2018 Chevrolet Trax Problems, Recalls & Reliability
152 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Chevrolet Trax, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 59/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Suspension leads the reports, typically around 10,500 miles.
Below average
Where 2018 sits among all Trax years
What owners report
“There are known issues with the control arms on these vehicles and I have had a clunk any time I hit the slightest bump or crack and it is especially bad when my wheels are turned. There is no recall linked to my vin but this is the exact issue that has been recalled on other vins. This makes…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Trax
“Car smoking under the hood not even a month after getting repairs done to it for the same issue of coolant loss. Replaced engine oil cooler, coolant housing, and turbo. Car started smoking again less than a month later and mechanic baffled at what it may be this time for there is no warning lights…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Trax
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 58 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 36,229 miles. Half of those reports fall between 16,000 and 63,676 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Chevrolet Trax vehicles. A joint in one or both of the front lower control arms may have been improperly welded. An improperly welded joint may break, resulting in the partial separation of the lower…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right front lower-control arms, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Trax vehicles. A joint in one or both of the front lower-control arms may have been improperly welded. An improperly welded joint may break, resulting in the partial separation of the…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right front lower-control arms, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 14, 2019. Owners may contact GM…
Technical service bulletins
896 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Trax. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Trax reliable?
The 2018 Chevrolet Trax drew 152 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 59/100, scored against the model's worst year (2024).
What are the most common 2018 Chevrolet Trax problems?
The top reported problems for the 2018 Chevrolet Trax are suspension (34 complaints), engine (29), and other (20).
At what mileage do 2018 Chevrolet Trax problems show up?
Owners most often report 2018 Chevrolet Trax problems around 36,229 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 16,000 and 63,676 miles.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Trax have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 Chevrolet Trax. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.