2017 Chevrolet Trax Safety Report

The 2017 Chevrolet Trax presents a mixed safety picture. While it achieved excellent crash test ratings from NHTSA, including 5 stars overall, 5 stars for frontal and side impacts, and 4 stars for rollover, its complaint data reveals several concerning patterns. With 107 total complaints, including 10 crashes, 3 fires, and 5 injuries, there are clear areas of concern. A significant portion of complaints, 16, relate to the ENGINE, with issues like turbocharger failures, excessive oil consumption, and stalling being frequently reported. The vehicle also has 3 recalls, two of which address a critical safety defect: improperly welded front lower control arms that could lead to a partial separation of the control arm and impact vehicle handling. Another recall addresses potential non-deployment of frontal airbags, which is particularly concerning given a reported crash where airbags failed to deploy, resulting in a brain injury. Common complaint patterns extend beyond the engine to include electrical system malfunctions (5 complaints), steering issues (5 complaints), and power train problems (4 complaints), often manifesting as 'Service Stabilitrak' messages, speedometer/RPM dial failures, and transmission jerking. Several complaints also highlight suspension issues, mirroring the recall concerns, with owners reporting ball joint and control arm problems even when their VIN was not included in the official recall. The recurring nature of these mechanical and electrical failures, some leading to dangerous situations like stalling on freeways or loss of power steering, indicates potential reliability shortcomings that could compromise safety. The recall history is directly relevant to several owner complaints, particularly regarding the front lower control arms. The fact that some owners report identical suspension issues but are told their vehicle is not part of the recall suggests a potentially broader scope of the defect or inadequate recall identification. The airbag recall is also critical, as a failure to deploy, as reported in one complaint, can have severe consequences. Overall, while the Trax performs well in controlled crash tests, the real-world complaint data points to significant reliability and component failure issues that could indirectly affect safety through loss of control or unexpected vehicle behavior.

Our recommendation: Despite strong crash test ratings, potential buyers should be aware of recurring engine, suspension, and electrical issues, along with multiple safety recalls. Thoroughly check service history for recall completion and be prepared for potential repairs related to the turbocharger, oil consumption, or suspension components.