2016 Chevrolet Trax: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Chevrolet Trax: 5 recalls, 120 owner complaints and up to 29 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical, Equipment Vehicle recall #16V257000 · 2016 · 317,572 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected radios May fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 114 "theft protection."
Why it matters: Without audible indicators, the driver May leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.
Electrical, Equipment Vehicle recall #16V422000 · 2016 · 18,780 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected radios May fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) numbers 208 "occupant crash protection" and 114 "theft protection."
Why it matters: Without audible indicators, the driver May not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #16V651000 · 2016 · 3,640,162 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #17V437000 · 2017 · 40,683 vehicles
What's wrong: While being previously remedied for recall 16v-651, the affected vehicles May not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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 August 4, 2017.
Suspension Vehicle recall #19V652000 · 2019 · 93,722 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 4 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (46): the most common themes are warning light on (21), stalls / loses power (13), leaks (10).
- Electrical (24): the most common themes are door / lock issues (7), electrical failure (6), noise or vibration (6).
- Airbags (19): the most common themes are fails to deploy (5), warning light on (3).
- Other / unknown (15): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (3), fire / smoke (2).
The 2016 Chevrolet Trax has 120 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 13 Trax model years for complaints (1.6× the average Trax year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (22 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 40,672 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (96 complaints, 7 recalls), 2017 (114 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 34 | 29 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Chevrolet Trax.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Trax have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Trax. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Trax problems?
Owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (46), electrical (24), airbags (19).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Chevrolet Trax get?
EPA ratings run up to 29 mpg combined (1.4 L, Automatic (S6)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Chevrolet Trax repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.