2019 Chevrolet Trax: What to check before buying

Instrument cluster and center screens go white, snowy, or fully black. When they do, the speedometer, odometer, tire pressure readout, and backup camera can all disappear. Some fail within 300 miles, and dealers often cannot reproduce the fault. One owner was quoted about $2000 for the repair. A second pattern is a burning blower motor resistor and connector. It gives off a burning plastic smell before the fan quits, and some owners have replaced it more than once. With the fan dead there is no heat or defrost, so the windshield can fog.

Most of these filings concern recall 19V312000. Dealers confirmed the repair parts were unavailable and could not say when they would arrive. Actual failures include broken front strut mounts that clunk and grind in turns, one at 22,000 miles. A lower control arm also failed at about 8,000 miles. Some cars pull hard to the right without steering input, and one owner reports a cracked frame that made a popping noise. Two complaints are crash-related, and one involves an injury.

Turbocharger trouble leads this group. Owners report underboost code P0299, weak acceleration on hills and highway ramps, and turbos that crack around 50,000 miles, with repair quotes near $4000. Rough running or a check engine light after refueling is often traced to the evaporative emissions purge valve, which is covered by a special coverage program. Some cars stutter and lose power above 40 mph with the traction and engine lights on. Repeat water pump failures, coolant loss, and overheating also show up.

Sudden loss of power at highway speed is the common thread here, with the check engine or reduced engine power warning lighting up. Dealers traced the cause to a failed turbo at about 46,000 miles in one case. In another, a throttle body was replaced after repeated power loss in cold weather. A separate report describes a cooling fan malfunction and failed electrical circuits. The radiator cap popped open and burned the driver, which is the one injury in this group.

Pulling to one side is the most common complaint. It often starts at delivery and survives repeated alignments and dealer visits, and some shops suspect the rack and pinion. More serious reports describe steering that will not turn left until the steering column module is replaced. Another describes power steering that cut out after a battery warning, causing a crash with an injury at 102,000 miles. In freezing weather the wheel can lock or turn stiffly until the car warms up, sometimes with a loud rubbing noise.

Repeat turbocharger failures lead this group. Cars stall on the highway, and some dealers refuse parts-warranty coverage by blaming low oil. One fire report describes smoke and then an engine fire on the highway with no warning lights. A mechanic later found a broken, empty transfer case. Other reports include rear wheels locking in a turn because of a rusted rear differential at about 74,200 miles, rough or missed shifts on a new car, and power loss with heavy exhaust smoke above 40 mph.

Brake pedals sink to the floor or refuse to move in reports of outright brake failure. Three complaints involve crashes and three involve injuries. Warning messages such as Service Brake Assist, Service StabiliTrak, and ABS Service Soon cluster around 30,000 miles, and in one case the cause was a failed brake booster. Other reports describe brakes applying on their own while driving, rear calipers that do not engage, and a brake line that came loose at a caliper hose bolt. Dealers often cannot reproduce the fault.

Front tires that wear out early are the main pattern. Owners report nearly bald fronts by about 26,000 miles, and dealers decline to replace them. One report describes a sudden blowout on the highway with the inner sidewall torn open. More serious is a front ball joint that broke during a turn. The wheel swung sharply and the car stopped, and that vehicle was not covered by the related recall. Another owner waited over 50 days for recall parts.

Both crash reports here describe a problem with the driver's airbag, and each involves an injury. In one, the airbag did not deploy in a collision at about 35 mph, and the driver suffered a concussion and arm burns. In the other, it deployed with a cloud of smoke and caused a second-degree burn to the forearm. The third complaint concerns a Takata airbag recall. The dealer held that car 103 days because repair parts were unavailable.