Chevrolet Cruze Problems by Year
NHTSA has 3,723 owner complaints and 26 safety recalls on file for the Chevrolet Cruze, across 10 model years (2010–2019). The 2012 model year has the most complaints (865). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
Chevrolet Cruze years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Cruze year: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2012 Cruze: 865 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2011 Cruze: 732 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2014 Cruze: 702 complaints, 10 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2010 Cruze: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2019 Cruze: 23 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2018 Cruze: 109 complaints, 3 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet Cruze problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 1,260 | 9 | 35 |
| Electrical System problems | 760 | 9 | 30 |
| Power Train problems | 679 | 10 | 18 |
| Steering problems | 375 | 8 | 32 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems | 370 | 8 | 19 |
| Service Brakes problems | 345 | 9 | 70 |
| Air Bags problems | 260 | 10 | 149 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 253 | 9 | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 237 | 9 | 19 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 141 | 8 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 137 | 9 | 3 |
| Structure | 93 | 8 | 30 |
| Exterior Lighting | 76 | 8 | 6 |
| Wheels | 40 | 8 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 38 | 9 | 13 |
| Visibility | 38 | 8 | 0 |
| Suspension | 37 | 8 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 36 | 7 | 7 |
| Tires | 27 | 8 | 1 |
| Seats | 25 | 6 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 | 6 | 2 |
| Equipment | 16 | 5 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| Lane Departure | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Chevrolet Cruze problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2017: engine (73)
- 2016: engine (102) · electrical system (59)
- 2015: engine (99)
- 2014: engine (217) · electrical system (187) · power train (97) · steering (93) · air bags (77) · electronic stability control (esc) (69) · fuel/propulsion system (59)
- 2013: engine (212) · electrical system (122) · power train (113) · steering (74) · electronic stability control (esc) (62)
- 2012: engine (268) · electrical system (196) · service brakes (142) · power train (137) · electronic stability control (esc) (108) · steering (103) · vehicle speed control (51)
- 2011: engine (257) · power train (193) · electrical system (96) · electronic stability control (esc) (75) · vehicle speed control (70) · service brakes (61)
All Chevrolet Cruze model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Cruze | 23 | 2 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Cruze | 109 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 Cruze | 201 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 Cruze | 250 | 4 | 4★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2015 Cruze | 252 | 4 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2014 Cruze | 702 | 10 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Cruze | 587 | 5 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Cruze | 865 | 7 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 Cruze | 732 | 7 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 Cruze | 2 | 0 | — | Air Bags |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Cruze years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2011 (732), 2012 (865), 2013 (587), 2014 (702) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Cruze year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Cruze?
Engine, with 1,260 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Cruze have?
26 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.