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2017 Chevrolet Trax problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
50%
54 of 107 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

50% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Chevrolet Trax are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 66% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 48%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Chevrolet Trax have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 54 of 107 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Trax concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%), and the largest group is filed under engine (43). For comparison, the 2016 scores 60% and the 2018 scores 40%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
54
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
113
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
10 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE43 · 38%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25 · 22%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER22 · 19%
STEERING19 · 17%
POWER TRAIN10 · 9%
SUSPENSION10 · 9%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
50%
40 of 96
2016
60%
58 of 120
2017
50%
54 of 113
2018
40%
39 of 101
2019
37%
48 of 134
2020
45%
37 of 96
2021
too few complaints
2022
too few complaints
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Chevrolet Trax

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM09/24/2026
This car has experienced the same dangerous symptoms as reported in many cases on this site. Similar examples are NHTSA ID# 11756485, 11766116, 11756485 (nearly identical). What can I do. This 2017 vehicle was purchased in 2021 from a dealer for only $15K and had less than 50K miles. It has already cost us over $4k. Wh…

One of 54 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Chevrolet Trax?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2017 Chevrolet Trax, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint19V652000 · Sep 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Chevrolet Trax vehicles. A joint in one or both of the front lower control arms may have been improperly welded. An improperly welded joint may…
suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint19V312000 · Apr 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Trax vehicles. A joint in one or both of the front lower-control arms may have been improperly welded. An improperly welded joint…
air bags: frontal16V651000 · Sep 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2017 Chevrolet Trax? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2017 Chevrolet Trax

Does the 2017 Chevrolet Trax have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 54 of 107 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Trax concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Chevrolet Trax?

No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2017 Chevrolet Trax, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Chevrolet Trax years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Trax years we track, the 2019 (37%), the 2018 (40%) and the 2020 (45%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (50%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2017 Chevrolet Trax?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Chevrolet Trax has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.