2016 Chevrolet TRAX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
117 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
40,673 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 64 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 43 of 117 complaints (36.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 18 | 15.4% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 10.3% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 8.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 43 |
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Air Bags | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Steering | 14 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
Engine: 43; Electrical System: 21; Air Bags: 18; Unknown Or Other: 15; Steering: 14; Power Train: 13; Service Brakes: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 53 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2016: 6; 2017: 13; 2018: 7; 2019: 22; 2020: 18; 2021: 8; 2022: 10; 2023: 9; 2024: 8; 2025: 9; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10871950 · 2016-06-01 (June 1, 2016)
WHILE SETTING OR CHANGING THE SPEED USING THE CRUISE CONTROL PANEL STEERING WHEEL, THE CURRENT SPEED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET TO DOES NOT DISPLAY ANYWHERE. THIS LEADS TO UNWANTED OR UNKNOWN SPEED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS LEADS TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. PROPER ANNUNCIATION OF SET SPEED IS NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION. THE DRIVERS MANUAL FOR THIS VECHICLE DOES STATE THAT IT SHOULD DISPLAY THE SET SPEED (PAGE 221) MULTIPLE VEHICLES AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WERE TESTED AND NO VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE SET CRUISE SPEED. I HAVE …
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10959169 · 2017-03-07 (March 7, 2017)
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP (CANNOT TURN) WHILE DRIVING.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10959169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11024093 · 2017-09-18 (September 18, 2017)
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 RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. IT CONTINUED TO SPUTTER THE ENTIRE DRIVE HOME, AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I GOT IT HOME, THEN THE NEXT DAY DROVE IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING IT THERE, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUGGLING TO OPERATE, AND BARELY P…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11218581 · 2019-06-07 (June 7, 2019)
CAR IDLES ROUGH AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY OR UP A HILL THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP ROUGHLY AND HAVE A LOSS OF POWER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ENGINE MISFIRE WAS THE CODE. DEALERSHIP CLEARED THE CODE AND SAID PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE ISSUE GOT WORSE BUT NO CODE CAME BACK. DURING THE REMOVAL OF IGNITION COIL FOR REPLACEMENT THE #4 PLUG BROKE SHOWING CORROSION AND A CRACK.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11218581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885504 · 2016-07-18 (July 18, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL [PURCHASED A 2016 CHEVY TRAX AT CHEVROLET OF HOMEWOOD 18033 S. HALSTED, HOMEWOOD, ILLINOIS ON JUNE 13, 2016 FOR MY DAUGHTER. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF PURCHASE THE BRAKES BEGAN SQUEAKING. AFTER ABOUT THE SECOND WEEK THE BRAKES BEGAN SQUEAKING LOUD. SOME ONLOOKERS NOTED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE BACK BRAKES. MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE CAR BACK TO CHEVROLET OF HOMEWOOD ON JULY 7, 2016 FOR BRAKE INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TEST DROVE THE VEHICLES HEARD THE BRAKE NOISE BUT SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. ON 7/10/16, THE BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10926814 · 2016-11-18 (November 18, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY AND WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,500. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10926814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10940046 · 2017-01-06 (January 6, 2017)
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 ONLY THING THAT WORKED WAS MY HEATER. WHEN I TURNED MY TURN SIGNAL ON TO MAKE A TURN I COULDN'T HEAR IT CLICKING BUT COULD SEE THE REFLECTION OF THE FLASHING FRONT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE BUMPER IN FRONT OF ME AS WELL AS MY HEADLIGHTS SHINING ON THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10940046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11185954 · 2019-03-11 (March 11, 2019)
CHEVY SUCKS. BOUGHT MY 2016 CHEVY TRAX IN SEPTEMBER 2015. IT'S BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. AT THE 59,000 MILE MARK, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND THE ENGINE POWERS DOWN WITH NO WARNING, ESC LIGHTS COMES ON AND THE CAR LOSES ACCELERATION. TOOK IT TO 1 DEALER WHO KEEPS IT FOR 4 WEEKS WHEN THEY FIGURE IT'S A MODULE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC WHO HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER SO I COULD SAVE ON LABOR, THEY HAVE IT FOR ANOTHER 4 WEEKS. AND STILL WITH THE SAVINGS, IT COST ME $1120 FOR THIS REPAIR ON TOP OF THE $218 I PAID FOR THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11185954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10918147 · 2016-10-23 (October 23, 2016)
WE HAD A PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE IN MOVING AT VERY SLOW SPEED (0-3MPH) IN A PARKING SPOT (IN A LOT), MOVING FORWARD AND BACK WHILE DEMONSTRATING THE USE OF THE CAR, WITH A RENTED CHEVY TRAX 2016 MODEL WHICH HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RENTED BY THE TIME WE ACQUIRED IT. FIRST, WE WERE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND MOVE THE CAR IN REVERSE. NEXT WE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE IN REVERSE. WHILE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, WE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO SHIFT AND RE-SHIFT INTO DRIVE BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10918147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121933 · 2018-08-23 (August 23, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 40 MILES THE 2016 CHEVY TRAX LOSS POWER TO 5-10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF, THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE GOT IDLE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER. FOR FORTUNE I WAS NOT DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. I AM VERY CONCERN AS I DON'T FEEL THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR HAS CURRENTLY 38K MILES, I BOUGHT IT USED WITH LITTLE UNDER 36K MILES. I NOTICED ABOUT 7-8 SIMILAR COMPLAINS IS DIFFERENT WEBSITES. I THINK SOMEBODY FROM NHTSA SHOULD LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. DRIVING A CAR WITH THESE PROBLEMS CAN RESULT IN MAJOR ACCID…
Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11673741 · 2025-07-15 (July 15, 2025)
I purchased my vehicle on January 6, 2025. Two days later, the check engine light came on. After struggling to reach anyone at the dealership, I finally got in touch on January 14, and dropped the car off on January 22 for a catalytic converter and A/C issue. On February 23, the check engine light returned with the same code. I brought the car back on March 7, and by May, the light came on again and the A/C failed for a second time. Over 1–2 weeks, I called repeatedly but was either hung up on or transferred with no resolution. On May 23, I had…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11673741 at NHTSA ↗