Chevrolet Trax won't shift problems

Filed Sep 22, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · FL

I am filing this formal complaint regarding a severe, recurring, and catastrophic electrical and vehicle control system failure in my 2017 Chevrolet Trax. On multiple occasions while driving at highway speeds (70+ mph), the vehicle experienced simultaneous loss of critical safety and control systems—including power steering, traction control, and instrumentation displays—plunging the vehicle into a severe "limp mode." This sudden and unpredictable loss of control at high speeds presents an extreme safety hazard to myself, my passengers, and other drivers. CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS & DEFECT PATTERN 1. Initial Intermittent Failures (Past 12 Months): The traction control light began activating intermittently and randomly without cause. A dealership reset temporarily cleared the issue, but it later returned. 2. Sensor System Failures (Approx. March 2026): All four Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors began failing sequentially until complete loss of tire pressure telemetry across the dashboard. 3. First Major Highway Power Failure (July 2026): While traveling at 70 mph on the highway, the vehicle suffered a complete system collapse: Simultaneous loss of Power Steering (requiring extreme manual steering effort at high speeds) and Traction Control. Check Engine Light illuminated. Instrumental cluster failed completely: digital tachometer and speedometer registered 0 RPM and 0 MPH while actively traveling at speed. Upon pulling off the highway, the vehicle entered a limp state, restricting speed to under 10 mph. After shutting off the engine, the vehicle's dashboard screen went entirely black/unresponsive upon re-attempting ignition. After sitting stationary for an extended period, the vehicle restarted, though the Check Engine Light remained illuminated. There is more to this but I ran out of characters to type it all so I'll include it with the files below. Thank you.

Filed Mar 18, 2026 · Steering, Transmission · MI

Left red light on major hwy. Car stuck in first gear. Took MI turn around and no power steering. Limped home in first gear. Internet says there was a recall for 2014-15 Trax for same problems; Dealer says there's not, and told me to drive it there in 1st gear to check it out !

Filed Feb 10, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · KS

The Turbo Charger failed suddenly without a prior display of a warning light and was replaced by an independent service center in June 2025. I received a letter from GM in November 2025 stating there was a known "condition" that may cause the Turbo Charger to need replacing but a recall was not issued. On 1/22/26 the vehicle suddenly went into "Limp Mode" while driving. The Throttle Body Injection Unit, Engine Coolant Water Outlet, and Coolant were replaced. The coolant had been topped off on 1/20/26. On 1/27/26 the vehicle began shuddering and lost power while I was driving on the highway. As I attempted to get to a gas station off of the next exit, it intermittently lost power and began smoking under the hood. It seemed to be overheating but there is no temperature gauge on the display. I had it towed to my service center again. At that time, four spark plugs and an ignition coil were replaced. After these repairs, I have continued to have significant power issues, the engine warning light has come back on, and the "Service Brake Assist" warning light has come on. Additionally, the instrument panel frequently goes blank or displays what can best be described as "static" and the A/C and heat do not work, making it difficult to defrost and defog the windshield. The wiper fluid will not come out even though the reservoir is full. Due to prohibitive diagnostic fees at the dealership, which I was told would not be waived or reimbursed, I have continued to utilize my independent service center to maintain basic drivability. My service center has advised me that the engine may fail completely within a short time frame. I have reported these issues to the manufacturer and have been assigned a case number. I'm concerned that this may indicate a potential safety defect and/or premature engine failure affecting my vehicle and others of the same model. I'm submitting this complaint for documentation and safety tacking.

Filed Jan 16, 2026 · Acceleration · OH

Driving on a main road on news year eve on my way home from work in a snow storm, my vehicle decides to only drive 9mph or less indicating that it has gone into limp mode. Unable to go up hills of any incline caused panic from the drivers around me. Luckily I was able to pull into a parking lot and sit and call for help. My vehicle was showing a code for the accelerator pedal position sensor indicating an issue with the voltage difference between the APP and the Throttle position sensor. The computer was able to be reset and my car then drove fine but the next day, it did it again. And without the scanner being plugged in the entire time, My car was not drivable.

