Chevrolet›Trax›2021›Overview/chevrolet/trax/2021/base/

2021 Chevrolet Trax

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 Trax.

Transmission Automatic (S6)

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax calls for 4.2 quarts of 5W-30 or 0W-30 engine oil, uses an automatic (S6) transmission, and earns an EPA rating of 24/29/26 mpg. Owner data records 23 total complaints for this model year, with air bags cited as the top complaint area, while recalls stand at zero. Against the full 2013–2026 model span, where complaints peak at 159 for 2024 and bottom out at nine for 2022, the 2021 model lands near the lower end of the range, indicating fewer reported issues than most years in the lineup.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 0W-30OEM · verified

Lug nut torque103 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy24/29/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 25206377. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP205/70R16 96HOEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	25206377 alt 55593191
Engine air filter	95021102
Spark plug	12681656 alt 12683541
Battery	88866291
Front wiper blades	42765836 alt 42765840
Serpentine belt	55595700
Thermostat	55565619 alt 12649163
Cabin air filter	13503675

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	167.3 in
Overall width	70.1 in
Overall height	65.7 in
Wheelbase	100.8 in
Curb weight	3254 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	24 / 29 / 26 mpg
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Trax of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.0–10.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.00 sec — 2015 LTZ

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2017	Premier 1.4L Turbo I-4	9.30 sec	17.10 sec	138 hp	FWD
2015	LTZ 1.4L Turbo I-4	9.00 sec	16.80 sec	138 hp	FWD
2015	LT 1.4L Turbo I-4	9.30 sec	17.10 sec	138 hp	FWD
2015	LTZ 1.4L Turbo I-4	9.40 sec	17.20 sec	138 hp	AWD
2015	LT 1.4L Turbo I-4	9.80 sec	17.50 sec	138 hp	AWD
2015	LT 1.4L Turbo I-4	10.10 sec	17.50 sec	138 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 / 0W-30 engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 10.33 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	4.2 - 6.3 Qts.
Engine Coolant Capacity	7.7 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · 0W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	5.9 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	4.4 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	31.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	10.33 ft-lbs
Torque Converter Bolts	To Flexplate Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	103 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	30.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	30.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	.024-.028 in
Spark Plug Torque	13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	0.97 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Capacity	2.5 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50.0-94.0
RPM	43.0-58.0 rpm

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	Front: 30.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 26.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	Front: 118.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 74.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor Torque	6.5
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.055" in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: .905; Rear: .393
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish	Front: .913; Rear: .402
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	.001
Maximum Rotor Runout	.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages

37.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60°

37 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

18.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45°

18 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

110.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 150.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 45-60°

110 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

26.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180°

26 ft. lbs

Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

26.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30°, Step 3: 15°

26 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45°, Step 3: 15°

44 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 mi	Windshield Wiper Blade (replace)
Every 22,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 75,000 mi	Hood Hinge (inspect)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax represents a notable inflection point in the generation’s federal record, particularly in complaints and recalls. Complaints dropped sharply to 23 from 93 in 2020 and 132 in 2019, marking the lowest figure since the model’s 2015 debut, while recalls remained at zero for the second consecutive year—a trend not seen since 2013. This decline aligns with a broader pattern of diminishing technical service bulletins (TSBs), which fell to 407 in 2021, less than a third of the 2015 peak. However, the 2021 model’s complaint profile still includes critical areas like air bags and service brakes, though at minimal volumes, and its five crash-related complaints suggest persistent structural or safety concerns. The subsequent 2022 model saw further improvement, with complaints halving again, reinforcing that 2021 sits at the tail end of a corrective phase rather than the onset of new issues. This positions the 2021 Trax as a relatively stable choice within the generation, offering the benefit of resolved early-model flaws without the uncertainty of post-redesign adjustments. Buyers prioritizing reliability and a clean recall history should view this year favorably.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

407

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

5 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20’21’22 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 23 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags2

Service Brakes2

Visibility1

Structure1

Power Train,Electrical System,Engine1

Electrical System,Service Brakes,Engine1

Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Engine1

Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 407 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT5966F	2026-06-23	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still…
PIC6423A	2026-05-11	Unknown Or Other	Pi created to provide GM dealers with information on gathering information for projection…
PIC6551B	2026-05-11	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless…
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Trax. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 47 battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt Engine oil filter 25206377 Engine air filter 95021102 Spark plug 12681656 Battery 88866291

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2021 Trax take?

4.2 qt of Dexos1 Gen 2 5W-30 is preferred but 0W-30 may be used for temperatures below -20°F, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 Trax have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Trax get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 29 highway / 26 combined mpg.