2017 Chevrolet Trax Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2017 Chevrolet Trax has 113 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 64, ranking 5th worst out of 12 model years with data. It carries a Caution verdict, with engine problems (45% of complaints) and three recalls, including a front lower-control-arm welding issue.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 64/100
- #5 of 12 Trax years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 113
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 10
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 27.5
- 24.5 city / 31.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2017 Chevy Trax problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine51 (45%)
- Electrical System26 (23%)
- Other22 (19%)
- Steering19 (17%)
- Brakes14 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (11%)
- Fuel System10 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain10 (9%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (5%)
- Airbags5 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report airbags failing to deploy in moderate-to-severe frontal crashes, including animal strikes at highway speed.
- Some vehicles caught fire under the hood while driving at low speed, with smoke and flames reported near the engine bay before the fire department extinguished them.
- Owners describe front lower-control-arm joints breaking loose, in one case leading to a rollover into a tree.
- A vehicle experienced unexpected rollback on an incline after releasing the brake, resulting in a collision.
- Owners report electrical grounding problems that triggered the check engine light and returned after repair attempts.
2017 Chevrolet Trax recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V652000Sep 12, 2019Suspension, Wheels & Tires93,722 vehicles
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 19V312000Apr 18, 2019Suspension, Wheels & Tires112,958 vehicles
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 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.
Risk: 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 June 14, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A182202370.
- NHTSA 16V651000Sep 8, 2016Airbags3,640,162 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
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.
Risk: 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.
2017 Chevrolet Trax fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 24.5 MPG
- Highway
- 31.5 MPG
- Combined
- 27.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,350
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other Trax years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Chevrolet Trax reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2017 Trax a complaint index of 64, ranking it 5th worst among 12 model years and earning a Caution verdict relative to other Trax years.
- What problems does the 2017 Chevrolet Trax have?
- Engine problems make up 45% of the 113 complaints, followed by electrical system issues at 23% and steering at 17%. Median mileage at engine-related failure was 42,978 miles.
- Does the 2017 Chevrolet Trax have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists three recalls for the 2017 Trax, including two related to improperly welded front lower-control-arm joints and one airbag software recall shared with other GM models.
- Which Chevrolet Trax model years should be avoided?
- Among Trax years with data, 2019, 2024, and 2025 carry an Avoid verdict with complaint indexes of 82, 100, and 91. The 2017 model year sits below those with a complaint index of 64 and a Caution verdict.
- How many complaints does the 2017 Chevrolet Trax have?
- NHTSA lists 113 complaints for the 2017 Trax, including 10 crashes, 3 fires, and 5 injuries, with no reported deaths.