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2016 Chevrolet Trax

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
70 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns5
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA117
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA29 mpg
2026202520242022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Chevrolet Trax is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Trax, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 117 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
TraxGasFWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo263429$2,150
Trax AWDGasAWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo243127$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36493, 36769.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Chevrolet Trax is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Suspension

A192261870
93,722 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskA 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.FixGM 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.
NHTSA campaign 19V652000reported Sep 12, 2019General Motors LLC
▲high

Air Bags

17287
40,683 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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) softwRiskA 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.FixGM 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.
NHTSA campaign 17V437000reported Jul 10, 2017General Motors LLC
▲high

Air Bags

16007
3,640,162 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskA 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.FixGM 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V651000reported Sep 8, 2016General Motors LLC
○minor

Equipment

45340
18,780 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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."RiskWithout audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.FixGM 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V422000reported Jun 10, 2016General Motors LLC
○minor

Equipment

17130
317,572 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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."RiskWithout audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.FixGM 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V257000reported Apr 28, 2016General Motors LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
117complaints filed

9 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 4 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 6 · 2017: 13 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 22 · 2020: 18 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Engine43
Electrical System21
Air Bags19
Unspecified15
Steering14
Power Train13

What owners describe

“My 2016 Chevrolet Trax experienced loss of power while driving on the highway. I experienced moments where it would not accelerate. This put myself and other drivers at risk due to the random loss of power. There was no warning there was any issue with the vehicle prior to this event. In addition, I have experienced A/…”Oct 29, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Passenger side air bag light does not indicate that the airbag is on. This happens very often when you sit in the passenger seat and fasten the seat belt. This has been happening for several weeks.”Oct 16, 2023 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“The air in the car started blowing warm in 2021. I took it to the dealership and they said maybe a leak. They did a leak test and put something I. It to make it cold for a couple days. I’ve been having g the same complaint since. After looking online, I saw that it is a compressor issue. I had an oil change done last…”Sep 3, 2023 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆20%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Trax model years

A

2026 Chevrolet Trax

0 recalls · 14 complaints

A

2025 Chevrolet Trax

0 recalls · 84 complaints

A

2024 Chevrolet Trax

1 recalls · 169 complaints

A

2022 Chevrolet Trax

0 recalls · 9 complaints

A

2021 Chevrolet Trax

0 recalls · 24 complaints

A

2020 Chevrolet Trax

0 recalls · 94 complaints

B

2019 Chevrolet Trax

2 recalls · 133 complaints

B

2018 Chevrolet Trax

2 recalls · 101 complaints

C

2017 Chevrolet Trax

3 recalls · 111 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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