As I turned on the car and the dashboard display and the cockpit display went out. It came back on. A couple days later when the auto stop began and went to go the car hesitated to start and cockpit display and dashboard display went out and back on multiple times, but then stayed on. And then I went to start the vehicle next and it would not start, the both displays flashed, and engine tried to turn over and didn’t.
Chevrolet Trax won't start problems
15 of the 1,013 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Trax describe won't start, most of them for the 2024 model year.
- owner complaints
- 15
- worst model year
- 2024
By model year
- 20246
- 20211
- 20201
- 20191
- 20182
- 20172
- 20162
Often reported together
Check engine light 5Loss of power 4Engine failure 3Overheating 2Hesitation 2Fire or smoke 2Warning lights 1
What owners say
I own a 2024 Chevrolet Trax purchased new in XXX. On XXX, the vehicle displayed a "Service Power Steering — Drive With Care" warning. I experienced difficulty steering, and later that evening the vehicle would not start. The instrument cluster also displayed abnormal behavior, which was recorded on video. On XXX, an authorized Chevrolet dealership in [XXX], diagnosed a failed battery and replaced it under warranty. On XXX, while traveling on the highway with my family, the vehicle displayed "Engine Power Is Reduced" and struggled to accelerate. I sought assistance at an authorized Chevrolet dealership in [XXX]. The warning was cleared but returned shortly afterward. I have photographs, videos, repair documentation, and call records supporting these events. I am reporting these incidents because of the potential danger posed by sudden steering-system problems and loss of engine power during travel. I request that these safety concerns be reviewed for possible defects affecting this model. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
September 20th 2026: I was driving my 2024 Chevrolet Trax up a grade (Mountain) approximately 11AM, Driving Normally at Highway speeds, normal highway conditions, temp outside was close to 100 Degrees Fahrenheit, suddenly with no warning half way up the mountain the car lost power, check engine light turned on (Engine Power Reduced) came on, I had no option but to pull over on the highway with only 41,500 miles on the odometer. Being over 200 miles away from my home I felt devastated. Made an appointment the next morning to have the car checked out by the Chevrolet Technicians at the dealership, they stated the Turbo completely failed, the part was on a slight back order they pushed through and it took a week to get this repair done. Previous to the Turbo failing, approximately at 36,000 Miles on the odometer on or about January of 2026: I get in my Trax and the A/C will not blow cold air, took it in for service at the same dealership come to find out the A/C condenser failed or ruptured leaking Freon, I paid $1,800.00 on an expense out of pocket that was not covered by any warranties.I Even purchased the extended warranty when I bought the car with 0 miles in November of 2023. Previous to the A/C condenser failing with no warning what so ever, on November 2025 I go open my car and the remote unlock feature does not work due to a completely dead battery car would not start or open. The car had to be towed to the dealership because after they jump started it the transmission started clucking really hard when shifting into Drive. The culprit according to Chevrolet Dealer Service Advisors was just a dead battery(covered by warranty) , yet the car gave no signals of a dying battery.after picking up Car I noticed rough idle and performance after this incident, I took it back to get checked out the same day and they could not “replicate” the symptoms, they stated that they can only fix it when the car blows up since it wasn’t showing any Check engine lights. Continued…
for the 3 years i have had this car the engine has just died no sensors no engine lights no dashboard indicators bells whistles NOTHING it just stops running and wont start the dealership replaced it the first 2 years it happened this time they are trying to say we drove it overheating and that isnt true i have AAA and the only service calls have been once a year to have it towed to Cochran in Monroeville to the dealership to get it fixed the first year they kept it 3 months trying to find something we did to be responsible for it but finally realized they had to replace it under dealership warranty. Last year they replaced it right away only had it a few weeks due to the same issue. This year which is almost exactly a year since the last time theyre blaming us and we did none of what thye say there has to a defect 3 engines in 3 years??!!! and i saw on your website there is issues with models sating 2015 thru 2024 with undetected coolant leaks causing engine issues etc so i need help im [XXX] and my husband is almost [XXX] this is our only vehicle!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On December 28, 2025, while driving normally with my children, my 2024 Chevrolet Trax displayed multiple warnings including Engine Power Reduced, Service ESC, Service Stability, and Steering Assist Reduced. The engine began sputtering and knocking. The next morning the vehicle would not start and was towed to Malcolm Cunningham Chevrolet. The dealership found the engine free-wheeling with no compression and denied my warranty claim alleging spark plug tampering. I never touched the engine. It went directly from my driveway to the dealership via tow. An active recall — A242435780, Engine Spark Timing Following Auto Stop Event — was noted on the repair order upon arrival but was not completed until February 17, 2026, seven weeks after the engine failed. GM’s own recall states engine knock and engine damage are the known risks of this unrepaired fault. The dealership told me verbally it was just a console update, directly contradicting GM’s published description. A second dealership performed a compression test showing Cylinder 1 at 10 PSI, Cylinder 2 at 90 PSI, and Cylinder 3 at 0 PSI. Normal compression is 150 to 200 PSI. No diagnostic codes were retrievable. This dealership initially found something different but reversed their position after speaking with the first dealership and receiving direction from GM. GM denied my warranty claim and offered only a $2,000 incentive toward a new vehicle. The vehicle remains completely unrepaired. I continue making monthly payments on a car I cannot drive. This aligns with class action Cook v. General Motors LLC, Case 1:26-cv-00229-RGA, filed March 4, 2026.
