Most common 2016 Chevrolet Trax problems
Share of the 120 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Trax complaints by model year
Best Trax years: 2014, 2022, 2021. Years to avoid: 2024, 2025, 2019. Compare all years →
2016 Chevrolet Trax recalls (5)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Chevrolet Trax vehicles. A joint in one or both of the front lower control arms may have been improperly welded. An improperly welded joint may break, resulting in the partial separation of the lower control arm from the vehicle.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right front lower-control arms, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2019.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Electrical system › Software
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
Electrical system › Software
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
What 2016 Chevrolet Trax owners say
Engine & cooling all 47 →
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and an oil change was performed; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that a diagnostic test was performed, and the vehicle was diagnosed with turbocharger failure. The contact was informed that the turbocharger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched and discovered an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while her niece was driving 40 MPH, she became aware there was coolant leaking from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was drivable until arriving at the residence. The contact added coolant to the coolant reservoir and became aware there was coolant leaking on the driveway. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and informed the contact there were no recalls associated with the VIN, and that the vehicle was out of warranty. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 87,000.
Electrical system all 24 →
My 2016 Chevrolet Trax experienced loss of power while driving on the highway. I experienced moments where it would not accelerate. This put myself and other drivers at risk due to the random loss of power. There was no warning there was any issue with the vehicle prior to this event. In addition, I have experienced A/C failure. I have had this inspected and multiple components replaced by a service shop, but it still is not working.The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the key fob failed to unlock or lock the rear driver's side and rear passenger's side doors. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V422000 (Electrical System, Equipment) or 16V257000 (Equipment, Electrical System). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 179,000.
Air bags
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while his wife was seated in the front passenger's side seat, the passenger's side air bag warning light indicated that the air bag system was turned off and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 7,305.
My vehicle was has had 2 separate front end accidents. Both caused major damage. This last time my car was totaled out. Neither time did the air bags deploy. There were no warnings. Police report was filed. However the police was not on my side. He lied about the other person's speed, where they were traveling, the distance of the stop sign and stop bar. He also took over a week to provide it. I had to keep calling.
2016 Chevrolet Trax engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 34 / 29 |
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 24 / 31 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Trax a good car?
Based on 120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Trax rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Trax at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Chevrolet Trax?
The engine & cooling — 47 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system › pump. Next are the electrical system (24) and air bags (19).
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Trax have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Trax, the most recent from September 12, 2019 (lower ball joint). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Trax?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2022 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2025 and 2019. See the full Chevrolet Trax years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Trax problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 41,000 miles; 58% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.