2017 Chevrolet Trax Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2017 Chevrolet Trax most often report power steering trouble that comes on suddenly with warning lights, engine and turbocharger symptoms such as smoke, stalling or loss of power, and frequent electrical glitches with multiple dash lights. Many complaints also involve low-mileage brake noise or vibration, often around or shortly after delivery. Problems in this sample appear across a wide mileage range, from nearly new vehicles to well past 90,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering assist lost or steering hard to turn

   Mentioned in 13 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes while driving at speed, often together with a power steering or service message and multiple dash lights. Some vehicles lost power or would not restart at the same time. Dealers reportedly replaced the power steering module, the steering column or the steering gear, and several owners said the problem returned or could not be duplicated. Reported from under 3,000 miles to around 107,000 miles, with many cases between roughly 9,000 and 45,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, start the car and turn the wheel slowly at low and moderate speed, watching for a power steering message or heavy steering. Ask whether the steering module, column or gear has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started the car on tuesday 6-18 to go to work and as soon as I started it, there was a message on the dashboard saying to service power steering and the error light was on. I went ahead and drove to work (only 1 mile away) and it took all that I had to steer it. First chance that I got, I called the nearest dealership and had it towed there, at chevy's expense because the car is still under warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11222890, filed 2019-06, 9,750 miles

   “While driving the service stabilitrak light goes on, the engine will go from whatever speed I am going then lose acceleration completely and automatically jump back up to the speed I was going making the car jolt and the power steering freezes up for no reason. Once the power steering freezes the warning light will go on. The vehicle has been in the shop 3 times for this issue(11/27/19 12/14/19 & 4/23/20). The car is still at the dealership and they cant seem to figure out the issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11324321, filed 2020-05, 34,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Multiple warning lights and electrical faults

   Mentioned in 12 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe several dash lights coming on at once, including check engine and StabiliTrak messages, erratic gauge readings, doors locking and unlocking, or the theft alarm sounding while driving. Some owners report the vehicle losing power or not cranking, and dealers sometimes found no codes or replaced modules with mixed results. Reported from very low mileage up to around 118,000 miles, with many cases between roughly 15,000 and 65,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for any stored diagnostic codes and whether modules or wiring were replaced. Confirm all warning lights go out after startup and that the gear selector and gauges read correctly at night.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving down the interstate going 75 MPH my doors keep locking and unlocking as well as the theft alarm going off. The theft alarm is going off every 5 minutes. We have tried unhooking the battery to reset but this did not work.”

   NHTSA complaint #11302622, filed 2020-01, 118,000 miles

   “On jan, 4th, 2021 about 9am my 2017 chevy TRAX died on the interstate. The service power steering light came on car just quit . I managed to pull over on the side of the road. Tried to restart it with no luck. Had it towed to engall' s auto shop in new jersey.as I was an hour away from home. Rented a car so I could get home. The next day engels call said the ECM is dead. Had the TRAX towed to motion chevy delearship. They confirmed that the ECM needed replaced. . Ordered the ECM 0n the 5th and replaced on the7th. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11388363, filed 2021-01, 65,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Smoke, coolant loss and overheating from the engine bay

   • 17 complaints (15%)
   • median 61,500 mi at 5.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report smoke coming from under the hood, sometimes shortly after startup or while parked, along with a ticking or abnormal engine noise and a check engine light. Dealers reportedly found coolant leaks, overheating, a coolant valve extension or a failed engine in some cases. A few owners describe the engine not restarting or needing replacement. Spread from under 1,000 miles to around 96,000 miles, with a number of reports in the 40,000 to 90,000 mile range.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant reservoir level and look for residue or stains around the turbo and cooling system, and ask whether any coolant or turbo-related repairs were done. Watch for smoke or a hot smell after a cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I drove my TRAX yesterday with no problems whatsoever, this morning I get into my vehicle at home, start the car and within two minutes, its full of smoke coming from under the hood, the engine light comes on and the front of the TRAX starts making horrible noises and shaking. I turn the car off and let it sit for a few minutes, try to start it up again and it will not turn over. There are no fluids on the ground, no wiring that I could see undone, not sure on what the problem is. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407562, filed 2021-04, 63,000 miles

   “The first major repair I had with my vehicle happened shortly after I serviced it for it's regular oil change at the end of 2018. I notice my AC was going in and out and I checked my coolant, the reservoir was empty. When I made an appointment at the service department they discovered a leak under neath the turbo. In 2019 a valve was replaced that was sticking as courtesy at one of my oil changes. This year my vehicle stalled out on me at the gas station. I turned off my vehicle to pump gas and it wouldn't turn back over. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11323090, filed 2020-05, 48,500 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Turbocharger problems, loss of power and limp mode

   • 19 complaints (17%)
   • median 33,750 mi at 3.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe the check engine light coming on and the vehicle dropping to reduced power, in some cases not holding highway speed or failing to accelerate from a stop, with a turbo-related code retrieved. Several owners link this to cold weather and describe the turbo system freezing, and others report the turbocharger itself needing replacement. Some say the concern came back after a turbo repair. Mostly reported between roughly 1,000 and 20,000 miles, with several owners noting cold weather or temperatures well below freezing.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the turbocharger or its solenoid has been replaced and whether any related service program applied. During a cold-weather test drive, confirm the car accelerates cleanly and no check engine light appears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Cold weather caused turbo system to freeze and the vehicle go into limp mode. Unable to accelerate. Parts on national backorder for 2 months. I purchased this vehicle used with just under 19,000 miles on in december 2017. On december 30th the check engine light came on and the vehicle went into limp mode while accelerating on the highway (previous had let the vehicle go through 2 start up cycles and went about 5 miles down the road before I had an issue). The weather was around -20 f. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11088749, filed 2018-04, 19,000 miles

   “Are the super boost on my vehicle is not working and I have took in it to the shop and got a Netflix and they say the boost is brand new, but the valves were exchanged out and still having check engine light stating it’s the boost in the vehicle when going above 60 it loses power and is not accelerate higher”

   NHTSA complaint #11518733, filed 2023-04
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake squeal and noise at low mileage

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report squealing or squeaking from the brakes, often at low mileage and frequently from the rear, sometimes starting soon after purchase. According to several complaints, dealers said the noise was normal or that dirt and mud had gotten into the brakes, and in some cases pads, rotors or caliper slides were replaced without resolving it. Reported from very low mileage up to around 9,500 miles, often within the first few years of ownership.

   What to check: Listen for brake squeal at low speed and during light braking, and ask for service records showing whether pads, rotors or caliper hardware were replaced and why.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When first purchased this car I had it for a month and when connected to bluetooth I couldn't hear the other party and other party would hear loud noises I took it in to diagnose and they said it was fine. Not the case continued to happen to this day. About 3 months into buying it when starting it delayed as if I had a couple years old car I think the starter is warning me it is going to give me problems. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11067380, filed 2018-02, 2,000 miles

   “Purchased a new 2017 TRAX. At the 3 year mark or near, I heard a squeal from time to time while driving forward. At no time did the brake squeal when applying the brake. At 9500 miles ( 3years)when the squeak happened , no warning lights or onstar indicated there was a brake issue. Monthly updates as to car maintenance also indicated no issues. Upon taking the car to the dealer for service, I was told that mud and dirt got into the brakes and that the car needed new brakes, pads, caliper slides, rotors. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11360449, filed 2020-09, 9,500 miles

Buying note. Check the steering, turbo and cooling system carefully on a test drive and ask for service records for those areas, since they account for most of what owners report. A pre-purchase inspection that pulls diagnostic codes is worthwhile, and confirm whether the front lower control arm recall work has been completed.

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.