At 30k miles all lights would light up and something would drive wrong. From steering to low acceleration and everything in between. Dealership unable to figure out problem as well as local shops. It's back in at dealership. They recently ordered the underhood fuse box to be installed at $980.00 and now telling me it's still not fixing the problem.
2016 Chevrolet Trax electrical problems
moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
When does it fail?
Of the 18 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 Chevrolet Trax, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2016 Chevy Trax has a documented pattern of electrical gremlins including dashboard blackouts, radio/infotainment failures, and loss of power while driving — some recurring even after multiple dealership repairs. Critical safety issues include engine stalling mid-drive, steering wheel lock-up from key displacement, and failure to shut down after key removal.
Electrical failures plague the 2016 Trax from early ownership onward. Dashboard clusters go completely dark without warning while driving, leaving drivers unable to see speed or mileage. The radio and backup camera cut out intermittently, and OnStar and phone connectivity drop. In one case, the vehicle kept running after the driver removed the key from the ignition with the radio still playing—a serious safety defect.
Dealership repairs including software updates, computer re-flashing, and component replacement have not resolved these issues. Owners report problems return within days or weeks of leaving the shop. In one instance, a customer was given the car back, drove three miles, and returned it the same hour with identical failures.
Dashboard lighting failures occur spontaneously with no predictable pattern. One owner documented four separate incidents in the first month of ownership where all electrical systems simply shut down while driving. The vehicle would restore power minutes or hours later with no action by the driver.
Power door locks fail, trapping occupants. One case involved a child in a car seat unable to exit because the driver-side lock stopped working at 17,000 miles. The ignition key itself has caused steering wheel lock-up when bumped while driving at highway speed.
Underhood electrical faults cascade through the vehicle—a $980 fuse box replacement failed to fix persistent warning light illumination and drivetrain problems. Coil packs corrode and burn out, spark plugs fail, fuel injectors break, and engines stall completely while in motion.
Same Chevrolet Trax electrical reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Blower motor failure
Blower motor stops working at higher fan settings, often progressing to complete loss of A/C function.
When: Reported from 2016-2018; narrative #1 at 2 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Blower motor fails to operate at setting 3 or 4; Complete loss of heating/cooling air circulation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced blower motor
Dashboard and display blackout
Dashboard instrument cluster and related displays intermittently go dark or fail to turn on. Problem persists even after software updates and component replacement.
When: Reported from 2016-2019; multiple occurrences across months of operation
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard lights go out completely while driving or at startup; Speedometer and mileage display unavailable; Dash fails to illuminate on multiple driving occasions; Intermittent failure with no predictable pattern; Problem returns after dealership repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership re-installed computer software, updated system, re-flashed computer; problem recurred within months
Radio/infotainment system failure
Center console radio unit intermittently powers down or fails to turn on. Component replacement and software updates do not resolve the issue long-term.
When: Reported from 2016-2019; recurring failures over 2+ year period
Symptoms owners cite: Radio/center console goes out while driving or at startup; System fails to respond after key restart; Recurs shortly after dealership repair attempts; Does not communicate with diagnostic computer
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership installed new radio and re-flashed computer; issue returned within 3 miles; replacement radio ordered but not received
Backup camera failure
Backup camera intermittently fails to activate or display. Software reinstalls and component replacement do not provide lasting repair.
When: Reported from 2016-2019; recurring over 2+ year ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera will not turn on; Camera display unavailable
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership re-installed backup camera software; problem recurred within months
Vehicle continues running after key removal
Engine and electrical components remain active after key is removed from ignition and driver exits the vehicle. Radio continues playing and engine continues running without remote start engaged.
When: February 2019, then recurring in June 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Engine continues running with no key in ignition; Radio continues playing after key removal; Vehicle does not shut down on key removal
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership re-flashed and updated computer; issue recurred within weeks
Electrical system complete shutdown
Entire electrical system loses power intermittently while driving. All dashboard lights, radio, backup camera, OnStar, phone service, and turn signal indicators go dark. Power restores spontaneously after minutes to hours with no clear trigger.
When: First occurrence one week after new car purchase in November 2016; recurred on at least 4 documented occasions through December 2016
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard lights go completely dark; Radio stops working; Backup camera becomes unavailable; OnStar service drops; Phone service unavailable; Turn signal clicking sound absent; Headlights remain functional but no interior lights; Heater/AC unit lights remain on; Power spontaneously restores with no driver action; Failure occurs randomly with no predictable pattern
Repairs/costs cited: Three service calls at two dealerships; problem unresolved after dealer claimed repair
Power door lock failure
Driver-side passenger door power lock stops functioning, trapping occupants inside. At 17,000 miles with child in car seat, door required manual unlock from outside.
