2018 Chevrolet Trax: What to check before buying

Front lower control arms crack at the weld, and most of these reports center on the recall that covers them. Many describe waiting weeks or months for back-ordered parts, often with no loaner offered. Before repair, people report knocking or popping noises, vibration through the floor, and swaying over bumps. One crash report describes a loud crack during a slow turn, followed by hard steering and the wheel turning sideways into a curb. Another describes a rear suspension piece separating at the weld, which made the rear fishtail.

The dash and infotainment screen black out. The radio, backup camera, and instrument cluster can stop working while driving, and warning lights flash on and off. Some see the speedometer needle swing or go dark. The blower motor and its resistor fail repeatedly, and some describe melting wiring and a burning smell, which ties to the one fire-related report. Other complaints mention random no-starts, low-voltage codes, power steering warnings, and a failed all-wheel-drive control module that the warranty did not cover.

Coolant and oil leak around the turbo and the plastic oil cooler housing. Owners see smoke under the hood, puddles under the car, and overheating that often comes with no warning light. Turbocharger failures cause power loss, noise, and a check engine light. Several owners say their car was left out of a turbo campaign, and one reports engine damage estimated at $12,500. Other reports describe blue tailpipe smoke on cold days, rough running, weak acceleration, and an engine replacement around 111,000 miles.

Turbo coolant pipes leak antifreeze with no check engine light, and one report puts this as early as 22500 miles. In another, the turbo cracked and filled the cabin with a bad smell. An "AWD disabled" message at startup points to a corroded or failed rear differential clutch control module, and some owners say their VIN was left out of the special coverage. Other reports describe a cracked rear differential carrier and a missing intake part that caused violent vibration, power loss, and stalling.

Electric power steering assist cuts out or locks up while driving, and the car shows power steering, StabiliTrak, and check engine warnings. Many of these episodes also include sluggish or no acceleration, a transmission that drops out, or a car that will not reverse, so steering is lost at the same time as drive power. Owners say dealers struggle to find the cause, and some cars return to the shop repeatedly. Other reports describe stiff steering that does not return to center on its own.

A "Service Brake Assist" message appears, and the pedal goes either very hard or soft enough that the car will barely stop. In one case the dealer replaced a power brake booster vacuum sensor and hose assembly, and the owner paid because no coverage applied to this model. Another owner faced a part shortage. One crash report describes a rollover with injuries after the brake and accelerator were pressed at the same time, with no warning light.

The car stops picking up speed, and in one case a check engine light points to a turbocharger repair. That owner found that some 2017 and 2018 cars were included in a turbo campaign but their own VIN was not. The other report mentions tires losing grip and slow acceleration a few months after purchase. With only 2 complaints, these give little detail beyond a hesitation or loss of power.

Airbag faults come back after repair. One owner reports needing a third airbag-related fix after two earlier replacements, and another reports a problem with the passenger airbag sensor. There are only 2 complaints here, and they do not describe how the fault shows up on the dash, whether a warning light comes on, or whether anyone was hurt.