Chevrolet Trax Radiator Problems (and other problems, too!) - Lemon Law

Does your Chevrolet Trax drive sluggishly, from time to time? Has the “Low Coolant” warning light come on at the most inopportune time, like driving on the freeway or on a long trip? You may be experiencing a known issue for the Chevrolet Trax that Chevrolet has even acknowledged by issuing an extended warranty for up to six years or 72,000 miles (which we wrote about here back in February of 2022.

The Chevrolet Trax Extended Warranty

The extended warranty is pretty straight forward and says:

Condition: On some 2015 - 2019 model year Chevrolet Trax vehicles, there may be a coolant leak at the radiator.

Special Coverage Adjustment: This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 6 years or 72,000 miles (116,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership. For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after March 26, 2020, are covered by this special coverage and must be submitted using the labor operation codes provided with this bulletin. Claims with repair orders prior to March 26, 2020, must be submitted to the Service Contract provider. Vehicle owners or lessees who paid for repairs referenced in this Special Coverage (“Customers”) are eligible for reimbursement of their reasonable and customary expenses in accordance with the procedures specified below. The conditional right to reimbursement is provided by GM solely in the interest of customer satisfaction and is personal to Customers. Customers may not assign and GM does not consent to any assignment of any Customer’s right to submit reimbursement claims, or to receive reimbursement, or any other rights granted by this Special Coverage to any third party, including but not limited to service contract providers, and this Special Coverage is not intended to and does not confer any third party beneficiary, subrogation or contribution rights, or any other rights to reimbursement, against GM, whether in law, equity or otherwise, on any third parties.

Correction: Dealers are to replace condenser, radiator, fan, charge air cooler and piping, and A/C pipes. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.

Are there any other problems with the Chevrolet Trax?

Actually, yes. Beyond the radiator coolant defect, many California consumers have noticed that their Chevrolet Trax has exhibited issues with the brakes and Service Stabiltrak warning message. Specifically, when pressing down (depressing) the brake pedal, it can go all the way to the floorboard and not work correctly. Here is a complaint from a Chevrolet Trax owner:

This is the 3rd time this has happened in our vehicle, my second complaint here. I was driving on the interstate at posted limit of 60 when brakes began locking up on me. I got it off to the side of the road, I thought my car was going to flip over the brakes locked down so hard. Service stabilitrak light came on, abs light and traction control light came on. I called the dealership who told me onstar provided the stabilitrak code for it. They told me it would be 160 to have it hooked up to diagnostics, that if it isn't covered by warranty it is a customer assumed cost. My husband replaced the ignition coil and spark plugs thinking that it was the problem, well over 200.00 for parts. The car is now doing the same thing, but I noticed it happened an incline, then realized it happened the 1st and 2nd time on a decline. I am now wondering if the transmission isn't going out at 47,363 odometer miles. The dealership is no help, they have the actual codes but won't provide them or tell me what's wrong. All I know is that for a 25,000 k car, it's dangerous. I am lucky I was able to maintain control of the vehicle on an interstate highway.

Obviously, this is incredibly dangerous and California Trax owners shouldn’t have to put up with this.

What Can I Do About My Chevrolet Trax?

If you’re in California and you’ve taken your Trax to a dealership at least 2 times for the same problem, like the radiator, brakes, service stabilitrak warnings, transmission or engine problems, then you may be entitled to compensation under the California Lemon Law. Compensation can include either a repurchase of the vehicle, meaning you get a refund of the money you paid for the vehicle or, alternatively, a cash and keep settlement, which is cash compensation based on the problems you’ve had with the Trax. And this is all AT NO COST TO YOU! Valero Law, APC is a California consumer protection firm dedicated to protecting the lemon law rights of California consumers and ALL cases are taken on a contingency basis, meaning if there is no recovery, there is absolutely no fee to you. We will fight to have your vehicle repurchased from you from the manufacturer under California Lemon Law.