Chevrolet Cruze Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Cruze across 8 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (44). The words owners use most often: “water pump” (10% of reports).
- 141engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 39%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.
- Water pump: mentioned in 14 of 141 complaints (10%)
- Coolant smell: mentioned in 10 of 141 complaints (7%)
- Temperature gauge: mentioned in 8 of 141 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 114 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 141 complaints, 6 a fire, 1 an injury.
Chevrolet Cruze engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Cruze | 2 | 2% | 99,000 |
| 2017 Cruze | 4 | 2% | 92,685 |
| 2016 Cruze | 6 | 2% | 69,000 |
| 2015 Cruze | 5 | 2% | 90,000 |
| 2014 Cruze | 17 | 2% | 103,241 |
| 2013 Cruze | 24 | 4% | 41,812 |
| 2012 Cruze | 44 | 5% | 41,000 |
| 2011 Cruze | 39 | 5% | 26,206 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
Model years: 2011, 2012
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.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle began jerking motions and misfiring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a cam shaft failure and diagnostic codes P0016, P0101. The…
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started overheating, and a coolant leak was discovered. During the failure, the check engine warning light was displayed, and the message "A/C Off Due to High Engine Temp" was…
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was leaking oil from the top of the engine onto the drive belts. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V288000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The…
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle also lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and…
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started to emit smoke from the head gasket and from underneath the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact contacted the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Cruzes have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 141 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Chevrolet Cruze. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Cruze engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Cruze?
The most frequent phrase is “water pump”, in 14 of 141 complaints, followed by “coolant smell” (10).
Other Chevrolet Cruze problems
- Engine problems (1,260)
- Electrical System problems (760)
- Power Train problems (679)
- Steering problems (375)
- Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems (370)
- Service Brakes problems (345)
- Air Bags problems (260)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (253)
See all Chevrolet Cruze problems.