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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

Electrical System complaints

121 reports
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27,000 miles · Jul 23, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel System, Gasoline

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY @ 65 MPH OUR 2013 CHEVY CRUZE DIED SUDDENLY. AS WE COASTED, I TRIED STARTING IT AND IT STARTED AND WE CONTINUED. A FEW MINUTES LATER IT DID THE SAME THING, WE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, STOPPED, AND AGAIN IT RESTARTED. WE CONTINUED OUR 3 HOUR JOURNEY HOME WITHOUT ANY OTHER INCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615796

5,000 miles · Jul 23, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING OUR CRUZE, IS HAS FAILED TO START ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. AFTER 2 OR 3 KEY TURNS, IT DOES START. THIS HAS OCCURRED A DOZEN OR SO TIMES IN THE 16 MONTHS WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615790

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE CARS RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (EX. ON-STAR, PHONE CHARGERS, USB PRODUCTS) WILL TURN ON AND OFF AT RANDOM. IT OCCURS RANDOMLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS ROUGHLY 15-20 TIMES OVER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT MAINLY HAPPENS AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN WILL TURN BACK ON ONCE I ACCELERATE. THIS…

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THE CARS RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (EX. ON-STAR, PHONE CHARGERS, USB PRODUCTS) WILL TURN ON AND OFF AT RANDOM. IT OCCURS RANDOMLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS ROUGHLY 15-20 TIMES OVER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT MAINLY HAPPENS AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN WILL TURN BACK ON ONCE I ACCELERATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY GOING 60-70MPH AND THE EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WENT ON AND ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN IT STATED STABLITRAX IS OFF. IMMEDIATELY PRESSED MY ONSTAR BUTTON AND ASKED THEM TO RUN DIAGNOSIS AND THE WHOLE CONVERSATION WAS GOING IN AND OUT OF BEING ABLE TO HEAR THEM. MY RADIO WAS GOING ON AND OFF THE ENTIRE TIME WHEN THE RADIO WAS ON I COULD HEAR WHEN IT WAS OFF AND ALL POWER WAS OFF. WE DID LOSS CONNECTION TO ONSTAR AND I REPRESSED THE BUTTON. I HAVE HAD THEM RUN THEIR "DIAGNOSIS" MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THEY NEVER HAVE ANYTHING COME UP WRONG. THEY ADVISED ME TO TALE THE DEALER. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED ME THAT UNLESS IT WAS HAPPENING AT THAT TIME IT WOULD PRETTY MUCH BE IMPOSSIBLE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD SOME CLICKING OR SWITCHING SOUNDS COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING OCCASIONALLY NOT SURE IF AND MY ENGINE TEMP ALWAYS RUNS COLD NOT SURE IF EITHER OF THOSE RELATE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO FEEL SAFE IN MY NEW CAR AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE PAYING FOR ONSTAR AND NOT HAVE A DOUBT THEY WOULD BE REACHABLE IF THIS CAUSES A BIGGER PROBLEM! BE SAFE FELLOW CHEVY CRUZE DRIVERS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606053

32,000 miles · Jun 8, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

RADIO SHUTS ON AND OFF AT RANDOM, PROBLEM WORSENS AND STARTS TO INCLUDE SERVICE WARNINGS INCLUDING SERVICE STABILITRAK AND SERVICE SECURITY SYSTEM, POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AT RANDOM, ALSO HAVE ISSUES STARTING THE CAR ON OCCASION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596922

27,000 miles · May 12, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

8:30AM ON MY WAY TO GET ON I74 HIGHWAY TO GO TO WORK..ABOUT 2 MINUTES FROM HIGHWAY. PULLED OUT OF KROGER AFTER GETTING GAS. MY CAR MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE AND THEN STOPPED ABRUPTLY. MY ENGINE WAS TILL RUNNING, RADIO ON, LIGHTS ON ETC. THE CAR JUST STOPPED LIKE AS IF YOU HAD SLAMMED THE BREAKS. POLICE OFFICER PARKED BEHIND ME TO MA…

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8:30AM ON MY WAY TO GET ON I74 HIGHWAY TO GO TO WORK..ABOUT 2 MINUTES FROM HIGHWAY. PULLED OUT OF KROGER AFTER GETTING GAS. MY CAR MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE AND THEN STOPPED ABRUPTLY. MY ENGINE WAS TILL RUNNING, RADIO ON, LIGHTS ON ETC. THE CAR JUST STOPPED LIKE AS IF YOU HAD SLAMMED THE BREAKS. POLICE OFFICER PARKED BEHIND ME TO MAKE SURE NO CARS HIT ME FROM BEHIND. WE FINALLY PUSHED IT, IN NEUTRAL, INTO KROGER PARKING LOT WHERE I WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK..AWHILE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO HIRLINGER CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME LATER THAT DAY AND TOLD ME MY RIGHT FRONT AXLE HAD BROKEN IN HALF. MEANING THE AXLE WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO MY WHEEL...NOW I KNOW WHY THE ABRUPT STOP! IF IT HAD BEEN ANOTHER TWO MINUTES, OR, IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR BEHIND ME WHEN THIS BROKE, I AND WHOMEVER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THERE WAS NO WARNING..IT JUST STOPPED. HIRLINGER CHEVROLET HAS HAD MY CAR SINCE APRIL 22,2014, DAY OF THE BREAKDOWN, WITH NO EPA ON THE PART TO FIX IT, OR DO SOMETHING! I CALLED GM, THEY TELL ME THERE NO RECALL, BUT, THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM!! I WAS TOLD 30% OF THE 2013 CRUZES HAVE THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM..WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTER, BUT MINE WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF AN ACTUAL BREAKAGE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM, IVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL, AND MY CAR STILL SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP 20 DAYS LATER AND I HAVE NO ANSWERS OF WHEN ITS GETTING FIXED, OR WHAT GM PLANS TO DO!! IN THE MEANTIME, IM MAKING MY CAR PAYMENT, ONSTAR PAYMENT, SIRIUS RADIO PAYMENT, ON A CAR I DON'T KNOW WHEN IS EVER GOING TO GET FIXED. PLUS THEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587885

40,000 miles · May 9, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS BEFORE RESTARTING. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS BEFORE RESTARTING. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. RK

NHTSA ODI #10587501

23,000 miles · May 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. POWER STEERING SHUT OFF DURING TURN. LACK OF POWER STEERING LASTED APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586476

22,000 miles · May 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. POWER STEERING SHUT OFF ON INTERSTATE. LACK OF POWER STEERING LASTED ABOUT 30 SECONDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586475

20,000 miles · May 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. POWER STEERING SHUT OFF DURING TURN. LACK OF POWER STEERING PERSISTED APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586474

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVisibility

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2013 CHEVY CRUZE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS VERY LITTLE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED, AND THE WINDOWS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD FOG UP. *JB UPDATED 04/28/14 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10583812

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.