When: At 17,000 miles; warranty ended June at 36,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power lock mechanism fails to open; Door becomes difficult to open from inside; Manual unlock required from outside
Repairs/costs cited: Service advisor stated locks 'just stopped working for no reason'; $200 deductible required through third-party extended warranty
Random loss of power while driving
Vehicle experiences sudden, unpredictable power loss while on highway and city roads. Loss of power creates dangerous acceleration delays and inability to accelerate.
When: Reported as ongoing issue; one narrative reports vehicle will not start at all after 2 years
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle loses power while driving on highway; Random loss of power with no warning; Inability to accelerate at normal rate; Vehicle eventually will not start
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple components replaced by service shop without resolving issue
A/C compressor failure
Air conditioning stops blowing cold air. Dealership applied temporary refrigerant leak sealant, but issue recurred. Root cause identified as compressor failure.
When: At 7 years of ownership with 77,000 miles (2021 complaint on 2016 vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: A/C blows warm air; Cooling function lost
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership performed leak test and added temporary sealant; compressor replacement cost deemed prohibitively high by owner
Rear door lock failure (key fob)
Rear driver-side and rear passenger-side door locks fail to respond to key fob commands. Neither locking nor unlocking functions.
When: At 179,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Key fob unable to lock rear doors; Key fob unable to unlock rear doors
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired; owner informed VIN was not included in recall campaigns 16V422000 or 16V257000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not covered by recall campaigns 16V422000 or 16V257000
Fuse box electrical fault
Underhood fuse box failure causes cascading electrical system failures including all warning lights illuminating and multiple drivetrain problems. Replacement of fuse box at high cost does not resolve underlying issue.
When: At 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: All warning lights illuminate; Steering problems; Low acceleration; Multiple drivetrain issues
Repairs/costs cited: Underhood fuse box replacement ordered and installed at cost of $980.00; problem still not fixed after replacement
Engine stall and shutdown while driving
Engine suddenly stops while vehicle is in motion on roadway. Vehicle becomes immobile and unresponsive. Multiple warning lights illuminate at time of failure.
When: November 23, 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stops completely while driving; Vehicle becomes immobilized in traffic; Multiple warning lights illuminate; No warning prior to failure
Ignition key unwanted rotation/steering wheel lock
Ignition key rotates to off position with minimal contact while vehicle is in motion at highway speeds, causing steering wheel to lock. Requires driver intervention to restart vehicle while on roadway.
When: Two separate incidents while driving on high-speed roads
Symptoms owners cite: Key rotates to off position from slight bump while driving; Steering wheel locks up abruptly; Power steering disabled mid-drive; Requires restart to regain steering control
Interior lighting and electrical accessories failure
Interior lights dim or fail. Radio becomes non-functional with no audio output. Turn signal and sensor warning chimes absent. Key gets very hot during operation.
Symptoms owners cite: Interior lights dim or go out; Radio fails to produce sound; Turn signal chime absent; Sensor warning chimes absent; Key becomes excessively hot
Steering wheel radio/phone controls non-functional
Radio and phone controls mounted on steering wheel stop working. Bluetooth connectivity cannot be established. Temperature display missing from instrument cluster display.
When: During ownership period; timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel radio controls inoperative; Steering wheel phone controls inoperative; Bluetooth connection fails; Temperature reading missing from display
Repairs/costs cited: Owner notes undiagnosed electrical issue
Ignition coil and spark plug failure
Coil pack corrodes and burns out, causing engine misfire. Spark plugs fail as a result. Fuel leak develops and fourth fuel injector breaks, leaving vehicle running on three injectors.
When: Less than one year after driveshaft failure at 25,000 miles; occurred at or near 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine light comes on; Vehicle drives rough; Difficult acceleration; Gas leak from vehicle; Rough running on three fuel injectors
Repairs/costs cited: Coil pack was corroded and burnt out; spark plugs replaced; fourth fuel injector broken; vehicle towed and repaired; returned to shop 6 times in 2 months after initial repair
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
On 11/23/19 I'm just leaving home early on saturday morning and on timaquana rd while I was driving my 2016 trax locked up on me and my Chevrolet trax motor just stopped in the middle of the road , this could have been fatal and thank god I didn't get crushed in the middle of traffic. All the lights came on as if it was electric problem
This site is useless. There are so many complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet Trax on here, but yet nobody is doing anything about it! I believe it is a severe safety hazard for all vehicles on the highway when a vehicle loses power without warning , whether it is on the interstate, or a residential street! But I guess the manufacturer does not think it's a safety hazard, but apparently if your…
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 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 electrical problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Trax?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 18 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 74,466 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2016/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.