The vehicle has 2 permanent codes. One is a communication blackout, the other code means the hardware is melting. GM is doing a formal inspection in April. The Ucode meant that the engine stopped talking to the transmission or visa versa. The vehicle “ran my daughter and I” off the highway into the dirt, on 2 different occasions. They are described as “catastrophic engine failures”. The last one occurred on MLK Jr Day 2026, before the vehicle was permanently grounded. It could have been fatal. GM is doing a formal investigation to see what liability the have for it because the vehicle is now considered a “lemon”. There were no external (dashboard) warnings before the events, but, there may have been internal ones that require a professional grade scanner to detect. The permanent Ucode, which causes a communication blackout, never appeared in the vehicles memory, on a scanner, until AFTER the local GM franchise conducted “repairs” (unsuccessfully) to fix the vehicle. (It wouldnt start, which is often a symptom of a Permanent UCode. The GM investigation will determine if the dealership knew the safety liability, (the permanent Ucode) and they tried bypassing or ignoring it, or, if they CAUSED the safety defect. Also, the vehicle is now showing a Permanent PCode, which means it is now a potential fire hazard.
One of the first things I've noticed about my car is in the summer, when it's at least 75 degrees, my transmission will hesitate while speeding up. In march of 2024, my check engine light came on, i brought it into chevy and they said i needed a new turbo, so i asked them about a loaner car in the meantime while it gets fixed, they said no. they were on backorder for my turbo. So they told me to keep driving it while the part gets delivered. I did that. Eventually my turbo came in, brought my car in, they took it, put a new turbo in. When I went to get my car, I test drove it on the highway, speeding up slowly, and while doing that, I blew my engine. I lugged it back by going 20 mph back to the shop, luckily it was just off the highway. I brought it back and told them something happened, they checked it out and let me know that my engine, exhaust and all the needed components are broken. They finally decided to give me a loaner car, although I did have to fight for it a little bit at the end of my car getting finished, they wanted me to pay $1200. I refused as them having me drive my car while its broken is not a good idea and not my fault that it blew. I argued my side and got it down to $600. the next month on the 16th, i stopped to get gas and when i left the gas station, while speeding up, my car comes to an almost dead stop, so i pull it over, all lights on dash flashing, and car will not turn over. got it towed and they changed battery. a year later, my check engine light comes on again, I scan the code, it's the turbo. But it goes away. In January my temp sensor went out and my car said it was overheating as I was driving on the highway with no dash lights. 13th of february, my engine light came on while on my way home. I brought it to a local small shop Where they told me I need a new turbo again.
We have a 2024 Chevrolet Trax purchased in July 2024, brand new with 6 miles. On Jan 9, 2026, we towed it to Serra Chevrolet for service due to repetitive screen blackouts and the inability to start the car. On Jan 16, 2026, we picked up the car. The car was diagnosed with a radiator leak, a replacement of the high-pressure fuel pump, and an update to the information system. Within two hours, the car would not start again, and we had it towed back to the dealer. We have been told that it now requires an entirely new engine, and we have been renting a car since January 9th, with no reasonable solutions from the dealer or GM Customer Care. We have also been informed that the engine is on backorder, and we have no timeline for its repair.
This site is useless. There are so many complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet Trax on here, but yet nobody is doing anything about it! I believe it is a severe safety hazard for all vehicles on the highway when a vehicle loses power without warning , whether it is on the interstate, or a residential street! But I guess the manufacturer does not think it's a safety hazard, but apparently if your vehicle doesn't remind you to take your key out of the car when you turn it off, or to put your seatbelt on ,Now, that's what they consider to be a REAL SAFTEY HAZARD!!! Forget the bells and buzzers, if that's the most important thing, you shouldn't be driving anyway. This vehicle has been a problem since we purchased it 2yrs ago and now it is sitting in the driveway and will not start at all. We had to purchase another vehicle.The manufacturer knew there was problems with the 2016 Trax and instead of fixing the problem, the continued to sale them, now we are stuck with the problem. I guess the Lawsuit concerning this situation didn't teach this site anything . Good Luck Consumers
The vehicle shut off completely while driving twice in 24 hours. Lost all power, brakes locked up, first incident on July 26, 2025. Vehicle did restart after and was able to drive home. Would not start, had no power on July 26, 2025. Tow truck came, jump started the vehicle. I pulled out of my driveway to take it to the dealer for service of issue, vehicle shut off as soon as I pressed the brake to stop at a stop sign and lost all power again. Brakes also locked up again after the vehicle lost power. Tow truck transported vehicle to the dealer from there.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Chevrolet Trax won't start
Which Chevrolet Trax years have won't start problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2024 (6 complaints), 2016 (2 complaints) and 2017 (2 complaints).
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