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2020 Chevrolet Trax problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
45%
37 of 82 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

45% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Chevrolet Trax are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 14 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 39%).

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 2020 Chevrolet Trax have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 37 of 82 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Trax concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%), and the largest group is filed under engine (21). For comparison, the 2019 scores 37%. 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
37
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
96
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
5 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28 · 29%
ENGINE21 · 22%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER19 · 20%
POWER TRAIN15 · 16%
SERVICE BRAKES12 · 13%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11 · 11%

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 2020 Chevrolet Trax

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM07/15/2026FIRE
CRITICAL SAFETY INCIDENT / LIFE-THREATENING VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD. On January 2, 2026, I purchased a 2020 Chevrolet Trax. Within less than five months, while driving in active traffic, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic powertrain failure. The vehicle completely lost all acceleration, leaving me trapped and stra…

One of 37 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2020 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.

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Questions people ask about the 2020 Chevrolet Trax

Does the 2020 Chevrolet Trax have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 37 of 82 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Trax concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%). 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 2020 Chevrolet Trax?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2020 Chevrolet Trax.

Which Chevrolet Trax years are better?

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

Should I buy a 2020 Chevrolet Trax?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 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.