Which Years Of Used Chevy Trax Cars Are Most Reliable?
Chevrolet Trax by MercurySable99 - CC-BY-SA-4.0
Subcompact SUVs have been at the peak of their popularity in recent years. The sky-high demand for small crossovers is mainly due to affordable pricing, versatile cargo and passenger space, and good fuel economy. Furthermore, subcompact SUVs offer car-like agility and handling while not being limited in ride height and driver visibility. The Chevrolet Trax might be worth considering if you’re looking for a solid subcompact SUV outside the usual suspects like the Mazda CX-30, Subaru Crosstrek, and Honda HR-V.
The Chevy Trax is certainly a subcompact SUV that could, but it has yet to catch on in terms of popularity and sales. However, that’s understandable, considering how competitive this particular segment is. After the 2022 model year, Chevy decided to cut the production plug for the Chevy Trax, only to be brought back for the 2024 model year, to everyone’s confusion.
As such, if you’re looking to buy a used model of this subcompact SUV, you’re likely wondering which is the most reliable year of Chevy Trax. Lucky for you, we have today’s buyer’s guide to help you determine the most reliable model year of this subcompact SUV and which ones you should skip altogether. Let’s dive right in.
2015-2022 Chevrolet Trax (1st Generation)
The Chevy Trax was introduced to the market as a budget-friendly model and was essentially a stripped down Buick Encore. This bite-sized crossover was powered by a 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission, which neither brought fuel economy nor performance.
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Avoid: 2015 Chevy Trax
When the 2015 Trax was released, it was well-received by critics and consumers alike. U.S. News ranked the 2015 Trax as the #1 affordable compact SUV, citing positives like good handling, strong value proposition, and exceptional safety scores. Unfortunately, time wasn’t very kind to the debut Trax model as it was widely criticized for its sluggish engine, bland interior, and limited cargo capacity.
Reliability-wise, CarComplaints.com logged over 150 complaints and seven recalls for the 2015 Trax. As such, people’s main issue with the 2015 Trax was its tendency to roll down on an incline. One complainant claimed the SUV rolled down a not-so-steep slope after lifting their foot off the brakes. According to the experts, this was a transmission-related issue.
The A/C system was also another sore spot for the Chevy Trax, with several owners claiming that the heating/cooling just quit on them. Not the most pressing of issues, but it’s worth considering if you’re buying a used model.
THE CHEVY TRAX YEARS TO AVOID
This guide aims to help you buy the best Chevy Trax model year that will give you the least number of headaches. Here are the worst Chevy Trax years to avoid and the ones you can buy with confidence.
Avoid: 2016 Chevy Trax
If you’re searching for the most reliable year of Chevy Trax, the 2016 model year is not it. In fact, it’s the opposite because it’s generally considered one of the, if not the worst, model year of the bite-sized SUV. According to CarComplaints.com, the 2016 Trax received over 180 NHTSA complaints and five recalls and struggled with electrical, engine, and body integrity problems.
The main problem with a used 2016 Trax is the malfunctioning A/C system. The culprits were determined to be the faulty compressor and electrical issues with the climate control system. According to many frustrated owners, the SUV’s cooling system stopped working right back in the middle of a hot summer day.
On top of that, the 2016 Trax also struggled with engine and engine cooling troubles. At first, drivers saw the check engine light, and it was all downhill from there. Some reports indicate the loss of power while driving, which can be a scary experience for any driver.
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Avoid: 2017-2018 Chevy Trax
These model years aren’t the most problematic iterations of the Trax SUV, but they do have trouble spots that made it hard for us to recommend them.
For instance, the 2017 Trax wasn’t well-received by critics, citing negative qualities like the low-rent cabin and lethargic, noisy engine. In terms of reliability, the 2017 Trax’s main issue, as reported by owners, is the non-working heater. This is a massive deal breaker if you’re living in a colder state. There’s also a written complaint about the engine catching fire, but this seems to be a freak accident.
Meanwhile, the 2018 Trax saw a significant improvement in terms of reliability. Chevy did a great job ironing out the earlier models’ flaws, including the omnipresent A/C issues. But the 2018 Trax still suffered from noteworthy problems like the electrical failures that consequently shut off the engine and infotainment system. Drivers had to resort to the temporary fix of shutting off the engine and turning it on again.
Buy: 2019 Chevy Trax
If you’re shopping for the most reliable year of Chevy Trax, you should start with the 2019 model year. Although it received mixed reviews from critics and customers, the 2019 Trax is a solid subcompact SUV if you’re willing to overlook the flaws. As for the flaws, they’re the same issues that plagued the Trax, such as the underpowered engine, rough ride quality, poor fuel economy, and limited cargo capacity (compared to its rivals).
According to CarComplaints.com, the 2019 Trax only has 118 complaints and two recalls, which is a relatively good indication of reliability. Its top three issues only had one complaint each, so it’s safe to say they’re not very widespread. This small SUV may not blow your brains out, but it’s a good, budget-friendly choice for a used and relatively new model.
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Buy: 2020 Chevy Trax
This is it! The 2020 model is the most reliable year of Chevy Trax. If you don’t mind spending on a newer compact SUV, the 2020 Chevy Trax offers substantial value and reliability scores. According to Consumer Reports, the 2020 Trax deserves a perfect reliability score of 5.0 out of 5.0, with excellent ratings in all trouble spots, including the engine, cooling system, electricals, drive system, transmission, etc.
CarComplaints.com paints a similar picture of reliability for the 2020 Trax, with only 55 complaints and no recalls. Unfortunately, Chevy had to discontinue the Trax after its 2022 model, shortly after hitting its stride in reliability and popularity. However, as mentioned, the Trax is bound to return with the 2024 model, so we look forward to how it pans out for this subcompact SUV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes the Chevy Trax an appealing subcompact SUV?
A: The Chevy Trax offers affordability, versatile cargo and passenger space, and decent fuel economy to the table. Its car-like agility and handling, higher ride height, and better driver visibility make it attractive for those seeking a practical and budget-friendly subcompact SUV. However, it’s best to manage your expectations with a budget SUV like the Trax.
Q: Which Chevy Trax model years should I avoid?
A: Based on the number of complaints and recalls, it’s best to steer clear of the 2015 and 2016 Chevy Trax models. The 2015 Trax had issues with rolling down on inclines and faulty A/C systems, while the 2016 model struggled with electrical, engine, and body integrity problems. The 2017 and 2018 models also had their share of troubles, such as non-working heaters and electrical failures that led to engine and infotainment system shutdowns.
Q: Why is the 2016 Chevy Trax considered the worst model year?
A: The 2016 Chevy Trax is widely regarded as the worst model year due to the high number of NHTSA complaints and recalls. The most prevalent issues were related to the malfunctioning A/C system, faulty compressors, and electrical problems in the climate control system, leaving drivers without cooling on hot summer days.
Q: Which Chevy Trax model years are the most reliable?
A: The 2019 Trax, while not perfect, is a solid choice with relatively few complaints and recalls. It still suffers from some of the Trax’s inherent flaws, like an underpowered engine and limited cargo capacity, but it offers good value for money. The 2020 Trax is the most reliable model year, boasting a perfect 5.0 out of 5.0 reliability score from Consumer Reports and only a few reports on CarComplaints.com.
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