VehicleVerdict

2015 Chevrolet Trax problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2015 Chevrolet Trax sits mid-pack among Trax years: 145 NHTSA complaints against a model median of roughly 139, with 7 recalls and no defect investigations. Reports tied to this model year include one death and 6 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (24), engine (23), and transmission (18), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

145

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

0

Investigations

19

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

6

Injuries

1

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2015 compare to other Trax years?

Trax NHTSA complaints by model year, 2015 highlighted215 complaints2013: 0 complaints2014: 0 complaints2015: 145 complaints2016: 183 complaints2017: 181 complaints2018: 152 complaints2019: 189 complaints2020: 139 complaints2021: 37 complaints2022: 13 complaints2024: 215 complaints2025: 121 complaints2026: 16 complaints
Trax NHTSA complaints by model year, 2015 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Trax years to avoid →

What are the most common 2015 Chevrolet Trax problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System2417%
Engine2316%
Transmission1812%
Other1510%
Steering139%
Airbags128%
Brakes86%
Suspension75%
Fuel System64%
Seat Belts53%
Speed Control53%
Body & Structure53%
Tires & Wheels21%
Lighting11%
Visibility & Wipers11%

Does the 2015 Chevrolet Trax have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V652000SuspensionSeptember 12, 2019 · 93,722 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

GM 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.

17V437000Seat BeltsJuly 10, 2017 · 40,683 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

A 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.

Remedy

GM 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.

16V651000Seat BeltsSeptember 8, 2016 · 3,640,162 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

A 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.

Remedy

GM 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.

16V422000Electrical SystemJune 10, 2016 · 18,780 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

GM 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.

16V257000Electrical SystemApril 28, 2016 · 317,572 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

Remedy

GM 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.

15V162000OtherMarch 20, 2015 · 19,831 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 26, 2014, to February 9, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Trax vehicles manufactured October 13, 2014, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles have tire placards that do not provide the rim size information for the front or rear wheels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

Consequence

If the label is missing front and rear rim size information, the owner may replace the rims with ones that are an incorrect size, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and will send owners a corrected label, free of charge. The recall April 29, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15166.

15V146000SteeringMarch 13, 2015 · 2,295 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured November 27, 2014, to February 24, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Trax vehicles manufactured November 18, 2014, to February 17, 2015. The steering column assembly housing may contact the power steering printed circuit board causing the circuit board to wear.

Consequence

The circuit board wear may cause a sudden loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the steering column assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15168.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

When I’m driving I started to hear the gear shifter sound like it’s moving inbetween drive or maybe out of drive I’m not really sure. Then after that happens when I stop driving and turn the car off the car won’t release the key from the ignition. I have to wait for it to lock itself into…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · September 13, 2021

EXPERIENCED SEVERE MECHANICAL ISSUES, SUCH AS THE ENGINE OVERHEATING, TEMPERATURE GAUGE BREAKING, COOLANT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING, BATTERY HAVING TO BE REPLACE TWICE, BRAKES OVERHEATING, BRAKES UNABLE TO COME TO A FULL STOP, BRAKES SQUEAKING, VEHICLE SQUEAKING WHEN BACKING UP, THROTTLE JUMPING, AND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 11, 2018 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET TRAX. WHILE AT A STOP ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REMEDY WAS UNABLE TO BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · May 15, 2015

I NOTICE A BURNING OIL ODOR FROM INSIDE MY SUV AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP OR IN WARM WEATHER. I GOOGLED THE SYMPTOM & FOUND THAT GM IS RECALLING SOME 2015 TRAX FOR THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED DEALER & THEY FOUND NOTHING IN THEIR DATA BASE. I TOOK MY TRAX IN ANY WAY . THEY HAD IT FOR A DAY & COULDN'T CONFIRM…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · January 11, 2016

I am unable to control my vehicle. Something in front end of vehicle pushes and pulls the vehicle from left to right without being able to regain control. Loud popping and clunking while turning..Braking has also been a majoir issue along with suspension/steering issues. I would greatly appreciate…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · May 2, 2025 · crash

2015 Chevrolet Trax — common questions

Is the 2015 Chevrolet Trax reliable?

It is close to typical for the Trax: 145 NHTSA complaints, 7 recalls, and no investigations on file.

What are the most common 2015 Trax problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (24 complaints), engine (23 complaints), transmission (18 complaints).

Does the 2015 Chevrolet Trax have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2015 Chevrolet Trax. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Chevrolet Trax years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Trax years to avoid are 2024, 2013. The cleanest record among Trax years belongs to 2014.

How safe is the 2015 Chevrolet Trax?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2015 Chevrolet Trax earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.