Chevy Trax Years to Avoid — the 2024 drew the most complaints.
The 2024 Trax, first year of the redesign, drew 184 NHTSA complaints, more than any other year: 33 describe engine failure and 28 the dashboard screens going blank. Recall 23V744000 covers the blank instrument panel; no recall on NHTSA's list covers the engine.
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Quick Answer
- What Chevy Trax years should you avoid?
- The 2024 first. It drew 184 complaints, 33 about engine failure (9 name a connecting rod) and 28 about blank screens; recall 23V744000 covers the instrument panel, and no recall covers the engine. On the 2016–2019, 76 complaints mention the turbo.
- What is the best year for a used Trax?
- From 2015 to 2021, 2021 (26), 2015 (96), 2020 (98) drew the fewest complaints. The 2022, the last first-generation year, has 9 so far.
- Did Chevrolet recall the 2024 Trax engine?
- Not as of 13 November 2026. NHTSA lists one 2024 recall, 23V744000, for instrument-panel software that can blank the display; it does not cover the engine. 33 owners have reported an engine failure.
Five checks for a used Trax, by year
The first-generation Trax's weak spots are mechanical; the 2024's are its engine and its screens.
- 1Read the year and plant from the VINCharacter 10 is the model year; 3GN at the start means built in Mexico, KL7 in South Korea.
- 22024: ask about the engineCheck the oil level and listen for knocking; owners describe sudden failures with little warning.
- 32024: confirm recall 23V744000Its software update addresses an instrument panel that goes blank; watch the screens on the test drive.
- 42015–2020: test the turboOwners report replaced turbos and turbo oil lines; watch for hesitation or a reduced-power message under boost.
- 5Check title and mileage recordsA salvage brand or a mileage gap shows up by VIN; a tired turbo does not.
Avoid: the 2024 Trax
The 2024 drew 184 complaints, more than any first-generation year (the most was the 2019's 136). The redesigned Trax has drawn 313 complaints in three model years.
33 describe the engine failing, 9 naming a connecting rod, and 19 mention fire or smoke. No recall on NHTSA's list covers the 2024's engine.
The electrical system is the component owners name most: 28 describe the dashboard or touchscreen going blank, which recall 23V744000 addresses with a software update, and 16 describe automatic headlights flashing on and off.
The 2024 by the numbers
- 184 complaints, the most of any Trax year.
- 33 about engine failure.
- 28 about screens going blank.
- 16 about headlights flashing on and off.
Every Chevy Trax Model Year Compared
NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns for every Trax sold in the US, 2015 to 2026, read on 13 November 2026. There was no 2023 Trax.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crash · fire reports | Recalls | Most-cited component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1st | 96 | 13 · 2 | 7 | Electrical System |
| 2016 | 1st | 120 | 9 · 2 | 5 | Engine |
| 2017 | 1st | 114 | 10 · 3 | 3 | Engine |
| 2018 | 1st | 102 | 2 · 2 | 2 | Suspension |
| 2019 | 1st | 136 | 9 · 2 | 2 | Engine |
| 2020 | 1st | 98 | 5 · 2 | 0 | Electrical System |
| 2021 | 1st | 26 | 5 · 1 | 0 | Electrical System |
| 2022 | 1st | 9 | 1 · 0 | 0 | Engine |
| 2024 | 2nd | 184 | 9 · 8 | 1 | Electrical System |
| 2025 | 2nd | 109 | 11 · 5 | 1 | Electrical System |
| 2026 | 2nd | 20 | 3 · 0 | 0 | Service Brakes |
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not divided by sales.
Other Trax Years With a Known Weak Spot
Smaller clusters in NHTSA's records, and the recalls behind them.
2016–2019: turbo
76 complaints mention the turbocharger, from 17 on the 2016 to 21 on the 2019.
2015–2018: control arms
Recall 19V652000: a lower control arm joint may have been improperly welded and can break. On the 2018, 18 complaints name the ball joints or control arms.
2017–2019: control arms
Recall 19V312000 covers the same weld on later Traxes; confirm whichever applies was done.
2015–2016: airbags
12 2015 and 15 2016 complaints mention airbags; recalls 16V651000 and 17V437000, which cover many GM models, address front airbags that may not deploy.
2015: power steering
Recall 15V146000: wear on a circuit board can cut electric power steering assist.
2025: rear camera
Recall 26V539000 covers a camera screen that can show a distorted or blank image; 20 2025 complaints describe blank screens.
What Trax Owners Say on Reddit and YouTube
Trax owners talk about two different cars: the first generation, where the turbo and cooling system come up most, and the 2024 redesign, which several r/ChevyTrax owners praise even as NHTSA collects its engine-failure reports.
In owners' words (paraphrased)
- r/ChevyTrax, on buying used: one commenter's advice is simply to avoid the previous generation.
