2018 Chevrolet Trax Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
36/100
#8 most-complained of 12 Trax years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2018 Chevrolet Trax has 101 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 36, ranking 8th worst out of 12 model years, making it a Good year relative to other Trax years. Its top problem area is Suspension, Wheels & Tires (36 complaints), tied to two front lower control-arm recalls.
- Complaints
- 101
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 27.5
- 24.5 city / 31.5 hwy
Top 2018 Chevy Trax problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires36 (36%)
- Engine35 (35%)
- Electrical System18 (18%)
- Other17 (17%)
- Brakes11 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (11%)
- Steering9 (9%)
- Fuel System4 (4%)
- Airbags2 (2%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (1%)
What owners report
- Front lower control arm welds fail, causing the wheel to rub or the vehicle to pull unexpectedly, sometimes discovered after an OnStar recall alert.
- Door locks lock and unlock on their own and the horn activates and sounds continuously for several minutes without driver input.
- Owners report the fuse box on the driver's side caught fire, accompanied by a flashing traction control light and sudden loss of power.
- Some owners describe stalling, battery power loss, and combined power steering and all-wheel-drive system issues occurring together.
- Brakes make a grinding noise when pedal pressure is applied, with no warning light on the instrument panel.
- One report describes both the brake and accelerator pedals appearing to be depressed at the same time, causing the vehicle to veer off the road.
2018 Chevrolet Trax recalls
2 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.
2018 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.
2018 compared with other Trax years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Chevrolet Trax reliable?
- NHTSA lists 101 complaints for the 2018 Trax and a complaint index of 36, ranking it 8th worst among the 12 model years with data, which earns it a 'Good' verdict relative to other Trax years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Trax?
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues account for 36 of the 101 complaints (36% share), followed by Engine problems at 35 complaints (35% share).
- Does the 2018 Chevrolet Trax have a recall?
- Yes, it has two recalls, both for improperly welded joints in the front lower control arms (campaigns 19V652000 and 19V312000), neither marked as a do-not-drive recall.
- At what mileage do 2018 Trax suspension problems occur?
- The median mileage at failure for Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints is 10,500 miles, much earlier than the Engine category's median of 64,338 miles.
- How does the 2018 Trax compare to other years?
- The 2018 model's complaint index of 36 is lower than 2015 (64), 2017 (55), 2019 (82), and 2024 (100), making it one of the better years, though 2022 (index 18) ranks best overall.