18 complaints reported

2020 Chevrolet Traverse Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
18
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while the vehicle was shifted into the park(P), the message "Shift to Park" was display on the instrument panel. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the gear shifter was shifted out of park and back into park several times before being able to turn off the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2026
Sep 2025

Slipping in low gears of transmission. Shaking of vehicle. Potential to break down.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2025
Sep 2025

TRANSMISSION CHATTER AND SLIPPING. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. ATTEMPTED TO CALL GM FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME FOR DIAGNOSIS AND COULD NOT ASURE ME OF ANY ASSISTANCE AND SINCE I HAD A DIFFERENT ISSUE WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DUE TO FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS CHARGED AND DID NOT GET MY MONEY BACK, I WENT A DIFFERENT ROUTE. THE DEALER ACTUALLY WANTED TO CHARGE ME TO REPLACE THE CONVERTER. i HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AT AAMCO $6000.00. KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS BY MANUFACTURER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2023
Aug 2025

Severe transmission shudder, issues accelerating. Torque converter failure is very common with this vehicle, even with following routine scheduled maintenance. There is no engine or MIL light on and symptoms appeared out of nowhere. Failing to be able to safely accelerate can cause accidents, putting lives and property at risk. Looking information up online will show that this is a very common issue with this model year and transmission.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2024
Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the message “Shift to Park” was displayed and the contact was unable to turn off the vehicle. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jolted abnormally while accelerating. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed since the VIN was not under an open recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2025
Jun 2025

Receiving a persistent “Shift to Park” message, after the car has been placed in Park. This causes an inability to turn off my engine completely and is draining my battery. As a temp fix, I've had to wiggle the shifter many times, turn the car on and off, place the car from park into drive many times to get the car to realize it's in Park. Scheduled with the dealership and referenced the TSB that was issued for this specific safety issue (in writing). Brought the car in for the repair and the technician and intake person were both aware of this major problem and have seen other Chevy's with the same issue. Repair is $809.00 for a shifter assembly. [XXX] - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2025
May 2025

See GMBulletin #19-NA-206 I am getting the "shift to park" warning which makes it difficult to turn off/safely park my vehicle. I know the NHTSA is aware of this as well as numerous lawsuits in progress against GM for significant safety issues. Will this go to recall status soon?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2025
Mar 2025

The Transmission went out at 128k miles, a BRAND NEW GM transmission was replaced at a cost of $6,800 to me as it was not under warranty. Less than 2 months and 2k miles later, the new transmission went out. I just got my car back yesterday with yet another GM transmission and once again it is jerking, so I’m sure another faulty transmission from General Motors

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2024
Mar 2025

Check engine light came on day after I purchased this vehicle. Cracks in both front exhaust pipes. Seem to be an issue with 2020 chevy traverse models.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2025
Feb 2025

I recently had to replace my transmission (2020 Chevrolet Traverse) due to shuddering from manufacturer's fault in assembly process. Now I'm having to replace the transmission in my mother's 2018 Chevrolet Colorado that has less than 65k miles. These issues cause power loss while driving. I was in the middle of passing another vehicle when my vehicle experienced power loss. This is a HUGE safety issue, not only for my family but many others that I know that are experiencing or have experienced the same issues. I have 3 family members that have had to have the same repairs as well as over 40 acquaintances. I had assumed with the thousands others that I've chatted with on facebook and reddit that this would have been a recall, sadly, GM/Chevrolet doesn't seem to care that it is their fault that their consumers are having to spend THOUSANDS of dollars to correct an issue that leaves the manufacturer at fault. With the thounsands experiencing the same issue, i feel that those that have already had to spend money should be reimbursed.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2025
Dec 2024

The flywheel teeth broke off and became jammed in the starter, which apparently caused a short to the fuse block. The dealership hasn’t commented on exactly what the root cause was though for why that may have happened. I don’t have the original part(s) but the dealer might. I was in the car at the time with my entire family. We were in the middle of driving everyone home from school. The power to the car stayed on but the engine completely died. Given we don’t know what happened with I’m terrified the starter may have tried to engage while driving which would have broken the teeth off. The problem was confirmed by the dealer only in the sense that the parts were broken, but they don’t have root cause. The vehicle was never inspected by insurance as it still fell under the 100k mile certified pre owned warranty. No warning prior to the incident but after there was one brief message that came up saying we needed to check engine system.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2024
Dec 2024

The transmission failed in the middle of me driving the check engine light popped on and started jerking and accelerating and slowing down in the middle of traffic. It is available for inspection. Stopping randomly and jerking as soon as the light popped on. I am about to be out of thousands of dollars for a 40000.00 car that I'm still paying on always kept maintenance up and just had an 180.00 inspection at dealership prior to this no mention of a transmission failure prior. Everything came back good so this is frustrating several other 2020 traverses have been recalled due to transmission I am not sure how mine isn't included for same year. It conveniently happened right when it wad out of warranty.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2023
Nov 2024

The transmission on my 2020 Chevrolet Traverse has experienced severe shuddering problems when shifting gears. The vehicle is not old and the integrity of the safety of the vehicle puts myself and my family at risk whenever driving it now. The dealer quotes approximately $8,000 for a fix and a similar search online sees other customers with the same issues. Chevrolet should recall the affected vehicles and not force the consumer to pay out of pocket for the repairs.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2024
Oct 2024

While taking off after being stop the alclenton the tramssmion slip into gear late and you can notice it while foot on pedel after u take off oil was.change but still the same delership says it comon with this suv

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2024
Aug 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered. In addition, the contact stated that the gear shifter sometimes failed to shift into the intended gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2024
Nov 2023

In the past 3 years I have received 2 check engine lights giving a code of P0420, meaning the catalyst system efficiency is below threshold. Chevy replaced my catalytic converter in April of 2022… now a year and a half later they need to replace parts again. A catalytic converter is an important exhaust and emission component that is designed to burn up the toxic exhaust gases that come from the engine… carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to be exact. I just found out today after taking it in for a second time that the first replacement of the catalytic converter was a defect on the manufacturers part. Every time I go in I have to pay the diagnostic cost and I feel as though I was sold a defective car. Catalytic converters are supposed to last the cars lifetime in some cases.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2023
Oct 2022

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. Has been back to the dealership 4 times now for the same issue. First time was told it needed a torque converter, when taking it in to have the torque convertor changed a TSB was located advising to change the transmission fluid instead (January of 2022). After about 1000 miles issue has came back. Dealership is unable to duplicate it due to it being worse on hot days and unable to drive for long periods of times. There have been numerous complaints after researching online about this with the Chevy traverse. This vehicle has almost left me sitting in the middle of intersections due to Shuddering.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2022
Dec 2020

WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, OR PARK TO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE RIGHT AWAY. THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL FORWARD OR BACKWARDS UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES INTO REVERSE. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT VERY LOW SPEEDS (1-2 MPH) AND ALSO WHILE STATIONARY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2020

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse has 18 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.