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Chevrolet Trax: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Trax problems by model year, from 693 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2016 (60%, 58 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (50%, 54 drivetrain complaints) and 2015 (50%, 40 drivetrain complaints). 6 of the 6 Chevrolet Trax years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
No Chevrolet Trax year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2019 (37%).
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (58 of 276 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 and 2022 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Trax year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Trax | high | 50% | 40 | 96 | 3/6 | 7 |
| 2016 Trax | high | 60% | 58 | 120 | 1/6 | 5 |
| 2017 Trax | high | 50% | 54 | 113 | 2/6 | 3 |
| 2018 Trax | elevated | 40% | 39 | 101 | 5/6 | 2 |
| 2019 Trax | elevated | 37% | 48 | 134 | 6/6 | 2 |
| 2020 Trax | high | 45% | 37 | 96 | 4/6 | 0 |
| 2021 Trax | too few to score | – | 9 | 24 | – | 0 |
| 2022 Trax | too few to score | – | 6 | 9 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Trax years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Trax recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns across the Chevrolet Trax years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
9 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | 15V146000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2015 |
| Mar 2015 | 15V162000 | equipment: other: labels | 2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V257000 | equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 2015–2016 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V422000 | electrical system: software | 2015–2016 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V651000 | air bags: frontal | 2015–2017 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V437000 | air bags: frontal | 2015–2016 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V774000 | air bags | 2019 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V312000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint | 2017–2019 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V652000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint | 2015–2018 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Trax
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Trax
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Trax?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Trax years are the 2016 (60% of relevant complaints, high), the 2017 (50% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2015 (50% of relevant complaints, high). 6 of 6 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Trax?
No Chevrolet Trax year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2019 (37%).
Does the Chevrolet Trax have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 6 scored years, 276 of 601 relevant NHTSA complaints (46%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Is the Chevrolet Trax reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 6 of 6 Chevrolet Trax years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 46% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Trax?
No. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns across the Chevrolet Trax years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.