Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I was driving at about 10 mph in a suburban Buffalo retail parking lot when I was T-boned by a driver coming at me perpendicular at a much higher rate of speed who hit me squarely on the driver's side front and rear door. Airbags did not deploy. Yes, my safety was put at risk. I was injured. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by dealer or anyone else. Noone has inspected the vehicle yet. There were no warning signs prior to the accident.
Service Safety Restraint System warning light keeps coming on. I have taken it to Classic Chevrolet in Oklahoma City 6 times now for the same issue. I have opened a case with GM([redacted]). I have been told that GM engineers have been on the phone with the dealership to get this repaired yet it is back in the shop at the dealership again. It has been explained to me that this warning light indicates that the air bags may not work if an accident occurs or the airbags may just deploy as I am driving down the road. That is the safety issue I am reporting. If even the GM engineers cannot fix this problem then I would say that it is a serious problem putting many people at risk. I wanted this in writing. This safety issue needs to be looked into and a recall needs to occur as I am sure I am not the only GM customer driving an unsafe 2026 Chevrolet Trax.
Ran into a cemex block with no light pole. The parking lot was dark and cemex block was not marked. Forward collision detection system did not work and airbag ejected some shrapnel cutting my arm and shatter ing my bone in forearm and wrist. I'm lucky it did not hit me in the head or I would be dead today. By the grace of god I'm still alive Amen !
Was making right hand turn which causes vehicle to straddle shoulder for a brief period of time because of how lines are painted. Auto steering resisted the manual steering to get into the lane properly and pulled vehicle onto shoulder further which lead vehicle to be pulled into the ditch.
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25-35 MPH, the front center of the vehicle crashed into the center rear end of another vehicle; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact was distracted by an ambulance approaching and did not notice that the vehicle in front had braked. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a fractured rib, struck her head on the steering wheel, had a nose bleed, laceration to the lips, and bruised cheeks. The contact previously had rib surgery, which the doctors were concerned about due to the impact. Medical attention was needed. The contact researched and was made aware of an undisclosed recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard to be diagnosed; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. …
The contact's mother-in-law owns a 2024 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving 8-10 MPH from a stop sign, the vehicle was T-boned by a truck driving 30-35 MPH. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle sustained significant damage, but the air bags did not deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact hit the head against the front driver's side door and the steering wheel. The contact sustained migraines. The Emergency services examined the contact but the contact did not seek medical assistance. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and had not yet been evaluated by the insurance company; however, the contact stated that the vehicle could be totaled. A police report was filed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop light, another vehicle rear-ended the vehicle. The contact stated that both the driver and passenger seat belts failed to restrain both occupants. The air bags also failed to deploy upon impact. A police report was filed. The contact managed to drive away from the scene of the accident. The contact and the other occupant both sought medical attention the next day at a hospital. The contact was treated for multiple herniated, torn, and bulging discs on their vertebrae. The contact's passenger also sustained several bulging discs on their vertebrae which extended from the neck to the bottom of the spine. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trax. While the contact's spouse was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was involved in a crash. While the driver was attempting to avoid striking a deer, the vehicle crashed into a barbed wire fence. The air bags did not deploy. In addition, the contact stated that the engine detached from the vehicle after the crash. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The driver was transported to the local medical center. The driver sustained injuries to the neck and the middle of the back and burns on the left side of the neck from the seat belt. A Police report was filed; however, the information was unavailable. The vehicle was not inspected by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
Related recalls (2)
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Trax years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (19), 2015 (12), 2020 (7), 2024 (7) and 2025 (7) model years. Airbag complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Trax airbag problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 18V-774 (air bag/restraint control module, Nov 1, 2018); 17V-437 (sensor/control module-inactive, Jul 10, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Trax airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles; 77% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the sensor › occupant classification › front passenger (1 mentions), followed by the sensor › occupant classification (1).
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.