Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 101 safety complaints
about the 2018 Chevrolet Trax with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 2 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the suspension.
The most complained-about system is the suspension,
named in 34 complaints, 34% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 28,001 miles,
the median across the 39
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers September 2018 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
101 complaints on file
101
Complaints
2
Describe a crash
2
Mention fire
2
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.
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
SUSPENSION 34 · 34%
34 34%
ENGINE 29 · 29%
29 29%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18 · 18%
18 18%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17 · 17%
17 17%
POWER TRAIN 11 · 11%
11 11%
STEERING 9 · 9%
9 9%
SERVICE BRAKES 7 · 7%
7 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 · 6%
6 6%
WHEELS 6 · 6%
6 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 · 4%
4 4%
AIR BAGS 2 · 2%
2 2%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 · 2%
2 2%
01531
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 101.
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 34.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2018 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 2018 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
2 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
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
19V312000 · April 18, 2019
The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 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 June 14, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A182202370.
General Motors LLC · up to 112,958 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 injured · fire
The diver side fuse box started a fire in the vehicle. The tracking control system light was flashing on and the vehicle lost power. Filed claim with insurance company. Insurance company issued a total loss and took possession of the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint 11746862. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 injured · crash · towed · 143,000 miles
The contact’s parents owned a 2018 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while a parent was driving 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the accelerator pedal was also simultaneously depressed the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure caused the contact’s parent to veer off the side of the road, which caused the vehicle to roll over several times before landing on a construction vehicle. The contact stated that all the air bags deployed during the rollover. The contact’s parent suffered several injuries and was taken to a local emergency room. The contact’s parents suffered back, neck, and rib injuries. The contact stated that a Police report …
NHTSA complaint 11669818, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
fire · 25,600 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET TRAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKS WOULD UNLOCK AND LOCK SUDDENLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THEY ENTERED THEIR VEHICLE AND WHILE STARTING, THE VEHICLE'S HORN SUDDENLY ACTIVATED AND CONTINUED TO MAKE NOISE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER THE CONTACT HAD REPEATEDLY PRESSED THE HORN IN HOPES TO DEACTIVATE IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THEY STARTED THE VEHICLE AFTERWARDS, THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING A BURNING ORDER FROM THE HEATING/AC COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (SERPENTINI CHEVROLET OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS 2810 BISHOP …
NHTSA complaint 11395800, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SUSPENSION
crash · towed · 27,000 miles
ON 7/11/19 I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT MY CAR WAS UNDER RECALL. RECALL #A182202370. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND NOT TO BE IMPACTED BY THE RECALL AND I LEFT. ON 7/19/19 MADE A U-TURN IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT, I HEARD A LOUD CRACK AND THEN HAD A HARD TIME STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT-SIDE PASSENGER TIRE OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURB AND THEN THE TIRES WERE TURN SIDEWAYS. I CALLED AND HAD MY CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I ASSUMED THE PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE RECALL. THE SERVICE MANAGER FROM THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT THERE WAS $2200 IN DAMAGE AND THAT THE RECALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACCIDENT, THEY SUGGESTED …
NHTSA complaint 11241748, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Turbo failed
NHTSA complaint 11762613. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SUSPENSION
There are known issues with the control arms on these vehicles and I have had a clunk any time I hit the slightest bump or crack and it is especially bad when my wheels are turned. There is no recall linked to my vin but this is the exact issue that has been recalled on other vins. This makes driving the car with my children very unsafe.
NHTSA complaint 11745169. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
WHEELS
Both my control arms are loose and wheel baring is bad, plus a cracked catalytic converter. All of these are causing my car to be loud and burning smell, causing unsafe driving conditions for me and my children. Online states that the control arms are an issue with this vehicle make and model and have been recalled, however my VIN has not been recalled and I want to report this. improperly welded joints can fatigue and break, causing the lower control arm to partially separate from the vehicle. This can lead to a sudden loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash. I have not gotten in an accident, but was at risk of this happening. My car is being worked on and it will cost me …
NHTSA complaint 11741821, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
Power steering isn’t working
NHTSA complaint 11740794. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
My lower control arm weld has cracked. It was checked shortly after purchase and passed inspection at the Chevy garage in Elkins, WV. Now the weld is cracked on both driver and passenger sides and it making a clunking sound. I do not feel safe to drive this vehicle. This problem should of been fixed when the recall came out, they should of replaced with new parts. My husband Inspected the problem and found the cracks. I took photos to document it. We found the problem on [XXX] but has been clunking for over a month INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11739885. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed September 12, 2019.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst