2015 Chevrolet Trax Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe steering that seizes or loses power assist, with reports spanning about 18,000 to 97,000 miles. Other common themes are air bags that did not deploy in crashes, the vehicle rolling backward on inclines, and stalling or loss of power while driving. Rollback reports are mostly at low mileage, while steering and stalling reports appear across a wide range of mileage.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering wheel seizing or losing power assist

   • 11 complaints (11%)
   • median 41,909 mi at 4.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the steering wheel seizing or the power steering assist cutting out, sometimes at low speed and sometimes at highway speed. In some complaints the dealer could not duplicate the failure or said the system was operating as intended, while in others a steering column replacement was recommended. Some owners say the problem returned after a software update or repair. Mileage in these complaints ranges from about 18,000 to 97,000 miles, and some describe the problem happening at speed.

   Recall 15V146000

   What to check: Ask the dealer to check for stored steering and power steering codes, and whether the steering column or a software update was already applied. On a test drive, turn the wheel at low speed and check for stiffness or a sudden loss of assist.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving 40mph vehicle seemed to shift gears while in drive gear. While vehicle was in motion, vehicle would not steer (steering wheel locked) and would not accelerate. Vehicle was unable to turn. Vehicle behaved as if it was in parked gear, even though it was in drive gear and in motion. While trying to stop, I was unable to steer, but was able to run off the road into a parking lot. Once stopped, moving gear shifter did not seem to switch gears. I tried putting the gear shifter in park, or reverse and nothing happened. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11244518, filed 2019-08, 40,510 miles

   “Power steering, traction control system, and check engine light came on while vehicle was stationary. And steering column locked up. After 20 minutes the power steering and traction control lights went off. Check engine light was read and p069e code was read back. After 4 days the check engine light went off on its own.”

   NHTSA complaint #11104535, filed 2018-06, 69,362 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bags did not deploy in collisions

   • 11 complaints (11%)
   • median 19,011 mi at 1.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2020

   Owners describe air bags that did not deploy during frontal, rear-end and side impacts. Some complaints describe injuries that needed medical care, and in some cases the vehicle was towed or totaled. Mileage in these complaints ranges from about 6,000 to 40,000 miles, and some crashes were at low speed, such as a rear-end impact at a few miles per hour.

   What to check: Ask whether the air bag system has any stored fault codes, and check that the airbag warning light turns off after the engine starts. Ask the seller for any crash or airbag repair records, especially for a vehicle that has been in a collision.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On june 11, 2016, I was driving 60 MPH and had a front end collision. The air bags did not deploy. There was significant damage to my vehicle. This was a 4 lane highway, and a deer ran out in front of me. The sherriff's department responded and a report has been filed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10873803, filed 2016-06, 40,193 miles

   “My 2015 TRAX had colided with another vehicle on the front passenger side of the traax verses the bed of a gmc pickup at a moerate speed. The passenger side air bag did not deploy. Passenger in right hand front seat was fastened whith a seat belt and suffererd a closed scull concussion with whiplash.the vehicle collided on a private street when the gmc pickup backed out of a driveway whithout yeiding the right of way(police report finding).”

   NHTSA complaint #10905137, filed 2016-09, 9,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Stalling or loss of power while driving

   • 11 complaints (11%)
   • median 70,328 mi at 4.9 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the engine idling roughly, losing power, or not accelerating, and in some cases stalling while driving. Some report that the engine would not restart until the vehicle was put in park and the key was cycled, and others mention misfire codes or a flashing check engine light. In some cases the dealer could not find the reason, and in others a fuel module was replaced and the failure returned. Mileage in these complaints ranges from about 26,000 to 125,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether any stall or power-loss events left stored fault codes, and ask the dealer to check the battery, charging system and fuel module. On a test drive, confirm the engine restarts normally after shutting off and that no check engine or traction light stays on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my 2015 chev TRAX and all of a sudden the vehicle started idling very rough and I was not able to accelerate. When I would push on the accelerator it would go down but the car would not speed up. I took the vehicle home and the next day I took it to an auto repair place where the mechanic said that there were multiple miscodes firing and that the check engine light was flashing.”

   NHTSA complaint #11254338, filed 2019-09, 26,000 miles

   “I was driving my 2015 chev TRAX and all of a sudden the vehicle started idling very rough and I was not able to accelarate. When I would push on the accelarator it would go down but the car would not speed up. I took the vehicle home and the next day I took it to an auto repair place where the mechanic said that there were multiple miscodes firing and that the check engine light was flashing. They advised that I immediately take it to the dealership and on the way there the check engine light came on and the vehicle died. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11241424, filed 2019-08, 70,328 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rolling backward on inclines after brake release

   • 7 complaints (7%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 1.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2016

   Owners describe the vehicle rolling backward on an incline after the brake is released, in some complaints without any warning. Some say the car shifted to neutral while in drive and nearly hit another vehicle, and an owner says the hill start assist described in advertising did not hold the car. According to the complaints, dealers or the manufacturer described the behavior as normal operation or a transmission sleep mode, and in some cases the failure recurred. Mileage in these complaints ranges from about 800 to 17,000 miles, and the behavior is mostly described on inclines.

   What to check: On a test drive, stop on a slight incline, release the brake, and check whether the car holds position or rolls back. Ask the dealer whether any transmission software update or hill-hold diagnostic was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle rolls backward in drive causing near collision. I was operating the vehicle on several occasions on a slight incline and the gear selector in drive, the vehicle shifts to neutral causing the vehicle to roll backward when the brake is released and on 2 occasions causing a near roll back rear to front collision.”

   NHTSA complaint #10935584, filed 2016-12, 17,000 miles

   “Chevrolet has repeatedly stated that the transmission on the TRAX is operating as designed when it allows the vehicle to roll backwards on any sort of incline, however Chevrolet advertises the TRAX as having hill start assist, which automatically applies brakes for up to 2 seconds between when a driver takes their foot off the brakes and applies it to the accelerator. The vehicle does not do this at all. The transmission allows it to roll fully backwards, despite what chevy advertises and states in the vehicle manual.”

   NHTSA complaint #10865178, filed 2016-05, 11,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pedal to the floor or weak stopping

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 21,723 mi at 1.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2020

   Owners describe the brake pedal going to the floor with little or no stopping effect, in some cases while driving or backing up. In a complaint, the dealer replaced a brake vacuum switch and said the repair was not covered by warranty. Other owners report squealing brakes, overheating, and a car that slides past a stop when braking hard. Mileage in these complaints ranges from very low to about 91,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the brake fluid level and the brake vacuum switch were checked, and have the brake system inspected for leaks or wear. Test the brake pedal firmness and stopping response in a parking lot before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 the stability track also breaking”

   NHTSA complaint #11377554, filed 2020-12, 91,068 miles

   “Backing up vehicle, pressed brakes, went to floor, no brakes. Put car in neutral till vehicle struck another parked vehicle. Put car in drive, put foot on brakes to stop and check damage, no brakes. Put car in neutral, cruised to stop. Tried to put car in a parking slot, no brakes, car put in neutral and I turned into a curb to stop car. Before leaving pumped brake and checked for pressure - now ok. Drove home and parked car in drive. Called general motors to have car brakes checked out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10875976, filed 2016-06, 12,400 miles

Buying note. For someone considering this model year, test the steering at low speed and check how the car holds on a slight incline before buying, and ask for a scan of stored codes. Ask for records of any steering, airbag or brake repairs, since some complaints describe repairs that did not fix the problem.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.