Filed Dec 15, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · NY

Every winter because of the cold weather the tube for the turbo cracks and causes performance problems such as lack of throttle, sluggishness, limp mode activates. In limp mode the vehicle will only go about 10 miles per hour. This has happened on multiple occasions. In the warmer weather this problem does not arise. It is only in the winter time because the particular tube is made from plastic which breaks in cold weather.q

Filed Sep 2, 2025 · Engine · WV

At 20,000 miles I was doing 70 which was the speed limit the engine light came on and flashed and put itself into limp mode it acted fine once the car was turned off and back on the dealer hooked a scanner up and said nothing but the electronic port was wrong which the charging port wouldn’t work half the time. At 149000 miles the water pump went out as soon as I paid it off due to Chevy dealer avoiding warranty work causing it to over heat and blow a head gasket.

Filed Feb 7, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · AR

For the air conditioning I've had the blower I've had to replace the pigtail and resistor but now it's going into limp mode and saying service stabilitrak and I was on a paved road doing 20 mph at a stop light. I don't know what the hell this is going to cost me

Filed Jan 5, 2023 · Brakes, Electrical · KY

This is the second complaint I have filed, but it is the 3rd time my car has been at the dealership for the same thing. The brakes lock up without warning and the traction control error light and stabilitrak error light come on. This time the transmission didn't go into limp mode it just shut down. The 1st repair, dealership told me that it was a corroded fuse block. I paid to repair that. The day the car was released back to me, it broke down, required towing 3 miles after I left the dealership. I towed it back. They said they couldn't find problem, I told them to drive exact same route, they did, it locked up again. Mechanic then said the master cylinder was binding up on the inside and it was replaced. Six weeks later it failed the same way again, had it towed. Dealership said it was the abs module and a valve, replaced those. They put a rush on it as it was right before Christmas, two days after Christmas it broke down again. It is currently at the dealership, and I was told that they can't figure out what's wrong with it????? Each time it has locked up, I have been in traffic, once doing 70 mph highway, once doing 60 mph highway I managed to pull off but then blocked an on ramp to a bridge on a highway, once going uphill in town at 35 mph. Each time I narrowly missed hitting other people and once almost got run over by a gasoline tanker. In any of these events I could have either died or killed someone else. Each time there was no warning at all, no lights, noises or anything. Even if I get my car back, I will be terrified to drive it. My husband said, and I quote, "I will bleed through my eyes before I buy another Chevy" end quote. My local dealership is doing everything they can, but I am getting frustrated, because sometimes they have a loaner car and sometimes they don't. I work two jobs, since my husband got sick with covid-19 last year and spent 10 days on a ventilator. He can't work like he used to, so I am picking up the slack, please help us.

Filed Sep 9, 2019 · Transmission · 645 miles · GA

Car shifts rough it doesn't shift at all and had no power to go up a very small hill, to be parked in my driveway or carport, at the apartment we live in. This happens on the highway, at red lilghts and when breaking to stop this has gone on for several days and gotten progressively worse, with time since last wednesday. The car was just purchased new on august 30, 2019.

Filed Jul 29, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 41,909 miles · WI

Check engine light came on while driving city streets and there were no other symptoms. It was intermittent. Took car to the dealership and they fixed some loose computer connectors. Two weeks later check engine light came on. Stability control off light came on. At one point lost power steering and the dashboard display including speedometer zeroed out for a few seconds while driving city streets. Driving on the highway the car got to 4000rpm without properly shifting for the entire drive. Took car to dealership again and they fixed a different loose ground connection for the computer. On the drive home in city streets the check engine light came on intermittently and the stability control off light came on. Engine would not shift into a proper gear and drove at close to 3000 RPM instead of the 2000 usual RPM. Rear view camera would not function.