VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Chevrolet Trax20132026

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🚙 SUV
Chevrolet Trax
20132026
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
2.5/yr · seg. median 0.0
Safety
Low
0 inj.
No open federal investigations
15
Recalls
0
Complaints
2019
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Avoid 2015
14
Years Analyzed
15
Total Recalls
0
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Chevrolet Trax

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK7yr old
2019
Strong Buy · 82/100
Reliability81/100
Value window83/100
Recalls1
Complaints0
#2 PICK8yr old
2018
Strong Buy · 78/100
Reliability79/100
Value window77/100
Recalls2
Complaints0
#3 PICK12yr old
2014
Good Buy · 70/100
Reliability81/100
Value window50/100
Recalls1
Complaints0

Chevrolet Trax Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2015

5 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#2 WORST
2016

3 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#3 WORST
2017

3 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Chevrolet Trax — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202600
81
40
67
Excellent
202500
81
55
72
Excellent
202400
81
68
76
Excellent
202300
81
78
80
Excellent
202200
81
85
82
Excellent
202100
81
88
83
Excellent
202000
81
87
83
Excellent
201910
81
83
82
Good
201820
79
77
78
Caution
201730
73
70
72
Caution
201630
73
63
70
Caution
201550
61
56
59
Avoid
201410
81
50
70
Good
201300
81
45
68
Excellent

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

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: 2020 (Buyer Score 83).

Best: 2020

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 72).

Best: 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Trax to buy?+

The 2019 Chevrolet Trax scores highest on our Buyer Score (82/100) — combining a reliability score of 81/100 with a value score of 83/100. It has 1 recall and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which Trax years have the most problems?+

The 2015, 2016, 2017 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2015 Trax leads with 5 recalls and 0 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?+

See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.

Deep-Dive Research

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →