse› 2020
Chevrolet · Large SUV

2020 Chevrolet Traverse

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
61 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 8
Complaints11 crash · 1 fire · 8 injured reported 234
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 21 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Traverse FWD, is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 234 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Chevrolet Traverse — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Chevrolet Traverse · Photo: Autosdeprimera · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Traverse FWDGasFWD3.6L 6-cyl182721$3,200
Traverse AWDGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl172520$3,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41524, 41526.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Traverse AWD, Traverse FWD6 / 10California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors4
GVWR classClass 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3.6 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows3
Seating capacity8 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainFWD/Front-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds9

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: High Country, LS, LT, Premier). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length204.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)78.7 in
Height70.9 in
Wheelbase120.9 in
Track, front67.3 in
Track, rear66.9 in
Curb weight4,361–4,700 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear58/42

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door SUV AWD, 4-door SUV FWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2020 Traverse
Other years The 2027 Traverse Recalls Chevrolet recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (8)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

N212352140
89 vehicles 90% reported repaired
Problem 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. 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V210000 reported Mar 31, 2022 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

639 vehicles 74% reported repaired
Problem 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. 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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V817000 reported Oct 18, 2021 Braun Corporation the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Tires

N212329050
33,838 vehicles 82% reported repaired
Problem 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. 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V115000 reported Feb 25, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Tires

N202319030
7,516 vehicles 96% reported repaired
Problem 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. The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured. 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. 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V684000 reported Nov 5, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

N202313440
194,105 vehicles 82% reported repaired
Problem 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. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts. 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. 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V668000 reported Oct 29, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

N202314760
2,781 vehicles 97% reported repaired
Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. 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. Risk Insufficient fuel supply can result in an engine stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V639000 reported Oct 15, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

N202305380
769 vehicles 93% reported repaired
Problem 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. 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. Risk If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V446000 reported Jul 30, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Structure

N192268310
3,420 vehicles 98% reported repaired built Jul 2, 2019 – Jul 12, 2019
Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The right-hand frame rail in the engine compartment may be cracked. Risk A crack in the frame rail may reduce crash performance, increasing the risk of an injury. 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V643000 reported Sep 6, 2019 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Traverse

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Chevrolet publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Chevrolet’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Traverse →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
234complaints filed

11 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 8 injuries · 0 deaths reported

15 per 10,000 built · Chevrolet reported 160,908 Traverse built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 11 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 35 · 2024: 48 · 2025: 61 · 2026: 55

Most-cited components

Engine → 98
Unspecified 56
Power Train 39
Electrical System 28
Fuel/Propulsion System 19
Service Brakes 10

In depth: engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Transmission shudders when warmed up. After driving Transmission will shudder pulling hills. It becomes worse and more noticeable the longer it is driven and when hot out. Numerous times after driving for a few hundred miles and then stopping, the vehicle will shudder trying to take off.
Power Train May 10, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11464035
I reached between the driver seat and center console to retrieve my keys. When I pulled my hand back up something on the seat sliced my hand open and I needed 5 stitches. After looking closely at both the front seats (driver and passenger) there is a very sharp piece between the seat and console on both seats.
Seats Nov 27, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11441817
UNKNOWN We were on the highway when we noticed the engine light come on, then the fuel gage went all the way to empty then back up again. We were going about 65-70 mph. I am taking my vehicle in today to get fixed
Engine Oct 25, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11438013
2020 Chevrolet Traverse. Consumer writes in regards to defective brake pedal. The consumer stated 3 times since the purchase of the vehicle, the consumer's foot slipped under the brake when attempting to reverse
Service Brakes Aug 2, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11427404
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.
Air Bags Jul 27, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11426703
The surround vision system not working. It was occasionally, now it does not work at all. We only get a dark screen with a red hazard triangle. It started the day we bought the car and the dealer claims they have another car like mine ahead of me with the same problem.
Electrical System at 300 miles Jan 28, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11390497

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Chevrolet itself: 65 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 95 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 40 per 100,000 built. Every Traverse model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 52k

miles, typically

Half the 57 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 7,000 and 86,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 15
10k–20k 0
20k–30k 5
30k–40k 4
40k–50k 3
50k–60k 6
60k–70k 3
70k–80k 1
80k–90k 6
90k–100k 2
100k–150k 11
150k + 1

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Engine3083,0001.66×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2020-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: engine (1.66×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2020 model years the Chevrolet Traverse ranks 68 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.9× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 37,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every GM warranty extension (33) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 782
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 777 service bulletins, 3 service campaigns, 1 warranty extension

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Unknown Or Other, Power Train.

  • PIT5698F Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
  • PIP4902W Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIT5099J Service bulletin
    2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • PI to help diagnose A/C concern
  • PIT3271Q Service bulletin
    2026-04-01 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
  • PIP6104 Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
  • PIP4902V Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIT6425D Service bulletin
    2026-03-02 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC'ss
  • PIT6425C Service bulletin
    2026-01-16 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC's

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0300
P0300 on Chevrolet →		Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →7 bulletins
C056D
C056D on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →5 bulletins
P0747
P0747 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train5 bulletins
B3055
B3055 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
B3060
B3060 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
B3935
B3935 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P0308
P0308 on Chevrolet →		Cylinder 8 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →4 bulletins
P0420
P0420 on Chevrolet →		The catalytic converter on bank 1 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.Engine · Catalytic converter →4 owner reports
P050D
P050D on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine4 bulletins
P0557
P0557 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment4 bulletins
P0558
P0558 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment4 bulletins
C056E
C056E on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse failed the emissions check on 2.0% of first inspections — close to the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.9% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).

New York inspections 2.0%

failed emissions

6,178 initial inspections of 6,070 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2020 TraverseEvery 2020 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.0%2.2%6,166
Failed the safety inspection1.9%1.6%6,178
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.19%0.19%6,178
Miles driven a year11,6899,980odometer at inspection
Average odometer73,21062,630odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Traverse by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 1 22 mpg2026 A 1 26 22 mpg2025 A 0 185 23 mpg2024 A 0 141 23 mpg2023 B 2 94 21 mpg2022 A 1 100 21 mpg2021 C 3 92 21 mpg2020 this page D 8 234 21 mpg2019 C 3 412 22 mpg2018 B 2 464 22 mpg2017 D 3 361 18 mpg2016 F 5 292 18 mpg

Common questions about the 2020 Traverse

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 8 recall campaigns for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The most serious on file is 22V210000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (61/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, the best EPA combined figure is 21 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?

Transport Canada measured it at 204.3 in long, 78.7 in wide (body, without mirrors), 70.9 in tall, on a 120.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,361–4,700 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?

Owners have filed 234 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, most often about engine, unspecified, power train. Of those, 11 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 8 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is 6 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?

The manufacturer has filed 782 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse failed the emissions check on 2.0% of first inspections — close to the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.9% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations2 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates2 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls8NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints234NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins782NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA12 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Traverse The Traverse model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Chevrolet recall on file All campaigns filed against Chevrolet vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Traverse by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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