Engine complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On October 22, 2025 I drove 10 miles from my home. I turned off and parked the vehicle at approx. 8:58 AM. Within 2 minutes I notices quite a bit of smoke coming from under the hood. I called the fire department and within 10 minutes the entire front of the car was on fire. The vehicle from front bumper through the dashboard was completely destroyed. There were no warning lights on. I purchased the vehicle on June 5th 2024. My INsurance co. did the appraisal and deemed it a total loss of course. The Dealership AND General Motors refuse to do anything to investigate. I have documentation of all calls. General Motors told me they do not put anything in writing.
My check engine light went on and stayed on while I was driving. I called Blaise Alexander, Altoona, Pa. reported and scheduled a checkup on Dec. 11. I drove to the garage, arriving at 10am. and noticed a smell of fire and saw smoke billowing out around the hood of the car. I ran into service area and told them the car must be on fire. They called the Altoona Fire Dept. The police gave me a number, which I gave State Farm Insurance. I drove approximately 23 miles along Rt I 99 to reach the garage. Apparently there is a history of 2024 and 2025 Trax models having fires in the engine. Possibly associated with the fuel system.
The contact's father owns a 2024 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a left, she observed a noise emanating from under the vehicle that sounded like loose gravel, and she observed smoke outside of the "turn off ignition" message displayed. The contact stated that she observed white/grey smoke coming through the vents in the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was turned off, and when the contact exited the vehicle, she observed fire under the engine compartment, and the fire spread rapidly. The fire department distinguished the fire. The police reported the incident, but there was no report taken. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was deemed inoperable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure was 7,696.
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH there was a popping sound coming from the engine compartment and the message to shut off the vehicle was displayed. The vehicle was immediately parked, and there was smoke coming from under the hood. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle and discovered flames coming from the engine. The fire department was called to the scene and the fire was extinguished. A Police report was filed at the scene. The vehicle was deemed destroyed and was towed to a nearby storage facility. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contact about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently decelerated and lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights were later illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with battery failure. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact wanted a second opinion, and the vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics; however, the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The contact was informed that the battery was in proper working condition. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated when the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated while driving to the dealer, the contact noticed smoke coming the exhaust pipe and there was misfire coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer; however, the vehicle had not been diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
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. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Trax years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2024 (58), 2017 (48), 2016 (47), 2019 (42) and 2018 (31) model years. Engine complaints make up 32% of all complaints for the 2024.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Trax engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for any Chevrolet Trax model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Trax engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles; 51% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine › gasoline › turbo/supercharger (4 mentions), followed by the cooling system › pump (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.