[greentraverse]

Based on the phone number you supplied, I assume you meant the National Highway TRAFFIC Safety Administration NOT the National Highway Safety Administration (which appears to be involved mostly in driver training).

In any case, almost all recalls are for "safety issues." I doubt NHTSA will push for a recall for a leaky exhaust.

But feel free to contact them if it makes you feel better.

From their website:

What is a safety-related defect?
Generally, a safety defect is a problem that poses a risk to motor vehicle safety, and may exist in a group of vehicles or equipment of the same design and/or manufacturer. An example of a safety-related defect is a steering component that breaks, causing a driver to lose control. However, an air conditioner that does not work properly isn't considered a safety-related defect, because it does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety.

Report a Safety Problem | NHTSA

File a complaint with NHTSA if you experienced a vehicle, tire, car seat or equipment safety problem that could be a safety defect.

www.nhtsa.gov

 

[J_____O]

Based on the phone number you supplied, I assume you meant the National Highway TRAFFIC Safety Administration NOT the National Highway Safety Administration (which appears to be involved mostly in driver training).

In any case, almost all recalls are for "safety issues." I doubt NHTSA will push for a recall for a leaky exhaust.

But feel free to contact them if it makes you feel better.

From their website:

What is a safety-related defect?
Generally, a safety defect is a problem that poses a risk to motor vehicle safety, and may exist in a group of vehicles or equipment of the same design and/or manufacturer. An example of a safety-related defect is a steering component that breaks, causing a driver to lose control. However, an air conditioner that does not work properly isn't considered a safety-related defect, because it does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety.

Report a Safety Problem | NHTSA

File a complaint with NHTSA if you experienced a vehicle, tire, car seat or equipment safety problem that could be a safety defect.

www.nhtsa.gov

After chevy diagnosed the problem they are replacing the brackets, exhaust pipes and front muffler. This to me is more of a safety concern than a broken AC unit.. I called Chevy directly to complain (1-800-222-1020) and they said there were no recalls on the 2020 traverse.. and they were also the ones who pointed me to call the NHTSA you are correct sir. The number is accurate (888-327-4236). Chevy threw out there if 31 people complain then NHTSA would reach out to the manufacturer. I asked the NHTSA agent this, and they said they open a Defects Investigation. Clearly there is faulty design and/or component in the setup in the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 Traverses that ALL are experience the same symptoms and only the 2019 and 2021 have a fix. My 2020 they are replacing with the exact same parts and I fully expect to be back in this situation in 50k miles... definition of insanity or a recall?

 

[greentraverse]

Faulty design doesn't make a "safety issue." I'm still skeptical.

 

[Tomco]

Bottom line is that this is without a doubt an engineering design flaw. IMO there is no reason to be removing the Cats or all the pipe. I suspect the bracket which is where the first leak happens is there to help stabilize the flex connectors going to the cats. When it breaks there is enough twisting and tweaking going on from the engine to wear out the flex connectors eventually and the noise increases to a point where we take it in. The knee jerk reaction is blaming the bracket but because this keeps happening after they repair it. I suspect it is just a symptom of a deeper problem. I'm thinking the motor is torqueing and twisting more than it should and is causing the failure. As I go down the diagnosis rabbit hole I'm thinking possibly a poor engine mounting / stabilizing system that is allowing the engine to twist and tweak so much that over time it cracks the bracket. I have contacted Chevy and they are seeing what they can do to work with me to get to the real problem and solution...I'm on my 3rd leak now. The current "solution" is unacceptable wasting our time and 100's of thousands of wasted dollars of their money on a solution that doesn't solve the problem.

 

[wualumni]

This issue just happened to my 2019 Traverse and the dealership is covering the repair after I showed them the tech bulletin. I have just over 60,000 miles on my Traverse.

 

[NM44]

I have a 2019 traverse, the dealer, Chesrown in Delware, ohio, is telling me they will replace part of this but the other part is going to be $1,600 to fix. Has anyone else had a dealer that did this? Are they ripping me off? I'm going to take it for a second opinion, waiting on GM to see if they will help pay for this (probably not). I've had the car exactly 1 year so they obviously knew about this and didn't fix it when I bought it. I have the extended warranty and of course not covered. Any help would be appreciated, also I have very basic knowledge of cars so be patient with me. thanks.

