Major Problems with Chevrolet Cruze Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Chevrolet Cruze to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Chevrolet Cruze

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Chevrolet Cruze.

Model Year	Complaints
2019 Cruze	3
2018 Cruze	31
2017 Cruze	68
2016 Cruze	109
2015 Cruze	146
2014 Cruze	438
2013 Cruze	418
2012 Cruze	726
2011 Cruze	631

Worst 3 Chevrolet Cruze complaints

2014 Chevrolet Cruze AIR BAGS Victims: 4 Mileage: 98200 miles

2011 Chevrolet Cruze BODY Victims: 4 Mileage: 45000 miles

2012 Chevrolet Cruze AIR BAGS Victims: 4 Mileage: 32500 miles

Browse Chevrolet Cruze complaints by category

Problems with ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and POWER TRAIN are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Chevrolet Cruze owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
ENGINE tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated while driving on an incline the vehicle drifted backwards....	727 ~ 54509 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM when driving in a straight line at highway speed the vehicle will not make small steering corrections. when a slight...	521 ~ 44498 miles
POWER TRAIN my vehicle recently became part of the gm recall below: vehicles affected: about 174 046 model-year 2013-2014 chevrolet cruze sedans...	455 ~ 45031 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL 4 times this month i was sitting still and all lights on dash came on.the car only has 1100 miles.the...	315 ~ 59526 miles
STEERING while driving at hwy speeds the steering will appear to stick or not respond. it feels as if there is...	301 ~ 40129 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER when driving in a straight line at highway speed the vehicle will not make small steering corrections. when a slight...	271 ~ 46513 miles
SERVICE BRAKES the brake pedal will push (in a panic stop) to below the accelerator allowing the car to continue accelerating when...	267 ~ 38353 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph the vehicle independently...	177 ~ 43676 miles
AIR BAGS tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that while attempting to make a left turn the...	175 ~ 40835 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM problem: smell of gas upon restart of vehicle. summary i had driven from chicago to brownstown mi (which is a...	134 ~ 45838 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER it was raining and approximately 40 degrees as indicated by the car thermometer. i was driving and the windshield wipers...	112 ~ 63788 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING while driving my newly leased 2014 chevy cruze with the heat on to school i became dizzy nausea and very...	81 ~ 17606 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE my vehicle recently became part of the gm recall below: vehicles affected: about 174 046 model-year 2013-2014 chevrolet cruze sedans...	56 ~ 28656 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING i was driving east on the road. the car in front of me suddenly stopped and i was unable to...	50 ~ 42035 miles
WHEELS tire blew out in tread area hole the size of a quarter. second tire blew out a hole size of	32 ~ 27250 miles
SUSPENSION i bought my cruze at the end of feb 2014 new. on april 11 2014 i took it in for...	29 ~ 25932 miles
SEAT BELTS daughter was involved in an accident on highway. vehicle in front of her used no turn signal or brakes. daughter...	19 ~ 39877 miles
TIRES tire blew out in tread area hole the size of a quarter. second tire blew out a hole size of	17 ~ 19628 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN back in january 2012 i bought a chevy cruze 2012 with automatic transmission. after two month using this vehicle i...	16 ~ 6193 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC i am writing asking for you to look into what i call endangering to motorist in our state more so...	15 ~ 16689 miles
SEATS october 12 2016 my chevy cruze was hit by a peterbilt 375 dump truck in two place the driver side...	15 ~ 26439 miles
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. while driving 50 mph the traction control warning light illuminated. the vehicle...	11 ~ 39984 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2014 chevrolet cruze. consumer writes in regards to transmission shift problems. *smd the consumer stated it took a while before...	11 ~ 20280 miles
DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY 3rd time since purchasing in march 2014 that heater and or air conditioning has stopped working. was told first 2...	11 ~ 9796 miles
EQUIPMENT there was a recall on my 2012 chevy cruze. i got a recall notice but never did receive notice that...	9 ~ 128 miles
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY windows steam and fog frequently and the fan does not clear all windows. windshield center will only defrost when on...	8 ~ 20101 miles
STRUCTURE simply getting into the car as getting into any car. under portion of dash so low it caused abrasion and...	8 ~ 23695 miles
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. while driving 5 mph the accelerator pedal fractured. the vehicle was towed...	7 ~ 17738 miles
VISIBILITY limited visibility at night (shaded windshield) with no artificial lighting (street lights) especially bad on curves and hills. see link	7 ~ 13307 miles
PEDALS AND LINKAGES > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2014 chevrolet cruze. consumer writes n regards to vehicle sudden acceleration after stepping on the brake pedal. *smd the consumer...	6 ~ 7713 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM letter from congressman johnson on behalf of constituent re 2013 chevy cruze. *smd the consumer stated there was very little...	5 ~ 16120 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN purchased 4/25/2012. after driving a little noticed lack of power easily stalls something rolling around in the trunk lid console...	4 ~ 320 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. while entering vehicle the side air bags deployed without impact or warning....	3 ~ 22200 miles
VACUUM > POWER ASSIST > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl* the contact owns a 2013 chevrolet cruze. while driving approximately 70 mph the instrument panel failed to illuminate. the...	3 ~ 56767 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the sun roof shattered while the vehicle was...	3 ~ 62562 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES we have approximately 28000 miles on our 2013 chevrolet cruze. today we were returning from a trip to see family...	3 ~ 46510 miles
LOCK > TRUNK LID > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph the brakes failed....	3 ~ 48000 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE the front chrome interior door handles on my 2011 chevy cruze that i purchased is peeling off. the edges of...	3 ~ 61367 miles
EXTERIOR > REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2013 chevrolet cruze. while at a stop the vehicle jerked and made an abnormal noise...	3 ~ 10155 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT when a/c is on it blowes cold air on the windshield out of the defroster vents and foggs up the...	3 ~ 25700 miles
PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS > TIRES tire monitor system gives warning that it needs service have been to dealership twice in the past two days for	3 ~ 18533 miles
INTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. while driving various speeds the radio and the interior lighting in the...	2 ~ 28624 miles
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the clutch assembly failed to engage and disengage...	2 ~ 60000 miles
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruise. the contact stated that while traveling 60 mph the vehicle lost all...	2 ~ 1500 miles
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. while driving approximately 55 mph the vehicle stalled and the lighting and...	2 ~ 3650 miles
TRUNK LID > BODY > STRUCTURE my trunk opened at random when i was headed to work. this occurred many times when i was driving and...	2 ~ 56639 miles
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2013 chevrolet cruze. after inserting the key in the ignition switch the vehicle turned on...	2 ~ 28500 miles
CRANKCASE (PCV) > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the brakes failed intermittently and a leak was...	2 ~ 54500 miles
HEATER CORE > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the inside of the vehicle smelled like burning...	2 ~ 17000 miles
ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT > MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT 2012 chevrolet cruze. consumer writes in regards safety recall *tgw the consumer stated his wife saw a news report where...	2 ~ 5550 miles
SWITCH > IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated while trying to start her vehicle the key became...	2 ~ 3500 miles
MOTOR > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2013 chevrolet cruze. while driving 60 mph in inclement weather the windshield wipers became inoperable...	1 ~ 99000 miles
PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES > TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet cruze. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v304000 (fuel system gasoline)...	1
BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2017 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the high mount brake lamp failed without warning....	1 ~ 59238 miles
BLIND SPOT DETECTION > LANE DEPARTURE tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the side detection system went completely out. also...	1 ~ 38000 miles
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the vehicle jerked lunged and lost power. also...	1 ~ 37000 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2013 chevrolet cruze. when the vehicle was started the fan underneath the hood continuously ran...	1 ~ 80000 miles
POWER ASSIST > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC power assist failed making steering difficult happened during lane change on freeway at 70 mph this happened in conjunction with...	1 ~ 39000 miles
CAMERA SYSTEM > BACK OVER PREVENTION tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet cruze. less than a month after leasing the vehicle the contact began having...	1 ~ 2100 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. while driving at an unknown speed the power steering warning lights illuminated...	1 ~ 58000 miles
EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. while driving 70 mph the check engine and diesel exhaust level warning...	1 ~ 46719 miles
FAN/MOTOR > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2013 chevrolet cruze. while driving 35 mph the windows started to fog up and the...	1 ~ 43000 miles
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2013 chevrolet cruze. consumer writes in regards to vehicle shutting off momentarily with the cruise control set. *smd...	1
FAN > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed the check...	1 ~ 57000 miles
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY gm has a defective drivers side windshield wiper system that failed/stopped working while i was driving on the highway in...	1 ~ 68700 miles
GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. while driving approximately 40 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle...	1 ~ 73000 miles
MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. while driving 55 mph an unknown warning sensor illuminated. the vehicle was...	1 ~ 62600 miles
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that while going down a hill at approximately 70...	1 ~ 12000 miles
ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the power steering suddenly malfunctioned causing the steering...	1 ~ 56000 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact owns a 2013 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 mph the check...	1 ~ 500 miles
AXLE SHAFT > AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN for gm recall 2014079 regarding a potential front axle right half fracture how can drivers passengers and others on the...	1 ~ 2850 miles
CHILD SEAT when installing a child booster seat in the rear seat of our 2011 chevy cruze the booster seat completely covers...	1 ~ 35000 miles
POWER STEERING FLUID > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING this started this week the electrical parts (radio speakers turning signal clicker ac etc) will constantly flicker off then come...	1 ~ 8856 miles
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl* the contact rented a 2013 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that he was a rear seat passenger in the...	1
NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT in 2012 i started having issues with my vehicle "chevrolet cruze 2011" and the vehicle is now or has been...	1 ~ 9800 miles
HEAD RESTRAINT > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the support for the headrest restraint would not...	1 ~ 3000 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY i have returned my 2011 cruze for electric windows automatically going down and not going back up....3 times replaced...the dealer...	1
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS cpsc#i1290104a. 2011 chevrolet cruze. consumer stated he is having intermittent problems with the passenger side airbag control. *ln occasionally when...	1
WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. the contact was driving 12 mph during a rain storm when the...	1 ~ 5000 miles
WATER HEATER > LPG SYSTEMS > RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the driver was driving approximately 70 mph when...	1 ~ 1000 miles
INJECTORS > FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. while attempting to accelerate the contact stated that the vehicle suddenly stalled...	1 ~ 12528 miles
REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY while test driving the new 2011 chevy cruze i noticed that the windshield is very small and the rearview mirror...	1 ~ 25 miles
TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE > TIRES tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the vehicle did not come equipped with a...	1 ~ 5 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2011 chevrolet cruze. consumer writes in regards to toxic fumes in vehicle *tgw the consumer stated the oil in the...	1
MOUNTING > TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE 2011 chevrolet cruze. consumer writes in regards to toxic fumes in vehicle *tgw the consumer stated the oil in the...	1

FAQ

What year Chevrolet Cruze is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 9 years, Chevrolet Cruze models of 2019, 2018, 2017 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Chevrolet Cruze?

Chevrolet Cruze models of 2012 and 2011 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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