YearToAvoid

2020 Chevrolet Trax Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 27 engine complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Trax, 29% of the 94 total complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 34,000. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Engine complaints
27
29% of 94
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
34,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Sudden loss of power or acceleration while driving, in some cases with smoke or fire coming through the vents.
  • Turbocharger failure, including cracked or non-spinning turbos that limit speed to under 40 mph and trigger the check engine light.
  • Turbo-related power loss linked to inverter condensation freezing in cold weather, requiring repeated repair attempts.
  • Engine overheating warnings on the dash accompanied by coolant that appears to be pushed out of the reservoir rather than drawn in.
  • Radiator fan continuing to run long after the engine is shut off, sometimes draining the battery.
  • Emissions system warning message appearing within the first hundred miles of ownership on a new vehicle.

When 2020 Chevrolet Trax engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 7, 2020, latest Jul 15, 2026.

2020 Chevrolet Trax engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2020Aug 2022Aug 2024Mar 2025Aug 2025Dec 2025Mar 2026
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2020 to Jul 2026; peak Aug 2025 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Trax

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Trax model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20130 (0%)
  2. 20140 (0%)
  3. 201525 (26%)
  4. 201646 (39%)
  5. 201751 (45%)
  6. 201835 (35%)
  7. 201943 (32%)
  8. 202027 (29%)
  9. 20217 (29%)
  10. 20225 (56%)
  11. 202455 (33%)
  12. 202517 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2020 Chevrolet Trax?
NHTSA lists 27 engine complaints for the 2020 Trax, which is 29% of the 94 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Chevrolet Trax engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint area.
At what mileage do 2020 Trax engine problems usually occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 34,000 miles.
Are the engine problems dangerous?
NHTSA data tied to this complaint area includes 1 crash and 2 fires reported, with no injuries listed.
What specific engine issues do owners report?
Owners describe turbocharger failures, sudden power loss, overheating warnings, and in some cases smoke entering the cabin.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.