Most common 2021 Chevrolet Trax problems
Share of the 25 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 →
What 2021 Chevrolet Trax owners say
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the AC unit was distributing hot air. The contact detected white smoke emerging from the engine compartment and the vehicle caught fire. The contact was able to pull over and exit the vehicle without injury. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. There was the deployment of air bags. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 7,800.
The vehicle has 2 permanent codes. One is a communication blackout, the other code means the hardware is melting. GM is doing a formal inspection in April. The Ucode meant that the engine stopped talking to the transmission or visa versa. The vehicle "ran my daughter and I" off the highway into the dirt, on 2 different occasions. They are described as "catastrophic engine failures". The last one occurred on MLK Jr Day 2026, before the vehicle was permanently grounded. It could have been fatal. GM is doing a formal investigation to see what liability the have for it because the vehicle is now considered a "lemon". There were no external (dashboard) warnings before the events, but, there may have been internal ones that require a professional grade scanner to detect. …
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the AC unit was distributing hot air. The contact detected white smoke emerging from the engine compartment and the vehicle caught fire. The contact was able to pull over and exit the vehicle without injury. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. There was the deployment of air bags. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 7,800.
The vehicle has 2 permanent codes. One is a communication blackout, the other code means the hardware is melting. GM is doing a formal inspection in April. The Ucode meant that the engine stopped talking to the transmission or visa versa. The vehicle "ran my daughter and I" off the highway into the dirt, on 2 different occasions. They are described as "catastrophic engine failures". The last one occurred on MLK Jr Day 2026, before the vehicle was permanently grounded. It could have been fatal. GM is doing a formal investigation to see what liability the have for it because the vehicle is now considered a "lemon". There were no external (dashboard) warnings before the events, but, there may have been internal ones that require a professional grade scanner to detect. …
Brakes
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, while the roads were clear, dry, and the weather was good, the engine seized, and the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated to 55 MPH. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, and the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond and continued driving forward. While driving at 50 MPH, the failure reoccurred. The engine and stabili-trak illuminated after the vehicle came to a complete stop. The local dealer was contacted regarding loaner vehicles on two occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was scanned, and DTC: TCM U0101 and P0700 were retrieved. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the local dealer and the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and became stuck. The contact had to manually retract the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with brake positioner failure. The contact was informed that the brake positioner needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer on three separate occasions however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 42,681.
2021 Chevrolet Trax engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 31 / 28 |
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 24 / 29 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Trax a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Trax rates better than average: 64% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Trax at the same age. It is one of the best Trax years by this measure. 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 2021 Chevrolet Trax?
The electrical system — 10 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the engine & cooling (7) and brakes (6).
How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Trax have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2021 Chevrolet Trax problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 33% 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.