2016 Chevrolet Trax: sudden loss of power

Filed Sep 26, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · WV

Was driving the car,when started losing power up a hill,started making a loud puttering noise..Check engine light and traction control along with tire light all came on,ran a diagnostic at auto store said it was the plugs,so bought plugs and changed them,still doing the same thing..went back for another diagnostic and still said plugs,also states I would not pass emissions,..bought this car at a dealership..what’s the point if I can’t even drive it.

Filed Sep 26, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · WV

Was driving the car,when started losing power up a hill,started making a loud puttering noise..Check engine light and traction control along with tire light all came on,ran a diagnostic at auto store said it was the plugs,so bought plugs and changed them,still doing the same thing..went back for another diagnostic and still said plugs,also states I would not pass emissions,..bought this car at a dealership..what’s the point if I can’t even drive it.

Filed Sep 26, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · WV

Was driving the car,when started losing power up a hill,started making a loud puttering noise..Check engine light and traction control along with tire light all came on,ran a diagnostic at auto store said it was the plugs,so bought plugs and changed them,still doing the same thing..went back for another diagnostic and still said plugs,also states I would not pass emissions,..bought this car at a dealership..what’s the point if I can’t even drive it.

Filed Feb 3, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · NY

2016 Chevrolet Trax experienced turbocharger failure in June 2024. Initial minor acceleration inconsistencies progressed to dangerous turbulence and power loss during acceleration at both high and low speeds, with check engine light temporarily illuminating. Initial Firestone diagnostic (June 7) documented 'TURBULENCE AS ACCELERATES - CEL BLINKED.' After diagnosis, completed repair June 11. Searched for recalls at time of failure but found none listed. Given 50-minute highway commute and unsafe acceleration issues, immediate repair was necessary. Due to expected dealer costs and wait times, repair was completed at Firestone Complete Auto Care for $3,036.81. Double-checked for recalls after repair with no results. On February 3, 2025, while organizing digital records, discovered original GM Special Coverage Program notice from November 2021 covering turbocharger wastegate actuator linkage issues. Program promises coverage for 10 years/120,000 miles. At 68,283 miles, vehicle is well within coverage period. On February 3, 2025 at 4:19pm, called GM customer service (case #[XXX], 29 minute call). Rep Takesha spoke with supervisor Britney but refused transfer. Put on hold 4 times totaling over 6 minutes. When requesting Special Coverage Program information, rep repeatedly stated 'it was not done at a dealership' over 15 times as blanket response. Initially cited expired bumper-to-bumper warranty from 2019 (irrelevant to Special Coverage). When pressed, shifted to claiming 'no active recalls' for VIN. Stated 'the decision has already been made, and a supervisor will tell you the same decision,' refusing escalation or document review. All attempts to discuss Program terms met with same non-dealer repair response. Refused to provide submission process information or contacts. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 15, 2024 · Engine · PA

11/12/2023 Loss of power when driving up a hill.- felt some backwards drift. 11/13-14/2023 Shuttering vibration and engine revving during acceleration but no forward movement. 11/15/2023 Total power loss when attempting to merge with traffic.

Filed Oct 29, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · 126,912 miles · OH

My 2016 Chevrolet Trax experienced loss of power while driving on the highway. I experienced moments where it would not accelerate. This put myself and other drivers at risk due to the random loss of power. There was no warning there was any issue with the vehicle prior to this event. In addition, I have experienced A/C failure. I have had this inspected and multiple components replaced by a service shop, but it still is not working.The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

Filed Jan 16, 2023 · Transmission · WI

I was driving on the freeway at a speed of approx 70 mph when my check engine light came on with a noticeable decrease in engine power. I took my car to an auto parts store to have the code read and was told it was P0299, which indicates a turbo underboost condition. Upon doing further research and finding other Chevy Trax owner forums, I found that this is a common issue in colder weather, and service bulletin 16-NA-405 has been released several years in a row by General Motors which states that in North America, "some customers may comment that when driving in extremely cold weather conditions (0*F or less), their vehicle experiences one or several of the following conditions: ...hesitation on acceleration, malfunction indicator lamp illuminated, stalling condition, and loss of power". I have experienced several of these conditions. The service bulletin also states that there is a Special Coverage for vehicles with this issue, so I took my Trax to a local Chevy dealer. There, I was told that 5 other Chevy Traxes had been in for similar issues in that week (there had been a winter storm and temperatures below 0). However, I was told that despite this being a known issue among my year, make, and model, that I would have to pay over $2300 for repairs, even though there several special bulletins and coverages that state this is an ongoing, known issue with my vehicle.

Filed Jun 28, 2022 · Engine · KS

The turbocharger in my Chevrolt Trax suffered a stuck wastegate actuator on an interstate while coming up to speed, which caused dramatic loss of power and an inability to safely merge onto the road (top speed was now 35; I-49 has a 70 mph limit. This is the second time the actuator stuck while coming onto a highway. I have had the part replaced twice now, and yet it still sticks. It is a danger to me and to others on the road and should be a mandated recall.

Filed Jun 8, 2020 · Engine · 47,350 miles · OK

My car loses power and will not accelerate up hills. Check engine light comes on. I took it to a shop and was told there is a recall on the vehicle for this. Loss of power on the freeway while passing a slow moving truck.

Filed Dec 16, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 92,000 miles · WA

My car loses power and will not accelerate up hills, in the cold on the freeway in the morning (6:00am pst). Check engine light comes on. It has been to the shop 6 times since feb. 2019 for the same issue of check engine light comes on, loss of power, emissions-air leaks which cause loss of power. I will have to upload documents at a later date as I do not have them today. Sending car back to chevrolet dealership for another check engine light, loss of power on the freeway while passing a slow moving truck.

Filed Dec 11, 2019 · Driver assistance, Engine · AR

I've had nothing but problems from this engine. I bought brand new in 2016. 2017 I had to have the whole radio system replaced as it quit. 2018, I was driving and check engine light came on . Took to shop and two spark plugs and iginition coil was bad at 32,000 miles. 2019, engine light came on in june and I loss power, engine made high squeal noise and it was just sputtering. Took to shop and they said it was camshaft seal and cover so that was replaced and of course warranty was out. Just this month, dec 2019, it started doing the same thing again and this time they said it was the camshaft cover again (which they would cover under shop warranty) and it was also the intake manifold and gasket. Which ended up costing me $500. For a car that is only 3 yrs old. I've paid out $1500 in repairs because for some reason it only happens as soon as warranty has expired. This is not right.

Filed Jun 7, 2019 · Engine · 77,000 miles · MO

Car idles rough and when trying to accelerate onto the highway or up a hill the vehicle would jump roughly and have a loss of power. Check engine light came on engine misfire was the code. Dealership cleared the code and said problem could not be duplicated. The issue got worse but no code came back. During the removal of ignition coil for replacement the #4 plug broke showing corrosion and a crack.