This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Chevrolet Trax engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Trax have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Trax | 9 |
| 2016 Trax | 20 |
| 2017 Trax | 21 |
| 2018 Trax (this page) | 13 |
| 2019 Trax | 19 |
| 2020 Trax | 12 |
| 2021 Trax | 3 |
| 2022 Trax | 3 |
When does it fail?
Of the 13 engine complaints filed for the 2018 Chevrolet Trax, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on vehicles outside of a California Emissions State who move to and register their vehicle in a California Emission State may be entitled to the 7 year, 70,000-mile Emission Select State Component Limited Warranty.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 Trax turbocharger fails repeatedly across these narratives, with some failures occurring at 21,000 miles and others at much higher mileage. One owner claims Chevrolet's recall N232395330 omitted their vehicle, leading to catastrophic engine damage (piston breakage, total engine replacement) and a $12,500 repair tab that the dealership and Chevrolet both denied. Another owner had a turbo replaced, only to have it fail again within weeks.
Cooling system leaks appear endemic. The car sheds coolant rapidly with no working temperature gauge or timely warning light, so owners discover the problem only after the engine overheats and breaks. One owner replaced the entire cooling system (radiator, hoses, fan, header) only to have smoke return a month later. Another detected only a puddle under the car until the overheating warning came too late.
Blue smoke from the tail pipe at cold start suggests a PCV system defect affecting multiple vehicles, but owners say dealerships and GM ignore the issue. Oil cooler housings leak (plastic design against hot engine), with repair costs hitting $2,000–$3,000 at the dealership. One vehicle had zero oil in the engine at 111,000 miles with no warning light. Rough running, poor acceleration, and emissions codes round out the complaints.
Same Chevrolet Trax engine reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Turbocharger failure
Turbocharger fails suddenly or progressively, reducing power output and causing collateral damage (oil contamination, piston breakage, complete engine failure). Failure can occur as early as 21,000 miles and as late as 111,000 miles. Chevrolet issued recall N232395330 for turbocharger issues but omitted some 2018 Trax models from the recall scope.
When: 21,000 to 111,000 miles; also reported after prior turbo replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of engine power under acceleration; Check engine light illumination; Abnormal sounds from engine compartment; Engine vibration; Turbo goes out entirely
Codes mentioned: P0087, P0088, P0101
Repairs/costs cited: Turbo replacement; cases report $12,500 engine damage from unaddressed turbo failure; some owners report turbo replacement alone did not prevent subsequent failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall N232395330 issued but scope allegedly incomplete. Chevrolet case number X-XXX opened for one complainant; both Chevrolet and dealership denied liability. Manufacturer communication documentation on turbo failure sent to one owner; repair parts noted as unavailable at dealership.
Cooling system failure and coolant loss
Cooling system leaks and loses coolant rapidly. Combined with absent or delayed warning lights, coolant loss goes undetected until engine overheating causes catastrophic damage. One owner replaced radiator, hoses, turbo hoses, fan, and header; another replaced entire engine due to piston breakage from prolonged overheating.
When: Occurs at various mileages; 87,046 miles cited; recurs within weeks after repair
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating warning light missing or delayed; No dashboard temperature gauge; Coolant leaking under vehicle (puddle noticed); Rapid coolant loss requiring top-off; AC blowing hot air; Engine overheating warning issued late in failure sequence
Repairs/costs cited: Radiator, hoses, turbo hoses, fan, header replacement; entire engine replacement in severe cases; one owner reported smoke and repeated failure within weeks of prior cooling-system repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Unknown recall mentioned by one owner; case opened with manufacturer; no details on corrective action or coverage.
Oil cooler/oil housing leak
Plastic oil cooler housing mounted against hot engine leaks oil. Reported as chronic issue affecting multiple vehicles across multiple years. Repair cost substantial at dealership ($2,000–$3,000).
When: Not specified; multiple vehicles, spanning many years
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking from housing; Smoke under hood after repairs
Repairs/costs cited: $2,000–$3,000 at dealership. One owner replaced oil cooler, coolant housing, and turbo but car began smoking again within a month.
PCV system issue producing blue smoke
Blue smoke from tail pipe on cold starts, suggesting PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) malfunction. Reported on multiple 2018 Trax models with 1.4 turbo engine. Owner notes PCV issue is known in online mechanic communities but dealerships and GM appear unwilling to address. Could be pollution-control concern.
When: Occurs on cold-weather starts (February, zero degrees noted)
Symptoms owners cite: Blue smoke from tail pipe; Engine almost stalling at start
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or TSB mentioned. Owner suggests pollution-control recall warranted but states dealerships and GM have shown no interest in corrective action.
No oil in engine requiring replacement
Engine loses oil entirely despite no warning light illumination. Engine failure at 111,000 miles due to no-oil condition.
When: 111,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power while driving at 40 MPH; Vehicle fails to respond to accelerator; Abnormal vibration; No warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; repair not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no corrective action detailed.
Rough running and poor acceleration
Engine runs roughly with minimal pickup during acceleration. May be related to turbo or emissions issues.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Rough engine operation; Lack of acceleration response; Check engine light (in some cases)
Blower motor/electrical failure with safety hazard
Blower motor, resistor, and pigtail connector failed, causing smoke and odor in cabin. Owner reports hazard to child.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke filling cabin; Odor in cabin
Repairs/costs cited: Blower motor, resistor, and pigtail connector replacement
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Car filled with smoke and smell. Needed to replace the blower motor l, resistor, and pig tail or it would have killed my child.
In february on zero degree day my 2018 trax had blue smoke coming out of the tail pipe and almost stalled car running. I saw another trax that same day with blue smoke coming out of the tail pipe. When I was at the dealership they were returning some one elses trax and it had blue smoke coming out of it. The trax has a 1.4 turbo engine and gm seems to have a problem with the pcv system on this…
Chevrolet had a recall (N232395330) for 2018 Trax models due to a problem with the turbocharger. For whatever reason, Chevrolet did not include all 2018 Trax models, and omitted ours. The turbocharger on ours failed, causing an oil problem and substantial damage to the engine (and, possibly, other parts), with an estimated $12,500 cost to repair. We have tried to work with both Chevrolet (case…
The indicator for the vehicle overheating illuminated as I checked. I noticed that the engine coolant was low so I brought a bottle to top it off however, I noticed once parking in front of my home that I had a puddle of the fluid on the ground.
Had engine trouble with your 2018 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 engine problem on the 2018 Chevrolet Trax?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 55,512 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2018/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.