A California couple's 2024 Chevy Trax threw a reduced-power warning, knocked loudly, and stalled at 11,581 miles. The dealer found a broken connecting rod and put them on a waitlist for a backordered replacement engine. Their case is now the lead complaint in a class action filed against General Motors in March 2026, and it names the exact engine under the hood of every 2024-2025 Trax. That doesn't make every Trax a lemon. It does mean you need to know what you're buying before you sign.
The second-generation Trax (2024-2025) is a completely different vehicle from the first-generation Trax GM sold from 2015-2022. New platform, new engine, no more all-wheel drive, and a starting price low enough that Chevrolet called it the cheapest new car sold by an American brand. It has also become one of the best-selling vehicles in its class almost overnight. This guide covers what the real-world data, the forums, and the lawsuit paperwork actually say about buying one used.
This Generation at a Glance
GM redesigned the Trax from the ground up for the 2024 model year, moving it onto the VSS-F platform it shares with the current Chevrolet Trailblazer and Buick Envista. The old Gamma II-based Trax (2015-2022) is gone entirely: different chassis, different engine, different everything except the name. Chevrolet kept it simple for buyers by offering exactly one powertrain across both model years and every trim: a 1.2L turbocharged three-cylinder making 137 hp and 162 lb-ft, paired to a 6-speed automatic. There is no manual, no hybrid, and critically, no all-wheel drive option at all, a real departure from the first-generation Trax, which offered AWD on LT and higher.
Chevrolet launched the 2024 Trax LS at $21,495, a price low enough that outlets covering the launch called it the cheapest new car sold by an American brand at the time. The 2025 model year carried the formula forward without a mechanical redesign: trim names stayed the same (LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS, ACTIV), the 2025 LS starts a bit lower at $20,400, and the rest of the lineup saw modest price creep. That combination of low price, real interior space, and aggressive styling turned the redesigned Trax into one of the fastest-selling vehicles in its class, which is exactly why so many of them are already hitting the used market.
| Powertrain | Years Available | HP/TQ | Transmission | MPG (Combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2L turbo I3 (LIH), FWD | 2024-2025 | 137 hp / 162 lb-ft | 6-speed automatic | 30 |
Current pricing and inventory: Chevrolet Trax market data, with per-year pages for 2024 and 2025.
The 1.2L Turbo Triple: What Goes Right and What Goes Wrong
Every 2024-2025 Trax, regardless of trim, runs the same engine. There's no "get the bigger engine" advice to give here. What you're evaluating is this specific 1.2L turbo three-cylinder, badged internally as LIH (standard gasoline) or LBP (E85 flex-fuel capable), and its track record so far.
What owners like about it
Car and Driver ran a 2024 Trax as a long-term test vehicle for 16 months and 40,169 miles. Aside from a deer collision around the 16,000-mile mark, the car needed no unscheduled repair stops: no burning oil, no alignment drift, no infotainment glitches, and no powertrain hiccups over that entire stretch. It averaged 28 mpg across the test. Owners on forums and in consumer reviews consistently describe the 1.2L as torquey enough for daily traffic, and the 6-speed automatic draws praise specifically because it doesn't drone like the CVTs GM's competitors use in this segment. This is a small, high-strung engine, but on a healthy example it doesn't feel gutless the way a lot of subcompact SUVs with 3-cylinder engines do.
The connecting rod problem
Set against that is a defect allegation that owners on the dedicated Chevy Trax Forum (traxforum.com) have been documenting since the 2024 Trax first reached driveways. Multiple threads describe the same failure sequence: a sudden loud knock or bang, a "reduced engine power" warning, then a stall. One 2024 Trax owner posted about a catastrophic engine failure early in ownership; another thread titled "Problems with 2024 trax already" describes similar symptoms appearing within the first year.
That pattern became a class action lawsuit. Filed March 4, 2026 in Delaware federal court by California plaintiffs Samantha and Donna Cook, the 56-page complaint alleges GM has known since 2022 that the LIH and LBP engines are prone to premature bearing and connecting-rod failure that can cause sudden loss of power, fluid leaks, and in some cases fire risk. The named incident: the Cooks' 2024 Trax broke a connecting rod at 11,581 miles, and their car sat at the dealership for months waiting on a backordered replacement engine, according to court filings covered by multiple outlets. The suit covers the 2024-and-later Chevrolet Trax and Trailblazer and the Buick Encore GX and Envista, since all four share this engine family on the same VSS-F platform.
For what it's worth, this is exactly the kind of failure GM's factory powertrain warranty (5 years or 60,000 miles) is built to cover. A 2024 or 2025 Trax still within that window should get any connecting rod failure repaired free of charge under warranty, backorder delays notwithstanding. The real financial exposure falls on buyers looking at an example that's already past 60,000 miles or getting close, since a used Trax with a blown engine and no warranty coverage left means a full engine replacement out of pocket.
This is a lawsuit, not an NHTSA recall. As of this guide's publication, there is no recall covering the connecting rod issue, only pending litigation. CarScout's NHTSA-sourced complaint data shows engine-related complaints made up roughly a quarter of all complaints filed against the 2024 Trax (about 40 of 157) and close to a fifth of complaints against the 2025 Trax (about 13 of 76), including reports of fire (7 in the 2024 complaint set, 3 in the 2025 set). That's a meaningfully higher share of engine complaints than you'd expect from a normal subcompact crossover, and it lines up with what the forum threads describe.
The honest read: most 2024-2025 Trax engines are running fine, including a heavily-used press long-termer. A documented subset has failed catastrophically and early, GM is being sued over it, and as of mid-2026 there's no recall or extended-warranty program addressing it the way GM has for other known engine defects. Budget for that uncertainty, and don't skip the cold-start test in the inspection checklist below.
TSBs worth knowing
GM has issued several technical service bulletins for the 2024-2025 Trax that aren't the connecting rod issue but are worth asking a seller or dealer about: TSB 24-NA-259 (November 2024) addresses A/C systems that stop cooling or blow warm air. A separate bulletin gives dealers diagnostic guidance for a MIL (check engine light) triggered by code P219A. There's also a bulletin covering USB ports and phones that won't charge or connect, and a service note warning against topping off transmission fluid with anything containing ethylene glycol, since it can damage the transmission internally.
Electrical and infotainment gremlins
The second most common complaint category across both model years is electrical, not mechanical. GM issued recall 23V744000 in December 2023 for the 2024 Trax (shared with the Buick Encore GX and Envista) because a software bug in the Virtual Cockpit Unit could cause the instrument panel display to go blank at startup or while driving, hiding your speedometer and warning lights. GM fixed it with a dealer or over-the-air software update, so any 2024 Trax you're looking at should already have the patch. Beyond that recall, owners on traxforum.com and in consumer reviews report a cluster of smaller electrical annoyances: infotainment screens and backup cameras that freeze or show a fisheye view until you restart the car, Bluetooth pairing that intermittently forgets a paired phone, keyless entry that occasionally stops responding, and Apple CarPlay connections that drop and don't reliably reconnect. None of these are safety-critical on their own, but a cluster of them on a test drive is a sign you're looking at a car with unresolved software gremlins rather than a one-off glitch.
Trim Levels
| Trim | Key Equipment | What to Pay Extra For |
|---|---|---|
| LS | 8-inch touchscreen, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, Wi-Fi hotspot | Skip unless budget is the only priority; missing heated seats and the bigger screen |
| 1RS | LS equipment plus heated steering wheel, heated front seats, sport-styled grille and badging | Good value bump for cold-climate buyers who don't need the bigger screen |
| LT | 11-inch infotainment screen, 8-inch digital driver display, roof rails, upgraded aluminum wheels | The sweet spot for most buyers; biggest jump in usable tech per dollar |
| 2RS | LT-level equipment with sportier exterior trim and darker badging | Buy this over 1RS only if the styling matters to you; mechanically identical |
| ACTIV | 18-inch wheels, 10-way power driver's seat, titanium roof rails, rugged exterior cladding | Worth it if you want the most comfortable seat in the lineup; skip if you never go off pavement |
All five trims share the identical 1.2L turbo, 6-speed automatic, and FWD-only drivetrain. There's no performance or towing reason to pay up for a higher trim; every dollar above LS buys comfort, tech, or styling, not capability. The LT is the trim most reviewers and forum posters point to as the best mix of price and features, since it adds the larger infotainment screen and driver display without the RS or ACTIV premium. If you live somewhere it snows regularly, know going in that no trim offers all-wheel drive. GM's own data showed roughly 70% of first-generation Trax buyers chose front-wheel drive anyway, which is presumably part of why GM cut AWD entirely for this generation to hold the price down. Owners in snow-heavy states have been vocal about missing it on forums; a good set of winter tires closes most of the gap, but it won't fully replace a second driven axle on ice.
Which Model Years to Target Within This Gen
| Year | Recalls | Key Changes | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 (23V744000, instrument cluster software) | Launch year; all-new platform, engine, and styling | Good value, verify the recall was completed |
| 2025 | 0 in CarScout's NHTSA-sourced data | Carryover generation, no major mechanical changes, pricing up slightly | Best value if the seller can show a clean complaint/service history |
There's only one real generational split to make here, since this is a two-model-year-old design. The 2024 is the launch year, and it carries the one confirmed recall (the instrument cluster software fix) along with the highest volume of engine-related NHTSA complaints of the two years. The 2025 shows fewer total complaints in CarScout's data, but that's partly a function of fewer of them having accumulated real-world mileage yet, not proof the connecting rod issue is resolved. The class action lawsuit explicitly covers 2024-and-later Trax models, so don't assume a 2025 is automatically safer; treat both years with the same inspection rigor. If you're choosing between a well-documented 2024 with service records showing the recall was completed and a 2025 with no paper trail at all, the 2024 with records is the safer buy.
Consumer Reports, which tracks predicted reliability separately from NHTSA's raw complaint counts, has flagged the 2024 Trax for below-average predicted reliability and owner satisfaction scores, while rating the 2025 as improved. Treat that as a data point, not a verdict: it's a prediction model built on early data for a still-young nameplate, not a track record spanning tens of thousands of vehicles over many years the way an older generation's reliability rating would be. The lawsuit and the forum threads are the more concrete signal right now.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
This generation only has one powertrain, so every buyer needs the same checklist regardless of trim.
- Start the engine cold, before it's been running that day. Listen for a knock or metallic bang in the first few seconds, especially one that doesn't fade as the engine warms up. That's the symptom owners describe right before a connecting rod failure. Walk away from any Trax that knocks on cold start.
- Take it for a drive long enough to reach full operating temperature and watch for a "Reduced Engine Power" or "Service Traction Control" warning appearing under normal acceleration. Forum reports describe this warning as an early sign before a stall.
- Ask the seller directly whether the car has ever thrown a check engine light, and if so, whether the dealer diagnosis mentioned code P219A or any oil pressure or connecting rod bearing concern. Get it in writing if they answer.
- Confirm recall 23V744000 (the instrument cluster software recall) was completed on a 2024 model. Any dealer can look this up by VIN in seconds, and the fix was a free software update, so there's no reason it shouldn't be done by now.
- Test the infotainment screen and backup camera through a full startup cycle, not just once. The known glitch is intermittent: a screen that's fine on your test drive can still be one that goes fisheye or blank the next morning.
- Cycle the keyless entry and try locking and unlocking from a distance a few times. Intermittent lock failures are a documented complaint on this generation.
- Ask for maintenance records showing regular oil changes on the recommended interval. A turbocharged three-cylinder this small has less margin for oil neglect than a larger engine, and a spotty oil change history is a red flag given the known bearing concerns.
- Run the VIN through CarScout's free recall lookup before you commit to anything, so you're not relying on the seller's word alone.
