87 of the
1,446 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Trax
are about the braking system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
My 2020 Chevrolet Trax has experienced recurring brake problems for approximately two years. The issue involves the brake pedal becoming unusually resistant and the vehicle failing to brake normally when I apply the pedal. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection. My first known documented occurrence was August 21, 2024, one day after I picked up the vehicle from AutoNation Chevrolet. I had dropped it off July 29, 2024, and picked it up August 20, 2024, after it was diagnosed and repaired for reduced-power issues, including shaking while driving. On August 21, 2024, I was driving normally when I attempted to brake. The brake pedal suddenly became resistant and the vehicle would not stop normally. I repeatedly pressed the brake pedal without resolving the problem. I pulled the emergency brake and waited. Approximately five minutes later, the dashboard displayed a “Service StabiliTrak” warning, along with the ABS and check-engine lights. After the warning lights appeared, the brakes began functioning normally again. This is the first occurrence I personally documented on my phone to my knowledge. Over the past two years, I have taken the vehicle to the dealership and/or Big O Tires approximately 15 times for service and repairs, including work I was told could help resolve the issue. These visits also included routine services such as tires, oil changes, and emissions testing. Despite repeated service and recommended repairs, the brake problem continues. The vehicle is currently at the dealership as of August 11, 2026, being diagnosed for the same recurring brake issue. This problem has repeatedly placed my safety, the safety of my 6-year-old child, and the safety of other drivers and pedestrians at serious risk. The intermittent loss of normal braking makes it difficult to safely stop or avoid a collision. I have repeatedly sought professional assistance, but the underlying issue has not been permanently resolved.
NHTSA complaint #11756588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was at a complete stop with my foot all the way down on my brake, sitting in traffic, and my car started rolling forward against my will. I pressed down on my brake again and the car did not stop. I almost rolled into the car in front of me. The forward collision warning did not sound. I put my car in park and it still did not stop. I then put it into reverse to avoid rolling into the car in front of me. The car stopped. I put it back in drive, and the car jolted forward and the brakes continued to work. I have since taken it in and the master cylinder was failing. My brakes were only working sometimes. I am incredibly lucky that this happened when my car was stopped and not at a high speed, on the freeway, or in an area where I could have accidentally hit a pedestrian. At the time of the incident, no lights have every been/were lit up on the dash alerting me to an issue or failure with the car. The problem was confirmed and reproduced at the dealership. The master cylinder has been replaced and the brake system update has been completed. I want to reiterate how incredibly ridiculous and dangerous this could have been. It is unacceptable that this is not a formal recall as I have been notified that there is general knowledge of this problem. I have 2 small children that were in the car with me and this could have ended very differently had the conditions been different.
NHTSA complaint #11754720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the messages “Service Stabili-track” and “Steering Assist Reduced” were displayed. The vehicle was difficult to control while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the driver's side wheel speed sensor was not properly secured in the hub. The vehicle was test-driven for six miles. The dealer properly secured the wheel speed sensor inside the hub. The bolt was replaced and repaired. The manufacturer was notified, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 32.
NHTSA complaint #11751150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the last 30 days of obtaining my first brand new vehicle, there have been a couple of incidents where I have put my truck in Park on an incline (hilly street or driveway), and you can hear the brakes grinding once my foot has been removed from the brake pedal. It gives the impression that the brakes have not stopped. It’s unusual to hear and in my concern, I activate the emergency park for extra security. It’s a little scary to think that the brakes won’t do what they’re designed to do.
NHTSA complaint #11735478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Came out to my new 2025 Chevy Trax with Stabilitrac and Antilock Braking System faults on the dash on March 27, 2026. I immediately contacted the dealer I bought it from since it only has around 3200 miles and made an appointment (4/1/26) to bring the vehicle in. They inspected the vehicle and told me the brake master cylinder is bad and they would have to keep the vehicle since it could fail completely and I would be without brakes thus unsafe to drive. I was also told was the part was on back order and no ETA on when the part would be made available. They have had the vehicle since April 1st, I was given a loaner from the dealer after having expressed my displeasure that GM would not fully cover the cost of a rental vehicle while I wait on a critical part of the failing braking system that they are failing to provide their dealer. Luckily the braking system never failed prior to diagnosis.
