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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2016 Chevrolet Trax

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 120 safety complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet Trax with the US government. Of those, 9 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 4 people were injured and no death is recorded. 5 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 46 complaints, 38% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 40,673 miles, the median across the 64 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers June 2016 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

120 complaints on file

120

Complaints

9

Describe a crash

2

Mention fire

4

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints rose by half year on year: 11 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 7 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 46 · 38%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24 · 20%
AIR BAGS 19 · 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15 · 13%
STEERING 14 · 12%
POWER TRAIN 13 · 11%
SERVICE BRAKES 9 · 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 7 · 6%
STRUCTURE 7 · 6%
SUSPENSION 7 · 6%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 6 · 5%
SEAT BELTS 5 · 4%
0 19 38

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 120.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 22.

24 18 12 6
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2016 Chevrolet TRAX, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 17.9% 19.8%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

5 on file

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

19V652000 · September 12, 2019

The defect
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.
The risk
A partial separation of the lower-control arm from the vehicle could cause the attached front wheel to toe outward, impacting the vehicle's handling and steering and increasing the risk of crash.
The 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. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A192261870.

General Motors LLC · up to 93,722 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17V437000 · July 10, 2017

The defect
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 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The 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. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

General Motors LLC · up to 40,683 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

16V651000 · September 8, 2016

The defect
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 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The 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. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,640,162 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

16V422000 · June 10, 2016

The defect
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."
The risk
Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 18,780 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

16V257000 · April 28, 2016

The defect
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 cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."
The risk
Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
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. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

General Motors LLC · up to 317,572 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 7,500 miles

WE HAD AN SINGLE CAR CRASH. THE CAR WENT OVER A CURB AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND [XXX] NEAR TOOK OUT A WOODEN WALK WAY WITH PEOPLE NEAR BY ON THE WALKWAY IT ENDED UP TOTALING ($20,000 IN DAMAGE ) OUR BRAND NEW CHEVY TRAX 2016. AND WHEN ALL 11.......... AIRBAGS RIGHT 11 AIRBAGS AND NOT ONE WHEN OFF AND WE BOTH HAD SEAT BELT ON BUT I STILL MANAGED TO HIT MY HEAD SO HARD I HAD AN SMALL INDENT IN MY HEAD AND U WOULD THINK BRAND NEW CAR AND 11 AIR BAGS U THINK YOU WOULD B SAVE ....?? BUT NOT IN A CHEVY!!!! ALL CUZ OF THE AIRBAGS AND BRAKES WERE AFFECTED AS WELL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA complaint 10935438. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 27,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TRAX. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE ACROSS THE STREET RAN THEIR STOP SIGN AT 45 MPH AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LONG TERM BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PARTY THAT CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND THEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME, GRILL, A-FRAME, HOOD, AND A CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE

NHTSA complaint 11220655, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 8,900 miles

VEHICLE RECEIVED SIDE IMPACT ON DRIVERS SIDE, AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS RIPPED OFF FROM VEHICLE

NHTSA complaint 11023387. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash

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.

NHTSA complaint 11466564. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Was driving the car,when started losing power up a hill,started making a loud puttering noise..Check engine light and traction control along with tire light all came on,ran a diagnostic at auto store said it was the plugs,so bought plugs and changed them,still doing the same thing..went back for another diagnostic and still said plugs,also states I would not pass emissions,..bought this car at a dealership..what’s the point if I can’t even drive it.

NHTSA complaint 11767098. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Was driving the car,when started losing power up a hill,started making a loud puttering noise..Check engine light and traction control along with tire light all came on,ran a diagnostic at auto store said it was the plugs,so bought plugs and changed them,still doing the same thing..went back for another diagnostic and still said plugs,also states I would not pass emissions,..bought this car at a dealership..what’s the point if I can’t even drive it.

NHTSA complaint 11767099. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Was driving the car,when started losing power up a hill,started making a loud puttering noise..Check engine light and traction control along with tire light all came on,ran a diagnostic at auto store said it was the plugs,so bought plugs and changed them,still doing the same thing..went back for another diagnostic and still said plugs,also states I would not pass emissions,..bought this car at a dealership..what’s the point if I can’t even drive it.

NHTSA complaint 11767100. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
for the 3 years i have had this car the engine has just died no sensors no engine lights no dashboard indicators bells whistles NOTHING it just stops running and wont start the dealership replaced it the first 2 years it happened this time they are trying to say we drove it overheating and that isnt true i have AAA and the only service calls have been once a year to have it towed to Cochran in Monroeville to the dealership to get it fixed the first year they kept it 3 months trying to find something we did to be responsible for it but finally realized they had to replace it under dealership warranty. Last year they replaced it right away only had it a few weeks due to the same issue. This

NHTSA complaint 11758319, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
There wasnt a passenger side seat belts Legal Violations by LBurg Auto Sales (2016 Chevy Trax ​ KRS 189.125(2): State law strictly prohibits a dealership from selling any modern vehicle without working seat belts for all passengers. ​Federal Safety Standards (FMVSS 208/209): Mandates functional three-point seat belts. Selling a car with a missing passenger seat belt violates federal law and makes it legally "unroadworthy." ​ Kentucky Consumer Protection Act (KRS 367.170): Outlaws deceptive trade practices. Concealing a missing mandatory safety assembly is a fraudulent omission of material fact. ​ KRS 355.2-314 (Implied Warranty): A dealer cannot use an "As-Is" clause to contract out of

NHTSA complaint 11749668, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

70,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine sputtered and the check engine warnig light illuminated. The vehic ewas taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed turbo charger. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed turbo charger. The contact was informed that the turbo charger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The amnufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact referecned an extended warranty coverage program, however the contact was informd that the the title was a salvaged title. The

NHTSA complaint 11741269, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Trax

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 87 1 —
2024 175 1 —
2020 96 0 —
2019 134 2 —
2018 101 2 —
2017 113 3 —
2015 96 7 1

Other 2016 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst