The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at a stop sign, the Hill Assist function failed to operate as intended. The contact removed her foot off the brake pedal and the vehicle rolled backwards. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
2020 Chevrolet Trax powertrain problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 12 powertrain complaints filed for the 2020 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
Among the 9 model years of Chevrolet Trax in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Used 2020 Trax buyers should know this model has consistent reports of transmission jerking, brake lock-ups, and power loss under load or on hills—often without warning lights. Dealerships frequently say they can't replicate the problems or deny they exist, making it hard to verify repairs before purchase.
Owners report power loss and jerking, especially on hills or when the AC is on. Several describe transmission hesitation, gear-slipping, and abrupt shifting—sometimes without warning lights. One owner says a defective shifter led to transmission issues; another reports the shifter shifted from Drive to Neutral with a light touch at 900 miles, and was told that's normal design. A few incidents involve inadvertent gear changes when touching the shifter or accelerating from a stop.
Brake lock-ups happen at highway speeds with StabiliTrak, ABS, and traction-control lights activating. Owners link these to fuse-box issues, ignition coil problems, and possible transmission failure. One reports a blown head gasket and coolant-hose disconnection causing overheating and stalling. Another describes turbo failure at 38,000 miles with surging and stalling. Hill Assist failed to hold the vehicle on an incline, causing rollback.
Acceleration problems appear frequently—hesitation, lack of response, and misfiring in three cylinders. One owner's dealer suggested trading in the vehicle at 20,560 miles rather than fixing it. No diagnostic codes are provided by dealerships in most cases; owners report dealers either can't replicate the issues, refuse to share codes, or declare nothing is wrong. The common thread is safety risk, especially during merges and highway driving, combined with dealer inability or unwillingness to diagnose.
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission Jerking and Power Loss
Vehicle loses power and jerks during acceleration, particularly on inclines or with AC running. Transmission hesitates to shift, fails to accelerate properly at highway speeds, and slips unexpectedly. Occurs with and without warning lights.
When: Since purchase in some cases; reported at mileages ranging from low miles to 47k
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power during acceleration; Jerking sensation while driving; Transmission hesitation and delayed gear shifts; Sluggish acceleration requiring AC to be turned off; Transmission slipping and changing gears without input; Seatbelt locking up due to abrupt shifting
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealers unable to duplicate or locate the problem despite multiple service attempts. One owner mentions ignition coil and spark plug replacement (>$200) did not resolve related brake-locking issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim no problem found or unable to duplicate. GM reportedly suggested trading vehicle in rather than repairing at 20,560 miles. Warranty coverage status unclear; some told repairs not covered.
Defective Shifter
Shifter shifts from Drive to Neutral unintentionally with light touch or accidental contact. Dealers claim this is normal vehicle design. Delayed repair (over one month) allowed transmission damage to develop.
When: Reported at 900 miles; initial problem had month-long wait for service
Symptoms owners cite: Unintended shift from Drive to Neutral with minimal pressure; Vehicle shifted to Neutral while driving at 30 mph with passenger contact; Ability to shift gears with light touch while parked
Repairs/costs cited: First dealership replaced shifter only; second dealership made 3 repair attempts unable to duplicate transmission issue despite CarMax duplicating concern 3 times in one test drive. Repairs not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers informed customer all vehicles designed to shift easily; GM not taking accountability despite vehicle under warranty. Case opened with manufacturer awaiting callback.
Brake Lock-Up / Stability Control Failure
Brakes lock suddenly during normal driving at highway speeds, causing severe hard stopping without driver input. StabiliTrak, ABS, and traction-control warning lights activate. Linked to electrical fuse-box failure and ignition-system issues in some cases.
When: At 47k miles in one case; occurred multiple times for same owner
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes lock down hard at highway speeds (60–70 mph); StabiliTrak, ABS, and traction-control lights illuminate; Severe vehicle deceleration causing control difficulty; Brake lock-up on declines and inclines; Initial misdiagnosis as broken wire
Codes mentioned: StabiliTrak code (per OnStar in one case; dealer withheld details)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner charged $160 diagnostic fee (not covered by warranty), then $412–$719 for fuse-box replacement (not covered) plus tow costs. Another owner spent >$200 on ignition coil and spark plugs; issue recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer provided OnStar code but withheld explanation. Diagnostic fee charged as customer responsibility. Repairs declared not covered by warranty.
Hill Assist Failure
Hill Assist function failed to prevent vehicle rollback when brake pedal released at stop sign. Dealer claimed rollback is normal behavior; failure not duplicated or repaired on two service visits.
When: Started 7 days after purchase; reported at approximately 36,900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolled backward when foot removed from brake at stop sign; Hill Assist did not engage to hold vehicle on incline
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed. Dealer informed customer rollback is normal design behavior.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Failure could not be duplicated by dealer on two visits. Manufacturer not made aware. No repair offered.
Engine Misfiring and Acceleration Failure
Vehicle hesitates on startup and fails to accelerate under varying speeds without warning lights. Independent diagnosis confirmed 3 of 4 cylinders misfiring. Dealership found no fault.
When: At 20,560 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation on engine start; Failure to accelerate as needed; No warning lights illuminated; Three cylinders misfiring
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed 3-cylinder misfire but vehicle not repaired. Dealership claimed nothing wrong.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed contact to trade vehicle in on newer model rather than repair.
Turbo Failure and Surging
Turbo unit fails at relatively low mileage, causing vehicle to surge forward unexpectedly at stop and then feel sluggish with stalling until cleared from intersection.
When: At 38,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lunging forward while stopped; Sluggish behavior after surging; Engine stalling tendency in traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Entire turbo unit replacement required.
Engine Overheating and Coolant System Failure
Coolant reservoir missing hoses that should be connected; head gasket blown. Vehicle overheats excessively with multiple warning lights and stalls in traffic.
When: Stopped in traffic; reported as of 7/26/25
Symptoms owners cite: Red thermometer warning light indicating overheating; Check engine light; Check engine light with downward arrow indicating engine speed reduction; Vehicle stalled in middle of traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Head gasket under warranty; vehicle towed.
Transmission Slip from Stop and Harsh Engagement
When vehicle stopped and driver removes foot from brake, transmission slips and slams into gear abruptly without driver input.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slips when foot removed from brake at stop; Harsh gear engagement without accelerator input
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
When I'm stopped and I take my foot off the brake the transmission slips and slams into gear
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2020 Chevrolet Trax?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 25,487 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.