NHTSA complaint #11729968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the message "Brake System Failure" was displayed. The contact turned off the vehicle, waited for a while, and then restarted the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the message "Steering System Not Engaged" was displayed. The contact turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who informed the contact that 3 diagnostic codes were retrieved, indicating a braking system and steering failure. However, the third failure was not provided. The dealer stated that a software update might be needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. A case was opened with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000
NHTSA complaint #11727008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving on the highway going around a ramp when I went to press on the brakes to slow down the pedal just went to the floor and the car would not slow down, causing me to go off the road. My insurance company did an inspection and said the accident was caused by engine failure and won’t cover damage. GM did inspection said it wasn’t their fault but won’t release their inspection report
NHTSA complaint #11725606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH and attempting to slow down, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact used the parking brake to slow and stop the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. An independent mechanic was contacted to diagnose the vehicle. A dealer was not notified of the issue. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #11717353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11717127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Service Brake Assist message appeared on the dash, brakes got soft , vehicle would not stop. Check engine light came on. Dealership reported no codes were reported but the Power Brake Booster Vacuum Sensor & Hose Assembly needs replaced due to a sensor malfunction. Say it is not covered under any safety/service bulletin so we need to pay for it. Other make and models are covered under 17-NA-314, Special Coverage Adjustment N182202780, Product Safety Recall N202300860. All similar issues but none for the 2018 Chevy Trax. Feel this is a huge issue as it is a direct issue with safety. Brakes are a critical part of safety when on the road.
NHTSA complaint #11715830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating, and the RPM was elevated. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the turbo was designed to maintain heat. The vehicle was not repaired due to the lack of a fault code. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
NHTSA complaint #11715457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, while the roads were clear, dry, and the weather was good, the engine seized, and the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated to 55 MPH. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, and the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond and continued driving forward. While driving at 50 MPH, the failure reoccurred. The engine and stabili-trak illuminated after the vehicle came to a complete stop. The local dealer was contacted regarding loaner vehicles on two occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was scanned, and DTC: TCM U0101 and P0700 were retrieved. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the local dealer and the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
NHTSA complaint #11713436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact was able to pull over. The vehicle was towed to a nearby hotel. The contact resumed driving, but the amount of smoke coming from underneath the hood increased. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, where an unknown repair was performed. Additionally, the contact stated that the windshield wipers failed to remain upwards on snowy days. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was advised that it was a design failure. Additionally, upon taking the vehicle to several independent mechanics for service, the contact was informed that the brake sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11702716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The manual parking brake system (hand lever) failed to adequately restrain the vehicle when fully engaged. The component is available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk because the vehicle failed to remain securely parked with the parking brake fully engaged. If parked on an incline, this defect creates a risk of the vehicle rolling and causing an accident. Additionally, a fully functional parking brake is a critical emergency braking backup system, which is compromised by this malfunction. I have not gotten to a dealer to get it checked yet. There was a warning light eventually. After a couple of times, I pushed on the accelerator once I realized the parking brake was on. I turned it off. It was only when I noticed it was a bit jankey when attempting to reverse is when i noticed it
NHTSA complaint #11702206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact rented a 2025 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that, while her husband was driving at 25 MPH on a decline and attempting to slow the vehicle upon approaching a curve in the road, the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard but failed to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. As a result, the driver briefly lost control of the vehicle, only coming to a complete stop after colliding with the vehicle ahead. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic but instead returned to the rental company. The contact was unaware whether the vehicle was repaired. A police report was filed, and no injuries were reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,700.
NHTSA complaint #11690408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN STARTING OR EVEN WITH ACTIVE CODES IN VEHICLE HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION SEVERAL TIME TO NOT BE ACKNOWLEGDED THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN YOU TOUCH THE BRAKE PEDAL HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP SEVERAL TIME TO NOT BE ADDRESSED THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE GOES SIDEWAYS AND SCARES YOU HAVE BROUGHT UP SEVERAL TIMES TO NOT BE ADDRESSED THE FORWARD COLLISION DOES NOT WORK THE VEHICLE HAS ACTIVE CODES AND THE CHECK ENGINE SHOULD ILLUMINATE AND WHEN TAKE IN FOR SERVICE WE ASK WHY AND ARE JUST IGNORED ALL THESE PROBLEMS STARTED 2 DAYS AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023. iN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION LEAKING, WAS TOLD HOWEVER THAT IT IS NOT A BIG ENOUGH ISSUE TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. THESE HAVE ALL BEEN ADDRESSED WITH DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS MANUFACTURER, AND AS OF TODAY 09/20/2025 THESE ISSUES HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED
NHTSA complaint #11688601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11676510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact’s parents owned a 2018 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while a parent was driving 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the accelerator pedal was also simultaneously depressed the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure caused the contact’s parent to veer off the side of the road, which caused the vehicle to roll over several times before landing on a construction vehicle. The contact stated that all the air bags deployed during the rollover. The contact’s parent suffered several injuries and was taken to a local emergency room. The contact’s parents suffered back, neck, and rib injuries. The contact stated that a Police report was filed; however, the report number was not provided to the contact. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was deemed destroyed. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
NHTSA complaint #11669818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.