VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Chevrolet Trax2013–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Chevrolet Trax
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Chevrolet Trax Years to Avoid
1 recall · 129 complaints
13 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 recall · 110 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
1 recall · 78 complaints
21 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Chevrolet Trax — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 17 | 1 | — | 92 | 44 | 75 | Good |
| 2025 | 1 | 78 | 21 | — | 77 | 59 | 71 | Avoid |
| 2024 | 1 | 129 | 13 | — | 70 | 72 | 71 | Avoid |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 92 | 82 | 89 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 0 | 8 | — | — | 92 | 89 | 91 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 0 | 23 | 4 | — | 92 | 92 | 92 | Good |
| 2020 | 0 | 96 | 1 | — | 82 | 91 | 85 | Caution |
| 2019 | 1 | 110 | 6 | — | 77 | 87 | 81 | Avoid |
| 2018 | 2 | 81 | — | — | 84 | 81 | 83 | Caution |
| 2017 | 3 | 97 | 4 | — | 79 | 74 | 77 | Avoid |
| 2016 | 3 | 90 | 1 | — | 82 | 67 | 77 | Caution |
| 2015 | 3 | 82 | 1 | 1 | 82 | 60 | 74 | Caution |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 92 | 54 | 79 | Excellent |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 92 | 49 | 77 | Excellent |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Chevrolet Trax Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Trax compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 92).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Trax to buy?+
The 2021 Chevrolet Trax scores highest on our Buyer Score (92/100) — combining a reliability score of 92/100 with a value score of 92/100. It has 0 recalls and 23 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Trax years have the most problems?+
The 2024, 2019, 2025 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2024 Trax leads with 1 recalls and 129 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Trax problems?+
The most frequently reported Chevrolet Trax issues involve: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.