2016 Chevrolet Cruze Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cruze years
- About as many complaints as other years 6th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 250 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. That ranks 6th out of 10 Cruze model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (102 complaints, 41%), typically at around 66,248 miles. Complaints mention 19 crashes, 6 fires, 14 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.

- 250owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 19complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Chevrolet Cruze problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 102 | 41% | 66,248 | “put park” (7%) | $3,800 |
| Electrical System problems | 59 | 24% | 40,500 | “auto stop” (8%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 43 | 17% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 35 | 14% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 31 | 12% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 21 | 8% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 18 | 7% | 38,600 | — | — |
| Steering | 18 | 7% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 16 | 6% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 4% | 32,750 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 3% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 2% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 2% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 2% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 2% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 1% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0% | 2,100 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 0% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 0% | 2,664 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 0% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Chevrolet Cruze recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.
Seats:front assembly:head restraint
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."
Risk: In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.
Electrical system:ignition; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
Risk: Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a GM dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet Customer Service Department at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 50190.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I am filing this complaint due to repeated mechanical and safety problems with my 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The vehicle has had ongoing acceleration problems, including times when it would not accelerate properly even with the A/C on its lowest setting. The turbocharger has needed to be replaced…
car has been overheating run while i take the keys out doors will lock with keys in the ignition lots of lights will come on car will slow way down constantly adding antifreeze in it heat and air will stop working i have had trouble ever since i bought this a year ago
Manufacturer: General Motors / Chevrolet Vehicle: 2016 Chevrolet Cruze LT (VIN: [XXX]) Corporate Case Number: XXX Nature of Dispute: Premature mechanical failure of a major drivetrain assembly and administrative bad faith. Factual Timeline: Initial Failure & Prior Liability: At 51,490 miles, the…
After 3 years of having this car itâs overheating each summer requiring the coolant system, hoses, thermostat, and water pump to be replaced each summer. As well as major oil leaking after full tune ups.
Coolant system and engine fan
Other Chevrolet Cruze years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Cruze | 23 | 2 |
| 2018 Cruze | 109 | 3 |
| 2017 Cruze | 201 | 2 |
| 2016 | 250 | 4 |
| 2015 Cruze | 252 | 4 |
| 2014 Cruze | 702 | 10 |
| 2013 Cruze | 587 | 5 |
| 2012 Cruze | 865 | 7 |
| 2011 Cruze | 732 | 7 |
| 2010 Cruze | 2 | 0 |
See all Chevrolet Cruze problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 102 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cruze model years, the 2016 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.