AI Damage2021 Chevrolet Trax: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Chevrolet Trax filed 25 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. The maker issued 527 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 25
- involving a crash
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 527
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 40% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 24% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 24% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 12% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 10 complaints (40% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 113.
- Engine: 6 complaints (24% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 47.
- Service brakes: 6 complaints (24% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 13.
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 46.
- Air bags: 3 complaints (12% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 25 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 10 | 1 | 113 |
| Engine | 6 | 1 | 47 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 0 | 13 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 1 | 46 |
| Air bags | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 94 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 19 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 154 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags did not deploy. In addition, the contact stated that the engine detached from the vehicle after the crash. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The driver was transported to the local medical center.
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. GM is doing a formal investigation to see what liability the have for it because the vehicle is now considered a “lemon”.
The contact stated that both the driver and passenger seat belts failed to restrain both occupants. The air bags also failed to deploy upon impact. A police report was filed. The contact managed to drive away from the scene of the accident.
It appears the rear axle separated from the vehicle. This appears to prevented braking ability. My conclusion is from skid marks at the crash scene. Also Front wheels disengaged. I have photos.
In either case the front or back tire impacts will still involve the persons head being slammed into the door window causing head injury.
The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle and while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel glitched and then displayed a blank screen. The approximate failure mileage was 50,312.
The contact owns Ac condenser became inoperable cluster Mask (ICM). The dealer diagnosed with a failed internal cluster mask. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer would partially cover the cost of the repair. The contact declined to pay a fee because the contact believed that the failure was a factory defect.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,162 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 45% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Trax has 80 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 25, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This Preliminary information communicates to the technician a repair direction when a failed programming…
This Preliminary information communicates to the technician a repair direction when a failed programming event occurs when replacing the Instrument Panel Cluster.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an…
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an OTA event and how to reset/clear the message.
- Pi created to provide GM dealers with information on gathering information for projection issue
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic…
This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC'ss
- This PI advised dealer technicians of possible causes of diesel fuel contamination in gasoline powered…
This PI advised dealer technicians of possible causes of diesel fuel contamination in gasoline powered vehicles and advises of warranty direction.
- This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic…
NHTSA lists 527 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Trax?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, service brakes. Total complaints: 25. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (24%), warning lights, check engine (20%), A/C or heater (16%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax?
NHTSA lists 527 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Chevrolet Trax from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.