2016 Chevrolet TRAX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Chevrolet TRAX has 183 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: the key was barely bumped while in the ignition and driving on a high speed road twice and the key turned to the off position so my steering wheel locked up to the point i can barely get to the side of the road to safely put the car in park to restart it. having a baby in the backseat too both times. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 11 crash reports 6 injuries

183

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

45 complaints

25%

• THE KEY WAS BARELY BUMPED WHILE IN THE IGNITION AND DRIVING ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD TWICE AND THE KEY TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION SO MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TO THE POINT I CAN BARELY GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SAFELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART IT. HAVING A BABY IN THE BACKSEAT TOO BOTH TIMES
• ON AUGUST 30, 2017 I RECIEVED AN ALERT FROM ONSTAR (VIA EMAIL) STATING MY 2016 CHEVROLET TRAX (WITH 14,000 MILES ON IT) WAS HAVING NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES. THAT SAME DAY, I DROVE MY TRAX ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND IT STALLED OUT TWICE WHILE GOING 70 MPH ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP IN R
• I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. LATER I LEARNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ON THREE CYLINDERS. THE VEHICLE HAD UNDER 40,000 MILES. DIAGNOSTIC P0300 COIL PACK FAILURE CAUSING SPARK PLUG T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“THE KEY WAS BARELY BUMPED WHILE IN THE IGNITION AND DRIVING ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD TWICE AND THE KEY TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION SO MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TO THE POINT I CAN BARELY GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SAFELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART IT. HAVING A BABY IN THE BACKSEAT TOO BOTH TIMES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

21 complaints

11%

• I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2016 CHEVY TRAX ON 10/31/16. ONE WEEK LATER, I WENT INTO THE GARAGE, GOT INTO MY NEW CAR WHICH STATED RIGHT AWAY BUT I HAD NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS SO I HAD NO IDEA WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. I HAD NO RADIO OR REAR CAMERA BACK UP. I HAD NO ONSTAR SERVICE OR TELEPHONE SERVICE. THE ON
• THE KEY WAS BARELY BUMPED WHILE IN THE IGNITION AND DRIVING ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD TWICE AND THE KEY TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION SO MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TO THE POINT I CAN BARELY GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SAFELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART IT. HAVING A BABY IN THE BACKSEAT TOO BOTH TIMES
• MY MOM PURCHASED A 2016 CHEVY TRAX FOR ME AT CHEVROLET OF HOMEWOOD, 18033 S. HALSTED, HOMEWOOD, IL ON 6/13/16 UNDER HER NAME. WITHIN THE 1ST WEEK OF PURCHASE THE BRAKES BEGAN SQUEAKING WHILE IN MOTION. AFTER THE 2ND WEEK THE BRAKES BEGAN SQUEAKING LOUDLY AS ONLOOKERS RESPONDED TO THE NOISE THEY SA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2016 CHEVY TRAX ON 10/31/16. ONE WEEK LATER, I WENT INTO THE GARAGE, GOT INTO MY NEW CAR WHICH STATED RIGHT AWAY BUT I HAD NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS SO I HAD NO IDEA WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. I HAD NO RADIO OR REAR CAMERA BACK UP. I HAD NO ONSTAR SERVICE OR TELEPHONE SERVICE. THE ON”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

18 complaints

10%

• WE HAD AN SINGLE CAR CRASH. THE CAR WENT OVER A CURB AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND [XXX] NEAR TOOK OUT A WOODEN WALK WAY WITH PEOPLE NEAR BY ON THE WALKWAY IT ENDED UP TOTALING ($20,000 IN DAMAGE ) OUR BRAND NEW CHEVY TRAX 2016. AND WHEN ALL 11.......... AIRBAGS RIGHT 11 AIRBAGS AND NOT ONE WHEN OFF AN
• VEHICLE RECEIVED SIDE IMPACT ON DRIVERS SIDE, AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS RIPPED OFF FROM VEHICLE
• IN PASSENGER FRONT SEAT WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING THERE THE SEATBELT WILL JUST UNDO ON ITS OWN AT TIMES. ALSO THE PERSON WILL WEIGHT OVER 100LBS AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR WILL GO TO ON AND OFF.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“WE HAD AN SINGLE CAR CRASH. THE CAR WENT OVER A CURB AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND [XXX] NEAR TOOK OUT A WOODEN WALK WAY WITH PEOPLE NEAR BY ON THE WALKWAY IT ENDED UP TOTALING ($20,000 IN DAMAGE ) OUR BRAND NEW CHEVY TRAX 2016. AND WHEN ALL 11.......... AIRBAGS RIGHT 11 AIRBAGS AND NOT ONE WHEN OFF AN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

