2014-2026 model years · 180+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
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According to Au7o's analysis of 180+ owner reports, the 2014-2026 Chevrolet Trax has 19 documented known issues, with 7 rated critical. The most serious are Engine Knock and Check Engine Light After Auto Stop/Start - ECM Ignition Timing Control (Field Action DCS6982) ($0-$200 repair), Air Bags May Not Deploy in a Crash - SDM Left in Manufacturing Mode (Recall 18V774000), Oil-Immersed (Wet) Timing Belt Shedding Debris into the Engine Oil ($250-$2,200 repair), Instrument Cluster Goes Blank - Virtual Cockpit Unit Software (Recall 23V744000) ($0-$900 repair), Rearview Camera Image Missing, Delayed, or Blue/Black Screen ($0-$900 repair), Forward Collision Alert / Automatic Emergency Braking False Warnings or Unexpected Activation ($0-$1,800 repair) and 1.2L Turbo Three-Cylinder (LIH/LBP) Connecting Rod and Rod Bearing Failure ($6,000-$9,500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is Coolant Leak from Water Outlet Housing with 180 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $50 to $9,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Buick Encore GX, Envista, and Chevrolet Trax vehicles. The software in the Virtual Cockpit Unit Module (VCU) may cause the instrument panel display to intermittently go blank at vehicle startup or while driving.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2024-2025 Buick Envista, 2024-2026 Buick Encore GX, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2025 Chevrolet Trax vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.
Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check recalls specific to your vehicle.
Don't see your problem? Describe your symptoms to get a diagnosis, or .
According to Au7o's analysis of 180+ owner reports, the 2014-2026 Chevrolet Trax has 19 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Engine Knock and Check Engine Light After Auto Stop/Start - ECM Ignition Timing Control (Field Action DCS6982), Air Bags May Not Deploy in a Crash - SDM Left in Manufacturing Mode (Recall 18V774000), Oil-Immersed (Wet) Timing Belt Shedding Debris into the Engine Oil. Of these, 7 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2014-2026 Chevrolet Trax has 19 known issues documented across 180+ owner reports. 7 issues are rated critical: Engine Knock and Check Engine Light After Auto Stop/Start - ECM Ignition Timing Control (Field Action DCS6982) and Air Bags May Not Deploy in a Crash - SDM Left in Manufacturing Mode (Recall 18V774000) and Oil-Immersed (Wet) Timing Belt Shedding Debris into the Engine Oil and Instrument Cluster Goes Blank - Virtual Cockpit Unit Software (Recall 23V744000) and Rearview Camera Image Missing, Delayed, or Blue/Black Screen and Forward Collision Alert / Automatic Emergency Braking False Warnings or Unexpected Activation and 1.2L Turbo Three-Cylinder (LIH/LBP) Connecting Rod and Rod Bearing Failure. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Chevrolet Trax issues range from $0 to $9,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Engine Knock and Check Engine Light After Auto Stop/Start - ECM Ignition Timing Control (Field Action DCS6982), typically costs $0-$200 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Chevrolet Trax. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 2014-2026 Chevrolet Trax with 19 documented issues documented across 180+ owner reports.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
GM issued urgent dealer message DCS6982 on August 14, 2024 covering 2024 vehicles with the 1.2L gasoline engine - Chevrolet Trax and Trailblazer, Buick Encore GX and Envista. The engine control module may fail to properly control ignition timing following certain Auto Engine Stop… Repairs typically run $0-$200. Severity: high.
A small number of 2019 Chevrolet Trax vehicles left the factory with the Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) - the module that decides when the air bags fire - still set to "manufacturing mode" instead of being switched to its normal operating mode. On an affected Trax, the air bags… Severity: high.
Unlike the old 1.4L turbo, the 1.2L three-cylinder in the 2024+ Trax drives its camshafts with a rubber timing belt that runs submerged in engine oil. GM acknowledges the design's shedding behavior in preliminary information bulletin PIP5938, which tells technicians that a quanti… Repairs typically run $250-$2,200. Severity: high.
Software in the Virtual Cockpit Unit Module (VCU) that drives the digital instrument panel can leave the cluster completely blank at startup or drop it out while driving. With the cluster dark the driver loses speedometer, fuel level, and every telltale and warning lamp. GM recal… Repairs typically run $0-$900. Severity: high.