Running Costs
| Powertrain | Combined MPG | Key Maintenance Items | Est. Annual Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2L turbo I3, FWD | 30 (28 city / 32 hwy) | Oil changes on schedule, A/C system check per TSB 24-NA-259, transmission fluid (never top off with glycol-based fluid) | Low on paper, but budget uncertainty around the pending engine litigation |
EPA data puts every 2024-2025 Trax at an identical 30 mpg combined and an estimated $2,250 in annual fuel costs, since the powertrain doesn't change across trim or model year. That's competitive for the segment. Where the Trax gets complicated is the repair-cost picture: routine maintenance is cheap on a simple 3-cylinder with a conventional 6-speed automatic, but the connecting rod allegations mean a small percentage of owners are facing an engine replacement, and GM's own parts backorders have reportedly left at least one owner without a car for months while waiting on a new engine. If you're budgeting for ownership costs, it's worth pricing out an extended warranty that specifically covers engine internals, since GM's factory powertrain warranty (5 years/60,000 miles) won't help you on an older or higher-mileage used example.
Insurance costs on this generation run close to segment average since the Trax carries a full suite of standard driver-assist features (automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist on every trim, including base LS), which insurers generally reward. Depreciation is harder to predict than usual for a two-year-old nameplate with a pending class-action lawsuit hanging over it; a resolved lawsuit with a clear remedy tends to stabilize resale values, while an unresolved one can suppress them until buyers know what they're dealing with. Factor that uncertainty into any private-party price negotiation rather than assuming book value tells the whole story.
FAQ
Is the 2024-2025 Chevy Trax reliable? Mostly, based on the data available. A Car and Driver long-term test ran 40,000 miles with no powertrain issues, but a documented subset of Trax owners have reported catastrophic connecting rod failures, which is now the subject of a class-action lawsuit against GM. Cold-start knock is the warning sign to check for.
What year Trax should I avoid? Neither model year has a clean bill of health on the engine issue, since the class action covers 2024-and-later Trax models. The 2024 carries the confirmed instrument cluster recall and the higher complaint count in CarScout's NHTSA-sourced data, so lean toward a 2025 or a well-documented 2024 with the recall completed.
Does the 2024 or 2025 Chevy Trax have all-wheel drive? No. GM dropped AWD entirely for this generation; every 2024-2025 Trax, across all five trims, is front-wheel drive only. The previous-generation Trax (2015-2022) offered AWD on higher trims, so cross-shop that generation if AWD is a requirement.
Is the Chevy Trax's 1.2L turbo engine known for connecting rod failures? There's an active class-action lawsuit alleging GM's LIH and LBP 1.2L turbo engines, used in the Trax, Trailblazer, Encore GX, and Envista, are prone to premature connecting rod and bearing failure. It's a lawsuit, not an NHTSA recall, and most owners haven't reported the issue, but a cold-start knock test is worth doing on any used example.
What trim of Trax is the best value used? The LT trim is the consensus pick among reviewers and forum posters, since it adds the larger 11-inch infotainment screen and digital driver display over the base LS without the RS or ACTIV price premium. All trims share the same engine and drivetrain, so higher trims buy comfort and tech, not capability.
Bottom Line
The second-generation Trax is a genuinely good value proposition on paper: roomy, efficient, well-equipped even at the base trim, and cheap to buy used given how fast GM has been building them. The catch is the engine underneath every single one of them is the subject of an active class-action lawsuit over connecting rod failures, and there's no recall yet to fall back on. Do the cold-start knock test before you hand over any money, confirm the instrument cluster recall was completed on a 2024, and pull maintenance records showing the oil was changed on schedule. If the engine sounds clean and the paperwork checks out, the LT trim is the one to target. Track pricing on specific trims and years at CarScout's Trax market page.
Sources
Data sourced from NHTSA recalls and complaints via CarScout's market data API, EPA fuel economy data, and real owner reports from the Chevy Trax Forum (traxforum.com), Car and Driver's long-term test program, and coverage of the March 2026 GM class-action lawsuit from GM Authority, CarComplaints.com, Top Class Actions, MotorBiscuit, Autoblog, CarBuzz, LegalScoops, and Valero Law. See the full Chevrolet Trax market data for pricing and inventory.