2016 Chevrolet Trax Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Trax.

20152017
Complaints
177
per 10K Sold
22.4
US Sales
79,016
Crashes
12
Fires
2
Injuries
6
Fatalities
Recalls
5

Worst 2016 Chevrolet Trax Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#140 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:64,053 mi
Fires:1
#220 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:61,498 mi
#317 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:33,832 mi
Crash-related:6
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Chevrolet Trax.

Engine Problems
40
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
64,053
Electrical Faults
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
61,498
Airbags
17
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
33,832
Steering Defects
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
44,076
Transmission / Drivetrain
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
29,000
Brakes
9
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
25,296
Body Structure
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
44,517
Electronic Stability Control
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
28,251
Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
79,042
Suspension Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
64,372
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Infotainment
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Windshield
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Chevrolet Trax. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2016 Chevrolet Trax

5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,110,919 vehicles.

19V652000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
~93,722 affected

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.

17V437000Seat Belts:pretensioner · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive · Air Bags:frontal
~40,683 affected

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.

16V651000Seat Belts:pretensioner · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive · Air Bags:frontal
~3,640,162 affected

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.

16V422000Electrical System:software · Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
~18,780 affected

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."

16V257000Electrical System:software · Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
~317,572 affected

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."

Other Chevrolet Trax Years

2016 Chevrolet Trax — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Trax reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2016 Chevrolet Trax has 177 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 40 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Trax?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (40 complaints, avg 64,053 mi); Electrical Faults (20 complaints, avg 61,498 mi); Airbags (17 complaints, avg 33,832 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Chevrolet Trax?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 50,376 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2016 Chevrolet Trax?
NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Trax include 12 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Trax have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,110,919 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2016 Chevrolet Trax?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Trax reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2016 Chevrolet Trax

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