2020 Chevrolet Traverse

Vehicle Specs & Maintenance Data

Engine
3.6L V6
Oil Type & Capacity
5W-30 Full Synthetic (6 qts)
Transmission
Automatic 9-spd
Wheel Torque
140
ft-lbs

The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse maintenance specs on this page cover the key fluids, torque values, and wear items you need for routine service. Use these numbers as a quick reference when performing oil changes, tire rotations, brake jobs, and other scheduled maintenance on your Chevrolet Traverse.

For oil changes, the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse takes 5W-30 Full Synthetic motor oil with a capacity of 6 quarts. Brake fluid type is DOT 3, the recommended coolant is Dex-Cool (OAT), and transmission fluid is Dexron VI. Always use the manufacturer-recommended fluids to maintain warranty coverage and engine longevity.

When mounting wheels on the Chevrolet Traverse, torque the lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs using a calibrated torque wrench. Over- or under-torquing can lead to warped brake rotors or loose wheels. Re-torque after 50 to 100 miles on newly installed wheels.

Owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse have reported 5 common issues including "Roof Rail Air Bag Connector Defect", "9-Speed Automatic Transmission Issues" and "Shift-to-Park Warning Message". Scroll down to the Diagnostics tab for detailed descriptions, solutions, and estimated repair costs.

There are 8 NHTSA safety recalls on file for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. Check the Recalls tab below for full details.

Specifications on this page are compiled from multiple publicly available sources including manufacturer documentation, NHTSA data, and automotive databases. Always cross-reference with your owner's manual or official factory documentation before purchasing parts or performing any service.

The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse uses 5W-30 Full Synthetic motor oil (6 qt capacity), requires lug nuts torqued to 140 ft-lbs, takes DOT 3 brake fluid.

2020 Chevrolet Traverse Specifications
Motor Oil5W-30 Full Synthetic
Oil Capacity6 qt
Lug Nut Torque140 ft-lbs
Brake FluidDOT 3
CoolantDex-Cool (OAT)
Transmission FluidDexron VI
Transmission Fluid
Fluid Type
Dexron VI
Shop
Coolant
Fluid Type
Dex-Cool (OAT)
Shop
Brake Fluid
Fluid Type
DOT 3
Shop
Washer Fluid
Windshield
Shop

Manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. Always verify intervals against your owner's manual.

Service Item
Interval
Engine Oil & Filter
7,500 mi / 12 mo
Dexos1 Gen2 5W-30 synthetic, 6 qt (3.6L V6)
Tire Rotation
7,500 mi / 6 mo
Rotate every oil change
Cabin Air Filter
22,500 mi / 24 mo
Located behind glove box
Engine Air Filter
45,000 mi / 48 mo
Inspect at 22,500 mi
Brake Fluid
45,000 mi / 36 mo
DOT 3
Transmission Fluid
45,000 mi
9-speed automatic; use Dexron HP
Coolant
150,000 mi
Dex-Cool OAT; then every 30,000 mi
Spark Plugs
97,500 mi
Iridium-tipped; AC Delco 41-114
Serpentine Belt
90,000 mi
Inspect at 60,000 mi
Battery
60 mo
Inspect annually
DTC Code Lookup

Enter a diagnostic trouble code to see causes, symptoms, and fixes for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse.

Common problems reported by 2020 Chevrolet Traverse owners, with recommended fixes and estimated repair costs.

1

Roof Rail Air Bag Connector Defect

The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals. This can prevent the side curtain airbags from deploying in a side-impact or rollover crash, significantly compromising occupant protection. There is no warning indicator for this condition.

Solution

NHTSA recall for 2020-2022 Traverse models. Dealers replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags free of charge. Owners should contact their dealer promptly to schedule the repair.

Est. Cost: $0 (recall repair)
2

9-Speed Automatic Transmission Issues

The 9T65 nine-speed automatic transmission can exhibit harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and delayed engagement. Owners report the transmission hesitating when pulling away from stops and hunting for gears during highway driving. In some cases, the transmission may fail completely, requiring replacement.

Solution

Transmission fluid service with updated GM-approved fluid. Transmission adaptive learning reset and TCM software update. Reference GM service bulletins for 9T65 transmission calibration updates. Torque converter replacement for persistent shudder. Complete transmission replacement for internal failures.

Est. Cost: $300 (fluid service) - $5,000 (transmission replacement)
3

Shift-to-Park Warning Message

Owners report receiving a persistent 'Shift to Park' warning message on the driver information center even when the vehicle is properly in Park. The vehicle may not shut off or allow key removal. This is caused by a worn or faulty transmission range selector switch in the electronic shifter assembly.

Solution

Replace the transmission range selector contact switch or the entire shifter assembly. Clean the shifter contacts as a temporary fix. Dealer software updates may also help recalibrate the park detection system.

Est. Cost: $200 - $800
4

Premature Brake Wear and Noise

Owners report premature front brake pad and rotor wear, sometimes requiring replacement before 30,000 miles. Symptoms include grinding, squealing, or pulsation during braking. The issue may be related to caliper slide pin binding or rotor warping from heat.

Solution

Replace brake pads and rotors. Clean and lubricate caliper slide pins. Inspect caliper pistons for proper retraction. Upgrade to premium aftermarket brake pads with better heat dissipation for longer life.

Est. Cost: $400 - $1,000 per axle
5

Climate Control and HVAC System Failures

The automatic climate control system may stop blowing air, blow only hot or cold air regardless of settings, or fail to direct airflow to the selected vents. Some owners report the rear HVAC unit failing independently of the front system. Blend door actuator failure is a common root cause.

Solution

Replace the faulty blend door actuator(s). Recalibrate the HVAC control module. In some cases, the HVAC control panel itself may need replacement. Inspect the cabin air filter for blockage.

Est. Cost: $250 - $900

8 NHTSA safety recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov

1

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN

Campaign: 22V210000 Date: 31/03/2022

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.

Consequence

Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

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.

2

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Campaign: 21V817000 Date: 18/10/2021

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

3

TIRES

Campaign: 21V115000 Date: 25/02/2021

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

4

TIRES

Campaign: 20V684000 Date: 05/11/2020

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

5

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Campaign: 20V668000 Date: 29/10/2020

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

6

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign: 20V639000 Date: 15/10/2020

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.

Consequence

Insufficient fuel supply can result in an engine stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

7

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

Campaign: 20V446000 Date: 30/07/2020

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.

Consequence

If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

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.

8

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

Campaign: 19V643000 Date: 06/09/2019

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.

Consequence

A crack in the frame rail may reduce crash performance, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy

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.

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Traverse — Other Model Years
2026202520242023202220212019201820172016
See Also
2020 Chevrolet Traverse Lug Nut TorqueBest Oil for 2020 Chevrolet TraverseAll Vehicles Using 5W-30 Full Synthetic OilAll Vehicles Using DOT 3Oil Change Guide: 2020 Chevrolet TraverseWiper Replacement: 2020 Chevrolet Traverse