Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Chevrolet Traverse owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Sunday night 4/7/24, I was on my way to the emergency department with my 5 month old baby to be seen. 30min into my drive i came to a stop light when my truck completely shut off (BLACKOUT) No Power, NO LIGHTS not even my hazard would turn on, my car wouldn't go into park or allow me to press on my breaks it was like they were glued stuck. all my doors locked and I couldn't get them to open, not even manually because of the nobs that go all the way in. I couldn't put the car into park or anything just got locked in my car and I couldn't even hit the OnStar because everything was off! …
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the "Shift to Park" message was displayed on the instrument panel while attempting to park the vehicle. The contact also stated that the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) warning light was displayed while at a complete stop, and an audible chime was heard during the failure. In addition, the START/STOP function failed after removing the foot from the brake pedal while at a stop light. The vehicle shut off without warning as the contact attempted to depress the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that a motorist assisted with pushing the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact called for Roadside Assistance and a Police Officer assisted with jumpstarting the vehicle. The Police Officer then escorted the contact to a nearby gas station where the contact purchased a new battery. …
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The parking brake symbol also displayed on the instrument panel. Additionally, the instrument panel then went blank. The contact drove the vehicle to his residence and parked the vehicle. The contact then noticed that after turning the vehicle off, the radio remained on and the contact was unable to manually turn off the radio. The contact attempted to start the vehicle the following day and the battery was drained. The contact had the vehicle jump-started and drove the vehicle to a dealer who attempted to diagnose the vehicle however, all the data had been erased. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,700.
I was driving to work at 0530 on 11/10/24. I was on the highway driving the speed limit. A light came on that read "service ESC". Within 2 minutes of this light coming on, I heard a loud noise and the tail end of my car started to spin out. My power steering went out, my brakes did not work and I hit the guard rail very hard. The "electronic stability control" system in my car, turned off on me with only a minute warning, and almost killed me. My car was totaled and deemed a complete loss. Any advice would be appreciated.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power in the middle of the roadway. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the starter. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. The VIN was not available.
There is an electrical short that keeps shutting down the stereo. I bought my car new Dec 2020. In the summer of 2022 I was driving my car and the stereo and dashboard suddenly shut off. I pulled over and it came back on after a few seconds. I was told by Chevrolet first that the stereo was faulty and then that there was an electrical problem affecting the stereo. On Dec 24, 2022 I was driving my car and again the stereo suddenly shut off and started power cycling, turning off and turning on several times. I took it in to be inspected on Dec 26, 2022 and was told that there was an electrical issue affecting the stereo and they would have to get approval from the warranty company to have it replaced again. It was finally replaced yesterday 02/17/2023. Now I'm wondering if there's an electrical problem what's going to be affected next or how long til it causes problems again. …
When the vehicle is shifted into "Park" the information system reports an error code "shift into park" and prevents the vehicle from being turned off. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are times when the vehicle fails to start with error code displayed "shift into park" even though the vehicle is infact in park. The error code is sometimes resolved when the shifter levers forward facing button is actuated multiple times. This false error code is a grave safety concern as it build complacency within the operators. This could potentially lead to an operator ignoring a true "shit into park" error code as a false one and exiting the vehicle while it is actually in gear or neutral and cause death or injury to an innocent bystander or the operator! Please investigate this error as it has apparently existed and been well documented in the Chevrolet Traverse since at least 2018. …
On 10/12/24, I received an error code that my charging system needed serviced. I was about an hour from my house when I saw the error. I immediately turned on the voltage display and it said the voltage was 11.8. As I was driving home I had an additional error message that said entering battery saver mode. Luckily, I made it home before I was left stranded on the side of the road in the middle of the night. With only 57,323 miles on my car, I had NO idea it would be the alternator. I took my car to Auto Zone to have the battery tested and they said it was fine. I had my mechanic check on Monday 10/14/24, and it turns out the alternator was indeed bad. S
Car battery drained after it sat unattended for 3 days. A jump-start started the car normally and it functioned normally until turned off. Once turned off, the hazard lights would randomly turn off/on, the door locks would randomly lock/unlock, and the parking lights would randomly come on. Replacing the primary battery had no effect. Outcome: Due to seemingly poor design, a drain pipe passes over the BCM (Body Control Module) and drips water directly into it. The mechanic indicated that this is a known issue to Chevrolet, but I do not see any information in the NHTSA about it. Hefty replacement part/labor cost.
I was driving down the street and my car started to randomly jerk. When I pushed the gas the car got slower. Once in a safe place I pulled over and sat there for a few minutes. When I accelerated again the car had a sound like the car was speeding up, but there was no speed. It drifted. So I crossed the traffic light and pulled over again. I turned the car off. I waited for about 5 minutes, turned the car on and that's when the engine light came on. I had to drive slower to make it home. Once I made it home I put the car in Reverse and noticed that my back up camera was not working as well. I am so frustrated.
Electrical complaints in other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the electrical system of the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, 12% of the model year's 234 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Chevrolet Traverse electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2020 Chevrolet Traverse electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 20,000 miles, and 57% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.