2021 Chevrolet Trax Problems
Compared with other Chevrolet Trax years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
0/100 0.2× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.2× that of a typical Chevrolet Trax year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 7 of its 25 complaints were filed by the end of 2023.
- Most reported part: Electrical system (10 complaints, median 50,312 mi).
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 25filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 68,000miles, 9 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- 28 mpgcombined, 1.4L 4-cyl FWD · 26 city / 31 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax. The part named most often is electrical system, with 10 complaints (40% of the total), followed by brakes (6) and engine (6). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 68,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 527 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 113 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 13 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 6 Chevrolet Trax model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 0 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system10 40%
- Brakes6 24%
- Engine6 24%
- Air bags3 12%
- Other or unknown3 12%
- Fuel system2 8.0%
- Engine cooling1 4.0%
- Lane departure1 4.0%
Also reported: Seat belts (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “UNKNOWN I’ve had my car for 11 months. When I first got the car I got it fully inspected and there were minor issues like tires and brakes. However, now the ac compressor is completely damaged and there may be contamination in my lines. This is not an owner issue. I take really good care of my car. I just don’t know how this could’ve happened if this wasn’t a manufacturer related issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11669633, filed 2025-06Brakes: “My car is only at around 37,7000 miles. My I have only had it since it was around 15,000 miles. My battery has died at least 4 times due to my alternator having problems charging. My brakes have also gone out on me at one point in the beginning. My battery is now trash and so is my alternator.”
NHTSA complaint #11603491, filed 2024-07Engine: “The vehicle has 2 permanent codes. One is a communication blackout, the other code means the hardware is melting. GM is doing a formal inspection in April. The Ucode meant that the engine stopped talking to the transmission or visa versa. The vehicle “ran my daughter and I” off the highway into the dirt, on 2 different occasions. They are described as “catastrophic engine failures”. The last one occurred on MLK Jr Day 2026, before the vehicle was permanently grounded. It could have been fatal. …”
NHTSA complaint #11725693, filed 2026-03Air bags: “My wife was driving and we were hit hard enough to shove the vehicle into the next lane and crumple the undercarriage of the vehicle. Making it undrivable anymore. And any information I can find says side impact air bags will deploy if the vehicle is hit anywhere on the side of the vehicle. Which clearly did not happen in this case. A side note I can only ever find videos on direct side impact not indirect impacts that involves the wheels. In either case the front or back tire impacts will still involve the persons head being slammed into the door window causing head injury.”
NHTSA complaint #11482758, filed 2022-09Mileage when problems were reported
33% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 42,681 and 90,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trax · SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 17.9% risk |
| Trax · SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 19.8% risk |
Neighbouring years: 2020: same overall rating; 2022: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2021 Chevrolet Trax version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trax AWD | 1.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 24 | 29 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Trax AWD | 1.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Trax FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 26 | 31 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Trax FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 24 | 32 | 27 | $2,500 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 527 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038137Sep 28, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates to the technician a repair direction when a failed programming event occurs when replacing the Instrument Panel Cluster.
- 11037555Sep 26, 2026Other or unknown. This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- 11037253Sep 4, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11036392Aug 20, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
- 11036397Aug 19, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates to the technician a repair direction when a failed programming event occurs when replacing the Instrument Panel Cluster.
- 11035340Jul 21, 2026Other or unknown. PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- 11034769Jun 23, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an OTA event and how to reset/clear the message.
- 11032764May 11, 2026Other or unknown. Pi created to provide GM dealers with information on gathering information for projection issue
- 11032763May 11, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
- 11030974Apr 1, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Other model years of the Chevrolet Trax
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 3,000 | 0 | — | 30 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 98 | 6,510 | 1 | 4 | 30 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 180 | 20,000 | 1 | 4 | 30 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2022 | 9 | 44,000 | 0 | 5 | 27 | — | Not enough data |
| 2021 | 25 | 68,000 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 98 | 25,500 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 30 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2019 | 136 | 10,000 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 64 · Typical | Stable |
| 2018 | 102 | 28,001 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 38 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 114 | 26,800 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 52 · Typical | Stable |
| 2016 | 120 | 40,672 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2015 | 96 | 35,708 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 60 · Typical | Falling |
All Chevrolet Trax model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Chevrolet Trax have?
NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2021 Chevrolet Trax is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 10 complaints (40% of the total), followed by brakes with 6.
Has the 2021 Chevrolet Trax been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2021 Chevrolet Trax do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 Chevrolet Trax 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Chevrolet Trax get?
The EPA rates the 2021 Chevrolet Trax (Trax FWD, 1.4L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 26 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Trax reported?
Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 68,000 miles and the middle half falls between 42,681 and 90,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.