The 2015 Trax pairs a 1.4L turbo four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic that's prone to premature failure, and the engine itself has a track record of catastrophic oil consumption leading to internal damage. Budget for major powertrain work if buying used.
Automatic Transmission Failure (6T40)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh 2-3 or 3-4 shifts, then slipping between gears, Transmission overheating warning on dash, Metal shavings in fluid during service, Complete loss of forward gears or limp mode
Fix: The 6T40 six-speed auto suffers from valve body issues, weak clutch packs, and internal cooler failure. Most require rebuild or replacement. Expect 12-16 labor hours for R&R and rebuild, or 8-10 for a reman swap.
Estimated cost: $3,200-5,500
Excessive Oil Consumption and Piston Ring Failure (1.4T Ecotec)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil level drops 1+ quart between changes (every 1,000-2,000 mi), Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Check engine light with misfires (P0300 series), Eventually rod knock or seized engine if not monitored
Fix: GM's 1.4T has chronic piston ring sealing problems. Early stages you can limp along adding oil, but once misfires start it's a full short block or engine rebuild — pistons, rings, hone or bore cylinders. 18-24 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddle under vehicle, front driver side, Low trans fluid warning or slipping when hot, Cooler lines corroded or rubber hoses cracked at crimps
Fix: The cooler lines run along the subframe and are exposed to salt and debris. Replace lines and top off fluid, 1.5-2.5 hours labor. Catch it early before the transmission runs dry.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Electric Power Steering Failures
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Complete loss of power assist with 'Service Power Steering' message, Intermittent assist dropout, especially in cold weather, Steering becomes extremely heavy at low speeds
Fix: Covered by recall 14V353 for some VINs, but failures continue outside recall population. Usually the steering control module or motor assembly. 2-3 hours labor for module, 3-4 for full column replacement.
Estimated cost: $800-1,800
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle and Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattle or buzz under acceleration from engine bay, Loss of boost pressure, sluggish acceleration, Check engine light with underboost codes (P0299, P0234)
Fix: Wastegate actuator rod wears or the flapper gets carboned up. Sometimes a cleaning and actuator replacement works (3-4 hours), but often the turbo needs replacement (5-6 hours).
Estimated cost: $900-2,200
Front Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Separation
Rare · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Severe vibration or pull to one side, In extreme cases, wheel camber suddenly way out and loss of control
Fix: Subject of recall 15V303 — ball joint can separate from control arm. If not already done, verify recall completion. Otherwise replace control arms. 2-3 hours per side.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Owner tips
Check oil level every fill-up — the 1.4T will burn oil quietly until it's too late, and low oil kills these engines fast.
Service transmission fluid every 50k with Dexron VI or equivalent; the 6T40 is heat-sensitive and dirty fluid accelerates clutch wear.
Verify all recalls completed (steering, ball joints) before purchase — both are safety-critical.
Budget $1,500-2,000 annually for repairs once past 80k miles; these are not cheap to maintain.
Hard pass unless you're getting it dirt cheap and have a fund for engine or transmission replacement — both are ticking time bombs on this platform.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Compact crossover; battery located in engine bay
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Control Modules — 2015 Chevrolet Trax
Every control module on the 2015-2017 Chevrolet Trax — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
📍 Behind left headlamp assembly in engine compartment
🔧 Autel or GM MDI
⚠️ Configuration may be required for DRL and auto-on features
Rear Vision Camera Module (RVCM)0.5 hr R&Rno codingwith rear vision camera
📍 Integrated with rear liftgate handle camera assembly
⚠️ Plug-and-play; no programming required
Tire Pressure Monitor Control Module (TPMS)relearn only +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Integrated within BCM
🔧 TPMS relearn tool or GM MDI
⚠️ Sensor ID relearn required after tire rotation or sensor replacement; no separate module
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
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 control arm from the vehicle.
Consequence: A partial separation of the lower-control arm from the vehicle could cause the attached front wheel to toe outward, impacting the vehicle's handling and steering and increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: 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 Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A192261870.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · 17V437000
2017-07-10
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · 16V651000
2016-09-08
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 16V422000
2016-06-10
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. · 16V257000
2016-04-28
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 15V162000
2015-03-20
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 26, 2014, to February 9, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Trax vehicles manufactured October 13, 2014, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles have tire placards that do not provide the rim size information for the front or rear wheels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."
Consequence: If the label is missing front and rear rim size information, the owner may replace the rims with ones that are an incorrect size, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and will send owners a corrected label, free of charge. The recall April 29, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15166.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 15V146000
2015-03-13
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured November 27, 2014, to February 24, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Trax vehicles manufactured November 18, 2014, to February 17, 2015. The steering column assembly housing may contact the power steering printed circuit board causing the circuit board to wear.
Consequence: The circuit board wear may cause a sudden loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the steering column assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15168.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2015 Chevrolet Trax 1.4L I4 Turbo Ecotec and can vary by trim.
🔧 Built by master technician Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years.