 

[NM44]

2018 Traverse 36k miles same issue as everyone on here but dealership is saying it isn't covered to fix and weld the exhaust. Any help would be great. This should be a recall by GM. Maybe if we all call and demand they will issue one. At least a refund for your payments etc. 800.462.8782. But if anyone has been successful getting this covered and fixed please share. View attachment 11769
View attachment 11768

I have a 2019 Traverse LT with 83,000 miles and the bracket has broke off and ripped holes in both of my pipes.

The first one broke away in February and thinking that it wasn't covered I just put an exhaust clamp on it to hold it back in place. In April I got the recall/special coverage notice in the mail. Before I could get it in for service the other side of the clamp pulled a hole in the opposite pipe.

I got it into my local dealer and they said it wasn't covered because "something must have hit the clamp and broke it off". Terrible dealership that I'd had issues with in the past concerning service.

I took it into the dealership I bought it from and they called me today saying that one of the pipes is covered but the one with the cat is not. To repair that one will be $1400.

Why would this "special coverage" only cover one of the pipes and not the other? They are both having the exact same issue.

I called the 800 number on the notice and she told me the same thing. It clearly says the front exhaust pipe.

So, I guess I'm going to patch it and wait and see if a "special coverage" comes along for the other pipe because I'm certainly not paying $1400 for this BS.

They did the same thing to me, telling me part is covered and the other part is not. I called GM to get assistance because the dealerships are terrible to work with. I would take it somewhere else to get it fixed for cheaper and keep your receipt in case we can get reimbursed. GM should pay for their terrible design flaw. If not fixed for free I'll be reporting this everywhere I can because I'm super pissed about it. We've had this car for 1 year and should not have this issue.

 

[bennyherman1]

Does anyone have the actual form itself to submit to GM for reimbursement? I only can find the notice letter of the issue.

Did you ever find the actual form? I cannot find it anywhere

 

[ickes1656]

I have a 2019 traverse, the dealer, Chesrown in Delware, ohio, is telling me they will replace part of this but the other part is going to be $1,600 to fix. Has anyone else had a dealer that did this? Are they ripping me off? I'm going to take it for a second opinion, waiting on GM to see if they will help pay for this (probably not). I've had the car exactly 1 year so they obviously knew about this and didn't fix it when I bought it. I have the extended warranty and of course not covered. Any help would be appreciated, also I have very basic knowledge of cars so be patient with me. thanks.

I am in pickerington. Go to Jeff wyler and they will get it covered. They got my 2018 covered and it doesn't have the special coverage like the 2019s have. Just got mine back 2 days ago.

 

[Mitch360]

I’ve got the same problem on my 2020 Traverse. The dealership showed me a letter from GM that is covering 2021. I seen on here a letter for 2019. I’m not finding anything on 2020. Can someone help me? I would think it should be.

 

[michelletn]

I called Chevy today and they said my 2019 Chevy traverse had no recalls besides the air bag and they couldn’t do anything even with the bulletin which was posted on this forum. I am not sure what to do. Chevy a year ago said I had a hole in my exhaust pipe and told me to go to a muffler shop to get it fixed because they wouldn’t have the part. The muffler shop said they didn’t see any holes but the bank 1 and bank 2 O2 sensors were messed up. They replaced those and said I still had a code for a misfire and replaced the spark plugs. Now I am back to thinking it was the exhaust pipe in the first place after reading over this forum and the bulletin. Now I have no idea what to do from here? I went to another dealership today and they think it could just be my converter. I am at 100,000 miles. Any advice?

 

[Jack07231]

I called Chevy today and they said my 2019 Chevy traverse had no recalls besides the air bag and they couldn’t do anything even with the bulletin which was posted on this forum. I am not sure what to do. Chevy a year ago said I had a hole in my exhaust pipe and told me to go to a muffler shop to get it fixed because they wouldn’t have the part. The muffler shop said they didn’t see any holes but the bank 1 and bank 2 O2 sensors were messed up. They replaced those and said I still had a code for a misfire and replaced the spark plugs. Now I am back to thinking it was the exhaust pipe in the first place after reading over this forum and the bulletin. Now I have no idea what to do from here? I went to another dealership today and they think it could just be my converter. I am at 100,000 miles. Any advice?

What is your original problem / symptom(s)? What codes are you getting?