Multiple owners have reported the rearview camera failing to display when shifting into reverse, showing a blank/blue/black screen, or appearing only after a long delay. This issue is documented in owner complaints and overlaps with infotainment/display faults, but the safety imp… Repairs typically run $0-$900. Severity: high.
Some 2024-2025 Trax owners have reported forward collision warnings triggering unexpectedly, emergency braking intervening without an obvious obstacle, or driver-assistance warnings appearing intermittently. These complaints are significant because they can startle the driver or… Repairs typically run $0-$1,800. Severity: high.
The 1.2L turbocharged three-cylinder (RPO LIH, and the related LBP) fitted to the redesigned 2024+ Trax has produced a documented pattern of catastrophic bottom-end failures at very low mileage. Owners describe a sudden bang or heavy metallic knock followed by a 'Reduced Engine P… Repairs typically run $6,000-$9,500. Severity: high.
The plastic water outlet housing on the 1.4L turbo engine is prone to cracking and leaking coolant. The housing sits on the back of the engine block and deteriorates from heat cycling. Coolant loss can lead to overheating if not addressed. Repairs typically run $150-$450. Severity: medium.
Owners of the redesigned 2024-2025 Trax have reported the center infotainment display freezing, going black, losing touch response, or repeatedly rebooting. Because HVAC controls, backup camera display, audio, and vehicle settings are integrated into the screen, the failure is mo… Repairs typically run $0-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The plastic camshaft (valve) cover on the 1.2L three-cylinder integrates the crankcase ventilation regulator, and its internal diaphragm can rupture. When it does, manifold vacuum is applied directly to the crankcase and engine oil is drawn through the PCV path into the intake, b… Repairs typically run $350-$700. Severity: medium.
The 2024+ Trax uses a compact HVAC case with electric actuators for temperature blend, and the temperature control can stick so that the cabin no longer follows the setpoint - the vents blow hot with the dial on cold, or refuse to warm up, often on one side only. GM covers the co… Repairs typically run $250-$1,800. Severity: medium.
After the instrument cluster, flickering exterior lighting is the single most-reported electrical complaint on the 2024 Trax. Two related behaviours show up in NHTSA complaints: the daytime running lights and low beams flicker or blink on and off at idle and while driving, and wi… Repairs typically run $0-$700. Severity: medium.
Owners of the current-generation Trax have reported front brake squeal, scraping, or grinding noises at surprisingly low mileage, sometimes accompanied by rotor scoring or vibration. While some brake noise can be normal, repeated complaints at low mileage suggest pad material, ha… Repairs typically run $250-$900. Severity: medium.
The 1.4L turbocharged engine in the Trax (shared with Cruze, Sonic, and Buick Encore) develops wastegate actuator failures. The wastegate seal degrades, allowing exhaust gases to bypass the turbine wheel and reduce boost. The wastegate actuator arm design has a known mechanical w… Repairs typically run $400-$1,500. Severity: medium.
The 6T40 automatic transmission exhibits rough or harsh shifts, delayed engagement from Park or Reverse, and occasional lurching. The valve body is the primary culprit, with wear on the pressure regulator bore causing erratic shift quality. Cold weather operation tends to make th… Repairs typically run $200-$2,800. Severity: medium.
The Trax uses the same 1.4T Ecotec engine as the Cruze with similar issues: turbo oil feed line leaks, PCV system failures, and coolant system plastic component cracking. The coolant outlet/thermostat housing is the most common failure point. Repairs typically run $150-$600. Severity: medium.
A number of owners have reported dead batteries, slow cranking, or complete no-start conditions after the vehicle sits overnight or for a few days. On new vehicles this often traces to software modules not going to sleep properly, telematics/infotainment wake-up issues, or a weak… Repairs typically run $0-$450. Severity: medium.
GM opened customer satisfaction/field action N232432960 covering replacement of the fuel rail pressure sensor on affected 2024 vehicles because the sensor's output can shift out of specification over time. On the direct-injected 1.2L turbo the ECM trims high-pressure fuel deliver… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: medium.
The 1.4L turbocharged engine burns oil at an excessive rate, often consuming a quart every 1,000-2,000 miles. The issue is attributed to piston ring design and PCV system routing. GM considers up to 1 quart per 2,000 miles "normal" but many owners find this unacceptable. Repairs typically run $50-$2,500. Severity: medium.
