UsedScore

2019 Chevrolet Trax: Solid

Owners filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Trax in its first five years on the road, about 81 for every 100,000 sold: 1.0× the rate of a typical Trax year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the brakes (16% of complaints, median 7,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.0×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Trax year
Rank
5th of 7
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
89
first five years; 81 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
2
campaigns
1st generation, 2015–2022 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2018 Chevrolet Trax LT

Photo: 2018 Chevrolet Trax LT · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Brakes16% · 14 complaints · median 7,000 miles
  2. Engine20% · 18 complaints · median 7,000 miles
  3. Suspension21% · 19 complaints · median 9,000 miles
  4. Electrical19% · 17 complaints · median 1,000 miles
  5. Steering12% · 11 complaints · median 2,000 miles
  6. Air bags2% · 2 complaints
  7. Wheels and tires10% · 9 complaints · median 17,000 miles
  8. Powertrain4% · 4 complaints
  9. Body and structure6% · 5 complaints
  10. Fuel and propulsion4% · 4 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Brakes

Owners describe intermittent or reduced braking performance, sometimes with dashboard warnings or unusual noises beforehand. Some had brake components repaired or replaced, while others say dealers couldn't find a cause or fix the issue.

Warning signs:
Some report warning lights such as "Service StabiliTrak," "ABS Service Soon," or "Service Brake Assist," along with unusual noises, vibration, or a sinking brake pedal.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced or serviced parts such as a brake line, brake booster, or rear brake calipers, though a few owners say the dealer could not duplicate or diagnose the issue.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 15,000 miles, among 12 complaints that give it

“the vehicle unexpectedly came to a complete stop and lost motive power”

“the vehicle did not immediately stop, and the braking distance was extended”

Engine

Many owners of this Trax describe turbocharger and cooling-system failures that cause stalling, loss of power, or overheating, sometimes recurring after repair. Warning signs like check engine lights, stuttering acceleration, and coolant loss often preceded these breakdowns.

Warning signs:
Owners report check engine or stabilitrak lights, stuttering or hesitation on acceleration, rough idling, clicking or loud noises, exhaust smoke, and overheating.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced the turbocharger, water pump, radiator, or catalytic converter, though several owners say the same issues recurred or parts were backordered.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 75,000 miles, among 8 complaints that give it

“Car had hard time accelerating, especially going up the hills. Turbocharge By-Pass Valve replaced at a service center.”

“The turbocharger gave code P0299 then more extensive look when you try to increase speed the turbo will not boost to allow you to go.”

Suspension

Owners of this model report suspension parts like control arms, struts, or ball joints failing, sometimes with noises or a pull to one side beforehand. Several say dealers could not get recall parts or could not reproduce the issue, leaving repairs delayed or incomplete.

Warning signs:
Some report squeaking or popping noises, clunking or grinding sounds when turning, and pulling or hesitation when braking before the failure.
What shops did:
Dealers often said recall replacement parts were unavailable, some could not duplicate the pulling issue, and one shop welded a cracked frame.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 10,000 miles, among 7 complaints that give it

“as she depressed the brake pedal, the vehicle pulled towards to the right and hesitated to respond”

“Front top strut mounts completely broken loss of turning and grinding metal on metal clunking noise when you turn”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (2)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 19V312000April 2019112,958 vehicles

    Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint

    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.

    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.

    Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right front lower-control arms, replacing them as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V774000November 201812 vehicles

    Air bags: air bag/restraint control module · Air bags

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

    Risk: If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

    Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Chevrolet sent NHTSA 674 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2019 Trax. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 22-NA-244 · May 2024 · Warranty extensionThis service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
  • 00-06-01-026R · June 2025This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
  • 23-NA-153 · May 2025The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
  • 15-NA-010 · May 2025This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
  • 25-NA-100 · April 2025This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on vehicles outside of a California Emissions State who move to and register their vehicle in a California Emission State may be…
  • PI0281L · April 2025This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
  • 25-NA-052 · March 2025This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
  • 25-NA-065 · March 2025This informational bulletin instructs the tech when fuel/fluid is needed to be tested and where it can be sent for analysis.

All 2019 Trax bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Trax reliable?
Owners filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Trax in its first five years on the road, about 81 for every 100,000 sold: 1.0× the rate of a typical Trax year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Trax years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2019 Trax problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the brakes (16%), the engine (20%) and the suspension (21%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2019 Chevrolet Trax been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2019 Chevrolet Trax, the most recent in April 2019 (suspension). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Chevrolet. The 2019 Chevrolet Trax on NHTSA.gov · How we rate