Last updated: 2026-03-04
Chevrolet Trax vs Subaru Crosstrek: Reliability Compared
Chevrolet Trax
Subaru Crosstrek
Choosing between the Chevrolet Trax and the Subaru Crosstrek? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two subcompact suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Chevrolet Trax currently leads with an average score of 80/100 compared to 71/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Chevrolet Trax and Subaru Crosstrek Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Chevrolet Trax is more reliable than the Subaru Crosstrek, scoring 80/100 vs 71/100.
The Chevrolet Trax holds a slight edge in reliability with an average score of 85/100 compared to the Subaru Crosstrek's 81/100. The Trax also has a lower owner complaint rate at 4.6 per 10,000 sold, significantly outperforming the Crosstrek's 72.5. While both vehicles have similar estimated annual repair costs ($488 for the Trax and $492 for the Crosstrek), the Trax's fewer recalls and reduced complaint rate make it a more reliable choice in the subcompact SUV segment.
Key Differences
- 1Chevrolet Trax has 67.9 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 2Chevrolet Trax has 14 fewer total recalls
- 3Chevrolet Trax scores 9 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Chevrolet Trax vs Subaru Crosstrek: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Chevrolet Trax | Subaru Crosstrek |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 80/100 | 71/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 5 | 19 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 4.6 | 72.5 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $488/yr | $492/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.2/yr | 0.1/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 12% | 7% |
| Year Wins | 7 | 0 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Trax and Subaru Crosstrek?
The Chevrolet Trax exhibits a significant number of issues with its electrical system, accounting for 116 complaints, including one crash-linked incident. Notably, the Trax also has a concerning number of complaints related to its air bags, with 14 out of 20 being crash-linked, indicating a potential safety risk. In contrast, the Subaru Crosstrek has a high number of complaints regarding its visibility/wiper system, totaling 239, but fewer critical safety concerns, with the power train and vehicle speed control areas having 8 crash-linked complaints each. While the Crosstrek faces a broader range of issues, the Trax's air bag and steering problems may pose more immediate safety concerns.
| Component | Chevrolet Trax | Subaru Crosstrek |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.1Very Low | 21.8High |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.5Very Low | 11.3Above Avg |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1Very Low | 8.8Above Avg |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.4Very Low | 4.8Average |
| ENGINE | 0.6Very Low | 3.3Average |
| STEERING | 0.3Very Low | 3Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | 2.6Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 1.9Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | 1.5Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 1.3Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 1.1Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.2Very Low | 0.8Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.7Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | 0.5Very Low | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| WHEELS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Trax or Subaru Crosstrek?
How Does Chevrolet Trax vs Subaru Crosstrek Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Chevrolet Trax | Subaru Crosstrek | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 85/1000R / 61C | 83/1000R / 25C | Chevrolet Trax |
| 2024 | 80/1001R / 125C | 69/1002R / 95C | Chevrolet Trax |
| 2022 | 81/1000R / 9C | 78/1001R / 28C | Chevrolet Trax |
| 2021 | 81/1000R / 18C | 67/1002R / 97C | Chevrolet Trax |
| 2020 | 81/1000R / 80C | 72/1001R / 62C | Chevrolet Trax |
| 2019 | 75/1002R / 123C | 56/1008R / 272C | Chevrolet Trax |
| 2018 | 75/1002R / 93C | 60/1005R / 186C | Chevrolet Trax |
| 2026(predicted) | 82/100(predicted) | 78/100(predicted) | Chevrolet Trax |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Chevrolet Trax scored 85/100 and the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek scored 83/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Trax vs the Subaru Crosstrek?
Chevrolet Trax vs Subaru Crosstrek: Common Questions
- Is the Chevrolet Trax more reliable than the Subaru Crosstrek?
- Based on our data, the Chevrolet Trax is more reliable with an average score of 80/100 compared to 71/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Trax or the Subaru Crosstrek?
- The Subaru Crosstrek has more recalls (19) compared to the Chevrolet Trax (5). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Chevrolet Trax or the Subaru Crosstrek?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Chevrolet Trax has a lower complaint rate at 4.6 per 10,000 sold versus 72.5 for the Subaru Crosstrek. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Trax or the Subaru Crosstrek?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Chevrolet Trax is cheaper to maintain at $488/year versus $492/year for the Subaru Crosstrek.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Chevrolet Trax comparisons
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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