This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Chevrolet Trax airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Chevrolet Trax have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 16,300 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Trax (this page) | 11 |
| 2016 Trax | 14 |
| 2017 Trax | 5 |
| 2019 Trax | 4 |
8crashes
5injuries
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Chevrolet Trax in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two distinct problem patterns with the 2015 Chevy Trax airbag system.
Passenger airbag sensor failures: Multiple owners say the passenger-side occupancy sensor displays "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" even when someone is seated, with the airbag staying disabled. One owner reports this started one year into a lease and persisted for years. Dealers initially blamed improper seating or passenger weight before confirming the sensor itself was defective. Another owner at 36,917 miles had the sensor diagnosed as needing replacement but did not proceed with the repair.
Airbag non-deployment in crashes: Owners report multiple collision events—rear-end impacts, head-on crashes, and frontal collisions at speeds ranging from 3 mph to 60 mph—where airbags failed to deploy. Mileages at failure ranged from 6,000 to 36,917 miles. Some crashes occurred early in vehicle life (6,000–8,100 miles). Several owners sustained injuries requiring hospital treatment or medical attention (back/spinal injuries, broken bones, facial and chest trauma, concussions). Manufacturer was notified in several cases but responses were not detailed. One owner reports the vehicle was destroyed; another says GM did not respond.
No owner reports root cause diagnosis or recall notices.
Same Chevrolet Trax airbags reports on nearby years: 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger Occupancy Sensor Malfunction
Passenger-side airbag occupancy sensor fails to recognize seated passenger, causing the vehicle to display 'PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF' warning and keep the passenger airbag disabled even with an occupant present.
When: Occurred 1 year after lease start; also reported at 36,917 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag OFF indicator illuminates when passenger is seated; Airbag does not enable to ON position even with occupant present; Condition occurs both while vehicle is stationary and while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed sensor as defective/failing and charged for replacement. One owner declined repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or TSB mentioned; dealer initially attributed to improper seating or passenger weight before confirming defect.
Frontal Airbag Non-Deployment
Frontal airbags fail to deploy during front-end and head-on collisions across a range of impact speeds and vehicle mileages.
When: 6,000 to 36,917 miles; impacts at 30, 35, 50, and 60 mph reported
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during head-on collision at 50 mph; No airbag deployment during rear-end collision at 3 mph; No airbag deployment during frontal collision at 30–35 mph; No airbag deployment during highway frontal collision at 60 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were towed; some totaled. No repair details provided. One owner reported significant vehicle damage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in multiple cases; no response or recall information provided by owners.
Rear-End Airbag Non-Deployment
Airbags fail to deploy when vehicle is struck from behind, even at low speeds.
When: 16,300 miles; impact speed approximately 3 mph
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment after rear-end collision at low speed (3 mph); Passenger sustained whiplash and spinal injuries
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was towed and repaired. Specific repair details not provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was not notified of this failure.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2015 Chevrolet Trax?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2015 Chevrolet Trax?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 8,100 and 36,917 miles, with the median around 16,300. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,100; a quarter make it past 36,917. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Chevrolet/Trax.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.