2011 Chevrolet Cruze Engine Problems
Owners have filed 257 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 35% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 67,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine power” (9% of reports).
- 257engine complaints
- 67,000median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $590typical repair cost reported by owners
- 42%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine power: mentioned in 24 of 257 complaints (9%)
- Traction control: mentioned in 21 of 257 complaints (8%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 18 of 257 complaints (7%)
- Throttle body: mentioned in 14 of 257 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze at $590, and half of them between $220 and $1,300.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2017), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 200 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 257 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 13 a fire, 5 an injury.
Chevrolet Cruze engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Cruze | 5 | 22% | — |
| 2018 Cruze | 27 | 25% | 13,000 |
| 2017 Cruze | 73 | 36% | 32,500 |
| 2016 Cruze | 102 | 41% | 66,248 |
| 2015 Cruze | 99 | 39% | 63,500 |
| 2014 Cruze | 217 | 31% | 65,000 |
| 2013 Cruze | 212 | 36% | 84,733 |
| 2012 Cruze | 268 | 31% | 67,000 |
| 2011 Cruze | 257 | 35% | 67,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2011 and 2012 chevrolet cruze vehicles manufactured from october 2, 2009, through may 31, 2012. Spilled or dripping oil (such as after an oil change) may collect in the engine shield (bellypan) near hot engine or exhaust system surfaces. As a result, the oil and the engine shield may ignite and burn.
Risk: Either condition could result in an engine compartment fire, possibly causing injury or death.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will modify the engine shield to prevent fluid from contacting the shield. Also, on vehicles with a manual transmission, dealers will apply a protective tape to the electronic power steering wire harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge to the owner. The safety recall began on july 10, 2012. Owners may contact the chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
iâm unsure if the person i bought this vehicle from had the codes wiped before selling to me, but there were NO lights on dash for 3 days after minimal driving only to work and back, then all of a sudden the check engine light came on, and in the info box it would pop up saying âservice…
I purchased my car in 2020 and have had this issue recently come up. I have coolant that is vanishing from my car but not dripping to the floor. I've learned since then that there was a recall on my car for my water pump which causes this exact issue which has caused a related check engine light to…
The primary failure is a total loss of engine power and electrical systems while the vehicle is in motion. The dealership (Ray Skillman Southside Mitsubishi) has diagnosed this as a failed engine/body control computer system. The vehicle is currently located at the dealership's service center and…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2011 Chevrolet Cruzes have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 257 owner complaints about engine for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze (35% of the 732 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 67,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze?
Owners report a typical cost of $590 (half paid between $220 and $1,300), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze?
The most frequent phrase is “engine power”, in 24 of 257 complaints, followed by “traction control” (21).
Other 2011 Chevrolet Cruze problems
See all 2011 Chevrolet Cruze problems or engine problems across all Cruze years.