Chevrolet›Trax›2018›Overview/chevrolet/trax/2018/base/

2018 Chevrolet Trax

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Trax.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2018 Chevrolet Trax is an SUV featuring an S6 automatic transmission and an engine requiring 4.2 quarts of 5W-30 or 0W-30 oil. This model achieves an EPA-rated fuel economy of 25/33/28 mpg. With 100 total owner complaints centered on the suspension and two recalls, the 2018 model year falls between the 2022 low of 9 complaints and the 2024 high of 159 within the 2013-2026 model history.

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 economy25/33/28 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 55593191. 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 sizeP205/70R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5; Optional: 7.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	55593191 alt 25195777
Engine air filter	95021102
Spark plug	12681656
Battery	88866291 alt 88864541
Front wiper blades	42765840 alt 42765836
Serpentine belt	55595700
Thermostat	55565619 alt 25200455
Cabin air filter	13503675 alt 13503677

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	25 / 33 / 28 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-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, Use Dexron gear oil GM part number 88863089 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	Use DEXRON(R)-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	4.2-6.3
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	Use Dexron gear oil GM part number 88863089
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.1 qt
Engine Coolant Capacity	7.7
Engine Oil	5W-30 · 0W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	31.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	8.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

103 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	0.97-1.27 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	2.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	47

Service checks

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

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	Front: 30; Rear: 27
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	Front: 111 ft-lbs; Rear: 74 ft-lbs
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: .906; Rear: .315
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish	Front: .913; Rear: .323
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	.0002
Maximum Rotor Runout	.0016

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages

347.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60 degrees Do not re-use old hub nut.

347 ft. lbs

Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages

347.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60 degrees Do not re-use old hub nut.

347 ft. lbs

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

15.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

15 ft. lbs

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

111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 60

111 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts.

1	26.0 ft. lbs.	26 ft. lbs
2	180 degrees	180 degrees

Oil Pan to Block Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

11.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180

11 ft. lbs

Oil Pan to Block Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3.6 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.4

3.6 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) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
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 97,500 mi	Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)

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 2018 Chevrolet Trax sits in the middle of the model's highest-activity period, with 100 complaints, 2 recalls, and no federal investigations. Compared with 2017 (110 complaints, 3 recalls) and 2019 (132 complaints, 2 recalls), 2018 shows a modest downward step in complaints and a continued decline in recalls from the 2015 recall peak of 7. Across the generation, recalls trended downward after 2015 while complaints stayed elevated through 2019, with a later spike to 159 complaints in 2024. The leading 2018 complaint categories were suspension (22), engine (11), unknown/other (8), and electrical system (6), along with 2 crash-related and 2 fire-related complaints; the data does not specify root causes. Because 2018 is past the worst recall years and carries lower complaint volume than the surrounding 2017-2019 window, it is a comparatively reasonable used-buy in this generation, though a pre-purchase inspection should focus on suspension and engine concerns.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

896

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

100

Owner complaints

2 involved a crash · 2 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 100 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension22

Engine11

Unknown Or Other8

Electrical System6

Power Train5

Electrical System,Engine4

Service Brakes3

Suspension,Wheels,Engine2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V312000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball JointReported 18/04/2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Trax vehicles. A joint in one or both of the front lower-control arms may have been improperly welded. An improperly welded joint may break, resulting in… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right front lower-control arms, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 14, 2019. Owners…

19V652000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball JointReported 12/09/2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Chevrolet Trax vehicles. A joint in one or both of the front lower control arms may have been improperly welded. An improperly welded joint may break, resulting in… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right front lower-control arms, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 896 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
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…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U	2026-01-08	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G	2025-11-20	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

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 55593191 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 2018 Trax take?

4.2 qt of 5W-30 Use GM Dexos 1 Oil or equivalent. Where temperature falls below -20 degreesF Use 0W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 Trax have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Trax get?

EPA figures are 25 city / 33 highway / 28 combined mpg.