- r/ChevyTrax, 2024 Activ: past 125,000 miles with no issues, spark plugs changed around 103,000 and the original brakes still on.
- r/ChevyTrax: almost 40,000 miles without a single issue, the most reliable car the owner has had in 20 years.
- r/ChevyTrax, 2020: every Trax is somewhat sluggish, new ones included, which the owner says is expected at the price.
- YouTube, 2020: the turbo was fixed twice and is going out again; another 2020 needed a new turbo and engine cooler at 56,000 miles.
- YouTube, 2019: a water pump at 52,000 miles, replaced under warranty, and a coolant leak at 118,000.
- YouTube, 1.4 turbo owner: warns the engine used two oil-filter designs, and the label on the filter cap, not the VIN, tells you which fits.
Checking a Trax for Sale?
Enter the VIN for a free preview: title brands, junk and salvage records, total-loss records and odometer readings.
Fewest vs. Most Trax Complaints
Fewest is limited to 2015–2021, so newer years have had time to collect complaints. Most draws on every year.
Fewest complaints
- 2021: 26 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2015: 96 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2020: 98 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2018: 102 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2017: 114 complaints, 3 recalls
Most complaints
- 2024: 184 complaints, 1 recall
- 2019: 136 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2016: 120 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2017: 114 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2025: 109 complaints, 1 recall
Recall counts include multi-model campaigns.
The Traxes Our Visitors Check, and Where They Were Built
Between 11 June 2026 and 12 November 2026, visitors ran 376 different Chevy Trax VINs through our free preview. By the first three characters, 268 (71%) were built in South Korea and 108 (29%) in Mexico.
196 (52%) were the redesigned 2024 or newer, 57 of them 2024s, the most-complained year. The single most-checked year was the 2025, at 75 VINs.
Trax Complaints by Generation
The first generation (2015–2022) drew 701 complaints over eight model years; the second has 313 in three, 184 of them on the 2024.
What to Check on a Used Trax
By year, the faults to look for.
2024: engine
Check the oil level and condition and listen for knocking at idle and under load.
2024–2025: screens
Confirm recall 23V744000 on a 2024 and 26V539000 on a 2025; watch every screen on the drive.
2015–2020: turbo
Accelerate hard on a ramp; hesitation, a reduced-power message or oil on the turbo lines are warning signs.
2015–2020: cooling
Look for coolant residue at the water pump and thermostat housing; owners report both leaking.
2015–2019: control arms
Confirm recall 19V652000 or 19V312000, whichever applies.
Any year: VIN records
Open recalls, title brands and odometer history.
Reading Trax Complaint Numbers
NHTSA complaints are owner reports, not verified and not divided by sales. The first-generation counts are small: the 2015 drew 96 and the 2020 98, which makes the 2024's 184 stand out.
The fault counts come from searching the words owners used, so they are a minimum. Newer years have had less time: the 2025 has 109 complaints and the 2026 20 so far, and the 2021 26.
Related Checks and Guides
Recalls, history checks and the Trax's rivals.
Where These Facts Come From
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's own records; owner experiences are linked so you can read them in full.
NHTSA records read 13 November 2026. Written by the CarCheckerVIN editorial team with AI assistance, from NHTSA's complaint and recall records, our own preview logs and the owner posts linked above; figures checked November 2026. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Chevrolet or General Motors.
Chevy Trax Years to Avoid — Frequently Asked Questions
The 2024, the turbo years and the best used Trax.
What is the worst year for the Chevy Trax?+
By NHTSA complaint count, the 2024 (184), then the 2019 (136) and the 2016 (120).
Is the 2024 Trax reliable?+
Its complaint record is the Trax's worst so far: 184 complaints, 33 about engine failure. Plenty of owners report no trouble, including one past 125,000 miles on Reddit, so service records and a careful test drive matter.
Which Trax years have turbo problems?+
The 2016–2019 most: 76 complaints mention the turbo, against 5 on the 2015 and 8 on the 2020.
Why does the 2024 Trax screen go black?+
Recall 23V744000 says software in the instrument cluster module can blank the display at startup or while driving; dealers update it. 28 2024 complaints describe screens going blank.
Is a high-mileage first-generation Trax worth buying?+
It can be, with records: owners report runs past 100,000 miles with plugs, coils, a water pump and turbo parts along the way. Price in those jobs.
Will your report show these problems?+
No history report can tell you an engine is about to fail. Ours lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos for the VIN. Recalls are free to check on NHTSA's site.
Test the Engine and Screens, Then Check the Title
On a 2024 Trax, ask about the engine and confirm the cluster recall; on a first-generation car, test the turbo. Free preview first; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's public records as read on 13 November 2026; complaints are unverified owner reports. Owner comments are paraphrased from the linked posts. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Chevrolet or General Motors. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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