 

[firebird69racer]

My 2022 check engine light came on around the 25,000 mile area and the dealer said it was an exhaust leak and replaced the exhaust parts you are all talking about under waranty, because it's still new. They said it had cracked welds also. So that tells me they still haven't fixed the problem. We are not hard on the car either, you can say my wife drives like an old lady, because she is one, LOL. I will keep an eye on the exhaust every time I change the oil from now on.

 

[Huntzjr]

I have a 2019 Traverse High Country.Yesterday I started my car and was driving up the block. I heard something hit the bottom of my car. Then the Traverse was sounding louder than my Harley. I pull over and start walking in the street. I find the exhaust bracket had broken off.

I see they acknowledge this problem and will replace the one pipe at no charge. But the bracket due to metal fatigue broke off the other pipe too. I’ll be dammed if I’m going to pay the Dealer to replace the other pipe. When this was caused by the weld to the pipe that they are replacing at no charge.

If the Dealer tries to charge me to replace the other pipe. I will ask for a written estimate, then take it to small claims court.

 

[Huntzjr]

The Dealership just called, he said they fixed the pipe that was covered under the bulletin. Then I’m thinking to myself here we go but the other pipe is not covered. I was right, but he shocked me and said we took care of it though and got you covered under Consequential Loss. I was not expecting that and I feel relieved that the Dealer was helping me out for once. So I hope anyone else having this problem can get covered by this too.


What is consequential loss?

Consequential loss is a term used by warranty providers to mean any damage to an insured part caused by an uninsured part breaking.

For example, your exhaust (insured) gets damaged because your catalytic converter breaks (not insured).

Some warranties don’t cover consequential loss, so check the policy documents carefully to be sure.

 

[Lexx]

Hello I know it’s old post but I’m in same situation I have a 2020 salvaged tittle and I’m being told because of this the warranty won’t cover I even contacted the one u mentioned ca air resource board but they told me same that because of salvaged tittle the warranty is void can I ask did u get anything in writing from them stating differently that can help me

 

[Lexx]

Just went through this here in California. I own a 2019 Traverse that has salvage title. When we bought it only had 6K on it. @ 20K it started making the noise. Took it in to the local Chevy dealer and he told me sorry you're out of luck it's a "branded" vehicle.. I explained to him that in California anything to do with emissions by California law is to be warranted by the manufacturer 100% for 7 years branded or not branded. He still said nope. Called GM they said nope. Called the State of California Air resources board and they said oh really? Please send us all your info and we'll investigate. Lo and behold a month or so later I'm getting a call from the dealer saying I was in luck...LOL!

They replaced the whole exhaust system at no charge. Flash forward 6 months and @ 10K more miles, guess what? Here we go again same area leaking and making noise. You'd think they'd get a mechanical design engineer to take a look and come up with a long lasting solution wouldn't you. Good news is this time I won't need to fight with them to fix their own engineering flaw. That letter from GM posted above is a handy thing to have in hand if this is your first rodeo with the dealer. 15 years or 150,000 miles on their dime after that get a muffler shop to fix it and guarantee it.

Hello I know it’s old post but I’m having same issue on a 2020 salvaged tittle and I’m being told because of this any warranty on it is void I even contacted the ca air resource board and they told me same, I was wondering if u had anything in writing that could help me

 

[kalenbutler84]

Can you please email me your outcome at kalenbutler84@gmail.com as I’m having the same exact problem with my 22 traverse 🤦🏾‍♂️

 

[gprett]

I just had my 2018 Traverse repaired for a broken catalytic converter. My local mechanic looked at it prior to me bringing it to the dealer and he said the flex tube looked ok but the converter had a hole in it. The dealer told me the converter was covered under the 8 yr/ 80k mile emissions warranty, but the flex tube was not. They came up with a narrative that my exhaust pipe cracked causing the catalytic converter to break (not sure how they could confirm that timing though). So I had to pay $600 for the flex pipe to be repaired.

I started a case with Chevy as soon as I brought the car in. GM defers to the dealer, while the dealer says GM won't cover the flex pipe under warranty. So I am stuck in this limbo, but I will continue to trying. Any helpful information is greatly appreciated!

 

[stacybee31]

I’ve got the same problem on my 2020 Traverse. The dealership showed me a letter from GM that is covering 2021. I seen on here a letter for 2019. I’m not finding anything on 2020. Can someone help me? I would think it should be.

Same I’m having issues on my 2020 traverse and the exhaust, no where can I find warranty info on the 2020