NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
This page covers 5 recalls, 113 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Chevrolet Trax.
27–29 mpg combined
8.1–8.7 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Engine complaints dominate what 2016 Chevrolet Trax owners report, with steering and airbags also drawing notable attention. On the engine side, owners frequently describe recurring issues rather than one-time failures, multiple reports mention repeated catalytic converter replacements on the same vehicle, and others describe valve cover problems that return within months of being addressed. Acceleration hesitation and failure to respond when the pedal is depressed comes up across several complaints, often alongside a check engine light. A loss of communication between the engine and transmission, resulting in a no-start condition after shutting the vehicle off, appears in a handful of reports as well. Steering complaints include sudden loss of steering response while driving, sometimes accompanied by grinding noises. The catalytic converter pattern is particularly notable, some owners report replacing the component four or five times on a single vehicle.
113
Total Complaints
9
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Chevrolet Trax has 5 recalls, the most serious involving the front lower control arms, where a weld failure can cause a wheel to splay outward and leave the driver with severely compromised steering control.
The front suspension issue is worth understanding in concrete terms: if the lower control arm partially separates, the affected wheel can toe outward suddenly, making the vehicle difficult or impossible to steer normally and raising the risk of a crash. On the occupant safety side, two related recalls cover a fault in the airbag and seatbelt pretensioner system. In a crash that would normally trigger these systems, the front airbags and the pretensioners that snap the seatbelts tight may fail to deploy, leaving the driver and front passenger without the restraint protection the vehicle is designed to provide. Earlier repair attempts did not fully resolve this issue, which is why it appears across more than one filing.
The remaining two recalls both involve vehicles equipped with the Bring Your Own Media radio. In one case, the radio may not sound an audible chime when the driver's seatbelt is left unfastened or when the key is left in the ignition after the vehicle is running, removing reminders that many drivers rely on. The second radio recall addresses a related gap: if the driver turns off the engine but leaves the key in the cylinder and waits ten minutes or more before opening the door, the radio again fails to chime, meaning the key-in-ignition reminder never sounds and the vehicle becomes easier to steal.
At a glance
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
A welded joint in one or both front lower control arms may be defective, causing the joint to break and the control arm to partially separate from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect both front lower control arms and replace them if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag control software may not have received a complete update from a previous recall. Under certain driving conditions, this software may run a diagnostic test that disables frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control software. If your vehicle previously deployed air bags, the control module will be replaced instead. Repairs are free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Under certain driving conditions, the air bag control module's software may run a self-test that disables the front air bags and seat belt pretensioners, preventing them from deploying in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control module software. If your air bags have previously deployed, the module will be replaced. Repairs are free of charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The radio may not produce an audible warning chime when the driver hasn't fastened their seatbelt or has left the key in the ignition.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the radio software at no cost to restore the warning chime function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The radio may not sound a warning chime if the driver leaves the key in the ignition, turns off the engine, waits 10 minutes or more, and then opens the door.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the radio software at no cost to restore the warning chime function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.