17 complaints

• GOT THIS VEHICLE ON 07/23/2016, THE VEHICLE HAD MAJOR ISSUES UNTIL 09/2018. IN SEPTEMBER 2018 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE ORIGINAL LOT TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AS WHEN SWITCHING THE FAN FOR THE A/C FROM 3 TO 4 ON THE BLOWER MOTOR SETTINGS STOPPED WORKING. MY DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ORIGINAL BLOWER MOTOR.
• STARTED DRIVING AND IN 10 MINUTES THE CAR STARTED HESITATING AND SUDDENLY STALLED. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE STABILITY LIGHT ALSO WENT ON.. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN JUST LONG ENOUGH TO PARK IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WAITED FOR TOW WHICH WAS TAKING LONG IN 96 DEGREE WEATHER. SO I DROVE T
• DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER DOOR POWER LOCK STOPPED WORKING. OUR 2016 TRAX HAS ONLY 17000 MILES ON IT. WE HAD OUR 4 YR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE BACK IN HERE CAR SEAT. WE COULD NOT GET THE DOOR OPEN. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE DOOR LOCK UP FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR. WE WERE STATIONARY AT THE HOUSE AF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“GOT THIS VEHICLE ON 07/23/2016, THE VEHICLE HAD MAJOR ISSUES UNTIL 09/2018. IN SEPTEMBER 2018 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE ORIGINAL LOT TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AS WHEN SWITCHING THE FAN FOR THE A/C FROM 3 TO 4 ON THE BLOWER MOTOR SETTINGS STOPPED WORKING. MY DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ORIGINAL BLOWER MOTOR. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

14 complaints

• STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP (CANNOT TURN) WHILE DRIVING.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAX. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT OPERATED NORMALLY UNTIL THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUF
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NESGER CHEVROLET IN MEDFORD, NEW YORK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND REPROGRAMMED THE POWER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP (CANNOT TURN) WHILE DRIVING.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 183 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE KEY WAS BARELY BUMPED WHILE IN THE IGNITION AND DRIVING ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD TWICE AND THE KEY TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION SO MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TO THE POINT I CAN BARELY GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SAFELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART IT. HAVING A BABY IN THE BACKSEAT TOO BOTH TIMES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2016 CHEVY TRAX ON 10/31/16. ONE WEEK LATER, I WENT INTO THE GARAGE, GOT INTO MY NEW CAR WHICH STATED RIGHT AWAY BUT I HAD NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS SO I HAD NO IDEA WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. I HAD NO RADIO OR REAR CAMERA BACK UP. I HAD NO ONSTAR SERVICE OR TELEPHONE SERVICE. THE ON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: WE HAD AN SINGLE CAR CRASH. THE CAR WENT OVER A CURB AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND [XXX] NEAR TOOK OUT A WOODEN WALK WAY WITH PEOPLE NEAR BY ON THE WALKWAY IT ENDED UP TOTALING ($20,000 IN DAMAGE ) OUR BRAND NEW CHEVY TRAX 2016. AND WHEN ALL 11.......... AIRBAGS RIGHT 11 AIRBAGS AND NOT ONE WHEN OFF AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: GOT THIS VEHICLE ON 07/23/2016, THE VEHICLE HAD MAJOR ISSUES UNTIL 09/2018. IN SEPTEMBER 2018 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE ORIGINAL LOT TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AS WHEN SWITCHING THE FAN FOR THE A/C FROM 3 TO 4 ON THE BLOWER MOTOR SETTINGS STOPPED WORKING. MY DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ORIGINAL BLOWER MOTOR.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)