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2013 Chevrolet Cruze

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cruze years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze are substantially higher than the model-year median of 250.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

417 reports with mileage · 169 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 211 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 121 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 112 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

54 crash reports8 fire reports25 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

49 reports
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75,000 miles · Oct 22, 2019
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON, AIRBAG SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. I PAID OVER $800 AND THE PART HAS BEEN ON ORDER FOR A MONTH!

NHTSA ODI #11270116

96,826 miles · Oct 18, 2019
Air Bags

DROVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING AS USUAL WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, CAR SAT IN THE PARKING DURING THE DAY WENT OUT TO DRIVE HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY AND THE AIR BAG TROUBLE LIGHT IN ON. TOOK CAR THE GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CODE DIAGNOSED AND DEALERSHIP INFORMS ME THAT THE AIRBAG AND CONNECTING AIRBAG HARNESS WILL NEED TO BE …

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DROVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING AS USUAL WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, CAR SAT IN THE PARKING DURING THE DAY WENT OUT TO DRIVE HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY AND THE AIR BAG TROUBLE LIGHT IN ON. TOOK CAR THE GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CODE DIAGNOSED AND DEALERSHIP INFORMS ME THAT THE AIRBAG AND CONNECTING AIRBAG HARNESS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE FACT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT RECALIBRATE AND IS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMPUTER.

NHTSA ODI #11269480

90,475 miles · Jun 3, 2019
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainCrash

MY CAR IS A DANGER THE ENGINE POWER SLOWS DOWN WHEN DRIVING CAUSING ANOTHER TO HIT IN THE BACK POWER STEERING LIGHT DISPLAYS, STABILIZE TRACT AND ENGINE POWER, I HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT.I TOOK CAR TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP HARBISON RD COLUMBIA SC THEY JUST HALF REPAIR IT SOMEONE MAY DIE IF CAR CONTINUE TO POWER D…

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MY CAR IS A DANGER THE ENGINE POWER SLOWS DOWN WHEN DRIVING CAUSING ANOTHER TO HIT IN THE BACK POWER STEERING LIGHT DISPLAYS, STABILIZE TRACT AND ENGINE POWER, I HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT.I TOOK CAR TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP HARBISON RD COLUMBIA SC THEY JUST HALF REPAIR IT SOMEONE MAY DIE IF CAR CONTINUE TO POWER DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11217617

90,000 miles · May 30, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS CONCERNING THE MOTOR AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SERVICED OUTSIDE OF THE DEALERSHIP. CAR FREQUENTLY QUITS AND HAS TO BE JUMPSTARTED.

NHTSA ODI #11216971

73,000 miles · May 17, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED RIGHT SHOULDER, WRIST, AND BACK THAT REQUIRED M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED RIGHT SHOULDER, WRIST, AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ODI #11208217

120,000 miles · Apr 24, 2019
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES THE FIRST TIME I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED THE NEXT TIME I HIT THE BRAKE IT WAS HARD AND DIDN'T STOP THE CAR CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE, CAUSIN…

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I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES THE FIRST TIME I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED THE NEXT TIME I HIT THE BRAKE IT WAS HARD AND DIDN'T STOP THE CAR CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE, CAUSING MY HEAD TO SLAM INTO THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING ME TO BITE MY TONGUE IN HALF. I HAVE CONTACT CHEVROLET AND GM MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING THEY LITERALLY HAVE NOT CARED ONE BIT. I BELIEVE THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM OR THE VACUUM SYSTEM IN THE BRAKES AND I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO IN A CRUZE, I LOOKED IT UP AFTER IT HAPPENED AND I FOUND A FEW OTHER STORIES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI #11203353

47,000 miles · Sep 18, 2018
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ED BOZARTH CHEVROLET (303-751-7500, LOCATED AT 2001 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S…

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ED BOZARTH CHEVROLET (303-751-7500, LOCATED AT 2001 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V372000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A TEN PERCENT DISCOUNT TOWARDS THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #11130225

115,000 miles · Jul 30, 2018
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

2013 CHEVY CRUZE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 30-40MPH HEAD ON. NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED . AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS NOW ON.

NHTSA ODI #11114473

100,000 miles · Jul 5, 2018
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIR BAGS ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED AFTER DRIVING OVER AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (COLUMBIA CHEVROLET, 9750 MONTGOMERY RD., CINCINNATI, OHIO), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIR BAGS ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED AFTER DRIVING OVER AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (COLUMBIA CHEVROLET, 9750 MONTGOMERY RD., CINCINNATI, OHIO), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11109628

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2017
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT ABRUPTLY STOPPED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BETTEN BAKER CHEVROLET B…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT ABRUPTLY STOPPED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BETTEN BAKER CHEVROLET BUICK DEALER LOCATED AT 930 O'MALLEY DR, COOPERSVILLE, MI 49404 WHERE THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,897.

NHTSA ODI #11048201

Official recalls

5

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

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."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

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."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

14V417000 · Equipment:electrical

Jul 2, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

14V372000 · Air Bags

Jun 26, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's front air bag inflator may have been manufactured with an incorrect part.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike and potentially seriously injure the vehicle occupants. Additionally, if the air bag does not inflate, the driver is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14305.

14V151000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft

Mar 31, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with a 1.4L turbo engine, and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and March 7, 2014. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right half shaft, as needed, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. GM will send an interim letter to owners in May 2014. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's number for this recall is 14079. This is an expansion of recall 13V-452. NOTE: Some vehicles subject to this recall were subject to the recall campaign initiated in 2013. Some of those vehicles were repaired using defective parts. Those owners will be advised that they must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign and that having the earlier recall completed did not remedy their vehicles.

13V452000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft

Sep 23, 2013

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) and manufactured January 24, 2013, through August 1, 2013. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: General Motors has notified owners. Dealers will replace the half shaft assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 15, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300. This is General Motors campaign number 13276.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.