Thinking about buying a used Holden Trax (2013–2020) in New Zealand? We've documented 7 known faults for this model spanning engine and cooling. Each researched and verified before it's published. The most serious issues here are rated critical. Two are set out in full below — the rest, with the symptoms, repair costs and checks for each, are free with an account.
7
Documented faults
Critical
Most serious
$700–$2,000
Typical repair
2
Systems covered
Known Holden Trax faults
Every fault below is documented specifically for this model — researched and verified before it’s published.
01Turbocharger failure on the 1.4 turbo
CriticalOccasionalEngine $1,200–$3,800 to fix
Turbocharger problems are frequently reported on the turbocharged Trax. A turbo lives on a thin film of oil at very high speed and temperature, so it is punished harder than almost anything else in the engine by long oil intervals, cheap oil, and by being switched off immediately after a hard run before it has had a chance to cool. When it goes, power falls away, the car may drop into a reduced-power mode, and the failing bearing lets oil into the intake — which is why blue smoke and rising oil consumption often arrive together with the loss of pull. It is a substantial repair on a car of this value, so it is worth ten minutes of proper testing rather than a gentle drive around the block.
Symptoms to notice
Noticeable loss of power, or the car feeling flat when you accelerate hard
Blue or grey smoke from the exhaust, especially under load or on lift-off
Whistling, whining or a siren-like noise that rises with the revs
Engine warning light, or the car dropping into a reduced-power mode
Oil level falling between services
What to check
You have to make it work to find this. On the test drive, accelerate hard through the gears at least twice from low revs in a safe, clear place, and feel whether the car pulls cleanly and keeps pulling, or whether it goes flat partway through. Have someone follow you or watch in the mirror for blue or grey smoke as you accelerate hard and again as you lift off. Listen with the window down for a whistle or whine that rises with the revs and sounds like a siren rather than normal induction noise. Watch the dash the whole time for a warning light or any message about reduced power. With the bonnet up afterwards, check the oil level and colour, and look for oil residue around the intake pipework and hose joints. Ask how often the oil is changed and with what oil, and ask whether the turbo has ever been replaced. If a workshop inspection is possible: have the boost pressure checked and the turbo assessed for shaft play, which finds a tired unit before it fails.
Where to look: Turbocharger — mounted at the exhaust side of the engine, with its oil feed and intake pipework
Ask the seller
“Has the turbocharger ever been replaced or repaired?”
“How often is the oil changed, and with what oil?”
“Does it ever go flat under acceleration or show a reduced-power message?”
021.4 turbo PCV/valve-cover failure causing lean running and oil use
MinorCommonEngine $250–$700 to fix
The 1.4 turbo (shared with the Holden Cruze) has a PCV (crankcase breather) diaphragm built into the plastic valve cover that tears with age, causing a vacuum leak. This gives a lean-mixture fault (code P0171), rough idle, a whistling/hissing sound and sometimes higher oil consumption or smoke, because the failed diaphragm lets the engine suck oil vapour. The usual fix is a new valve cover. Left alone it runs rough and can foul the turbo and plugs.
Symptoms to notice
Rough or hunting idle
Check-engine light with a lean code (P0171)
Whistle or hiss from the top of the engine
Light blue smoke or rising oil use
What to check
Listen at idle for a whistle/hiss from the top of the engine and feel for a rough idle. Ask if the valve cover has been replaced. Have it scanned for a P0171 lean code, and check the oil level and for any smoke on start-up.
Where to look: PCV diaphragm in the plastic valve/cam cover on top of the 1.4 turbo engine
Ask the seller
“Has the valve cover / PCV ever been replaced?”
“Does it idle roughly or show a lean/P0171 code?”
EngineCritical
EngineMajor
EngineMajor
CoolingMajor
CoolingMajor
5 more documented faults on the Holden Trax
Symptoms, what to check, where to look and what to ask the seller — for every fault above. Free with an account, no card needed. One account covers one vehicle, so make it the car you’re actually looking at.
This page covers the model. Enter the plate of the actual car you’re looking at and see its year, engine, safety rating and register flags — free, no account needed.
Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 7 documented faults for the Holden Trax, the recurring problem areas are engine and cooling. A Holden Trax with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.
What are the most common problems with a used Holden Trax?
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We've catalogued 7 known faults for the Holden Trax, covering engine and cooling. Two are written out in full on this page. The rest — with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each — are free once you create an account.
How much do repairs cost on a Holden Trax?
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Most single repairs on the Holden Trax fall between $700–$2,000 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 7 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.
Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Holden Trax?
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Yes. A Holden Trax inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $17.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.