This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Chevrolet Trax engine problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Trax have filed 12 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
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Trax | 20 |
| 2017 Trax | 21 |
| 2018 Trax | 13 |
| 2019 Trax | 19 |
| 2020 Trax (this page) | 12 |
| 2021 Trax | 3 |
| 2022 Trax | 3 |
| 2024 Trax | 33 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 12 engine complaints filed for the 2020 Chevrolet Trax, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 2020 Chevrolet Trax engine cluster reveals multiple systemic failures. Turbocharger problems are the most common complaint—owners report turbos failing within months of each other, requiring replacements costing around $2,000 per swap at dealerships. Cold weather makes the problem worse; plastic turbo tubes crack in freezing conditions, triggering limp mode that restricts the vehicle to 10 mph, creating dangerous highway situations. One owner notes Chevy extended warranty coverage for turbo failures to 120,000 miles on 2017–2018 models but refused to cover the identical 2020 issue.
Engine overheating and coolant loss appear in several reports, with antifreeze draining almost completely within minutes of driving, yet no visible external leaks. One owner's coolant reservoir overflow line cracked severely. A separate incident escalated to catastrophic failure: smoke poured into the cabin through vents at 38,000 miles, the engine lost power, and the vehicle caught fire and burned. The manufacturer inspected it and denied it was a defect.
Additional failures include abnormal engine rattling diagnosed as engine failure, a radiator fan that won't shut off (draining the battery), and a water pump failure at 149,000 miles that led to a blown head gasket after, owners allege, the dealer avoided warranty work. Check engine lights and emissions warnings appear early in some vehicles' lives.
Same Chevrolet Trax engine reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Turbocharger failure
Turbo has failed or cracked, causing loss of power, limp mode, reduced acceleration, and sluggish performance. Multiple owners report repeated failures within short intervals. Cold weather and plastic turbo tubes that crack in freezing conditions are cited as contributing factors. One narrative mentions condensation in an inverter freezing in cold weather as a known service bulletin issue.
When: One owner reports failure at 4-month intervals; another at 149,000 miles; another within first 100 miles of ownership; cold weather exacerbates the issue
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power on highway; Limp mode activation (vehicle limited to 10 mph); Lack of throttle response; Sluggishness; Inability to accelerate over 40 mph; Cracked turbo tube; Check engine light illumination
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replacement cost cited as ~$2000 per replacement. One owner reports turbo replaced three times with incorrect repairs; another had turbo replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2017–2018 Trax models have extended coverage for failed turbos up to 120,000 miles; 2020 model owner reported no such coverage and was denied repair after check engine light turned off despite known issue and redesigned part.
Engine overheating and coolant loss
Engine overheating due to internal coolant leaks, failed thermostats, or damaged coolant reservoir overflow lines. Coolant rapidly drains internally or externally without visible external leaks. Polypropylene coolant reservoir overflow line cracking reported.
When: One owner at 15-mile test drive; another at unspecified mileage post-purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Engine Overheating warning message on dash; Engine temperature warning light; Rapid coolant depletion (nearly all antifreeze drained in 5 minutes of driving); Antifreeze hose squeezing inward (no outflow); Cracked overflow line with severe coolant leaking; Steam from engine
Codes mentioned: Engine Overheating warning
Repairs/costs cited: Owner refilled coolant and inspected for external leaks; suspected internal leak or thermostat failure. No repair costs stated.
Engine fire
Vehicle caught fire while driving. Smoke entered the cabin through vents, vehicle lost motive power, check engine light illuminated, and flames erupted immediately after driver exited. Fire Department extinguished the fire; vehicle declared total loss.
When: At approximately 38,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke entering interior through vents; Loss of motive power; Check engine light illumination; Vehicle engulfed in flames
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed and condemned as total loss. Police report filed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer inspected the vehicle; owner was informed the failure was not a manufacturer defect.
Abnormal engine rattling and engine failure
Abnormal rattling sound from underneath the vehicle at unspecified mileage, eventually diagnosed as engine failure at the dealership. Vehicle overheated on a separate occasion.
When: Approximately 64,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal rattling sound from underneath vehicle; Engine overheating; Engine temperature warning light
Codes mentioned: Engine temperature warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed with engine failure at dealership; vehicle remained unrepaired and was subsequently repossessed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer notified manufacturer of failure.
Radiator fan staying on continuously
Radiator fan remains on for extended periods after engine shut-off instead of turning off within 15 minutes as normal. Causes battery drain and repeated dead battery conditions.
When: Multiple occurrences throughout 2024, especially during summer months
Symptoms owners cite: Radiator fan staying on indefinitely after engine shut-off; Battery drain and dead battery; No warning lights or indicator lights on dash
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found no problem and could not identify cause. Owner's workaround: disconnect battery and reconnect before each start.
Check engine light and limp mode
Check engine light illuminates and vehicle enters limp mode, restricting performance. Issues may resolve after engine restart but recur. One narrative mentions electronic port defect affecting charging port reliability.
When: One owner at 20,000 miles; another at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light flashing; Limp mode activation; Vehicle performs normally after restart; Electronic port malfunction (charging port intermittent failure)
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (flashing)
Repairs/costs cited: Scanner hooked up but showed nothing; electronic port defect noted but not repaired.
Water pump failure and head gasket blowout
Water pump failed at high mileage (149,000 miles), leading to engine overheating and blown head gasket. Owner attributes failure to dealer avoiding warranty work that allowed repeated overheating.
When: At 149,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Water pump failure; Engine overheating; Blown head gasket
Repairs/costs cited: Water pump replacement; head gasket blow repair. Owner states dealer avoided warranty work.
Emissions system malfunction
Emissions service warning appears immediately after purchase (within first 100 miles of ownership). Owner mentions prior experience with similar issue on a Kia that required multiple repairs and eventually resulted in engine failure.
When: Within 7 miles to 100 miles of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Emissions service warning message
Codes mentioned: Emissions service warning
Repairs/costs cited: Not yet repaired; owner concerned based on prior Kia experience.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Every winter because of the cold weather the tube for the turbo cracks and causes performance problems such as lack of throttle, sluggishness, limp mode activates. In limp mode the vehicle will only go about 10 miles per hour. This has happened on multiple occasions. In the warmer weather this problem does not arise. It is only in the winter time because the particular tube is made from plastic…
Within two days of getting the car with 7 miles on it, as soon as I got over one hundred miles, the car texted me and said that I need to get the emissions serviced on the vehicle. Last time I went through this with Kia... They fixed it twice and then my engine pretty much died and they blamed me (on a 7 year old car)
The contact owned a 2020 Chevrolet TRAX. The contact stated that since the vehicle was purchased, the engine had been failing. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the engine overheated. The engine temperature…
Had engine trouble with your 2020 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 2020 Chevrolet Trax?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 44,000 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/2020/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.