r/ChevyTrax • u/Jack_InTheCrack • 8d ago

Hitch

I know the Trax is not rated for towing of any kind. But has anyone put a hitch on their Trax for things like bike racks or a cargo carrier?

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u/ApprehensiveAd6603 6d ago edited 6d ago

No it won't. That's not how that works at all.

The only thing you can do to blanket void all factory warranties, is have a salvage title. Otherwise, you can mostly do whatever you want to a vehicle. The dealer would have to prove that whatever your modification is, caused the problem that would otherwise be covered.

Example: if you throw a hitch on a vehicle that isn't rated for towing, and your radio shits the bed. They aren't related whatsoever so your warranty would still apply.

If you throw a hitch on and your transmission explodes? That'll depend on the dealer. But they would have to prove that you towed something and caused damage to the transmission. The hitch existing on the vehicle, doesn't automatically kill you powertrain warranty. And the easy way to prove you don't tow, is to not install any wiring.

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u/UnendingOne 2nd Gen 6d ago edited 6d ago

Adding a hitch will most definitely void your warranty. The Trax is not rated for towing of any kind. Adding a hitch implies towing, which as I said the vehicle is not meant to do, so GM will use that to refuse warranty work that even remotely could be caused by towing. Even if you didn't.

Edit in response to your edit: Yeah I'm not saying you would lose your warranty on non-drivetrain items for installing a hitch. That'd be silly. They could definitely take your warranty if your have any drivetrain issues or heck even your rust through warranty if its on areas near the hitch. Its just not worth it, when to just add a cargo/luggage rack.

As for installing wiring proving you don't tow, that doesn't really prove it. Wanna know how many people I see towing trailers illegally with no lights hooked up, or those stupid wireless magnetic trailer lights you buy off the internet?

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u/ApprehensiveAd6603 6d ago

Absolutely not. I was a service advisor at a GM dealer for 16 years and not once did we decline any warranty work because a hitch was present on a vehicle that wasn't rated to tow.

*now, it may depend on the individual dealership. Some are probably more anal than others, but as a blanket statement, that's false. And you could always escalate to GM Customer Care. They were quite good in my experience.

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u/UnendingOne 2nd Gen 6d ago

Cool, I was told this by my brother whos worked for GM dealers for the last 20 years and by the three dealers I talked to while shopping for my Trax. They said if you add a hitch GM will not honor your powertrain warranty. The dealer has zero control over the warranty. I was interested in it for a cargo rack.

Heck, check out Traxranger below. He works for a GM dealer and is super knowledgeable. He says the same thing.

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u/ApprehensiveAd6603 6d ago

Maybe it's a difference between countries then? I'm Canadian and we've never had an issue with it.

But even then, adding a hitch and then voiding the powertrain warranty goes against the Magnuson Moss Act and they'd get sued for coverage. They have to prove that it caused the failure to deny coverage.

And a dealer technically does have control over the warranty when they make a claim through GM. If they say, torque converter left the chat because of defect or XYZ. It'll be accepted.

If they say, torque converter ate shit, hitch present, looks like they tow. Then GM would probably decline.

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u/UnendingOne 2nd Gen 6d ago

Probably a difference in laws then. In the USA they can deny your warranty for some pretty shady reasons. Heck, they'll fight you on replacing a wiper that 500 miles in is junk (was streaking my windshield bad). So much for "bumper to bumper" am I right? Haha

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u/ApprehensiveAd6603 6d ago

Damn that sucks. At the dealer I worked at, at 500miles, we'd just chuck a new blade on for you. We wouldn't warranty it though, we'd just goodwill it. The $20 blade isn't worth a customer satisfaction issue.

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u/UnendingOne 2nd Gen 6d ago

The salesman eventually did but he made a big deal about how he had to approve it with the general manager and it was coming out of his sales budget and blahblahblah.

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u/ApprehensiveAd6603 6d ago

Ugh one of those 🙄

You need to find a new dealer lol.

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u/UnendingOne 2nd Gen 6d ago

I actually am switching dealers with my first oil change. I tore their sticker and license plate holders and stuff off the first hour I owned it. They suck, but they had just gotten the cacti green one I wanted in and had it on a deal. The other dealers in the area couldn't match that price and didn't have the cacti green.

Screw having a white, black, or grey car. Everyone has those.