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.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cruze years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Electrical System complaints
121 reportsMY CHECK ENGINE KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF AND WHEN COMES ON GIVE OUT POWER LITTLE BY LITTLE TILL MY ENGINE REDUCE POWER COMES UP AND GIVES OUT AND ALMOST CRASHED ON FREEWAY SERVAL TIMES
TAKATA RECALL A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN IT GOES OFF THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT'S BACK ON AND MAKES A NOISE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS ON.
MY VEHICLE REPEATEDLY RAN HOT EVERYTIME I WOULD DRIVE IT OVER A MILE ON THE ROAD. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, ALWAYS MADE SURE IT HAD COOLANT, CHECKED MY HOSES, AND REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. BUT EVENTUALLY IT BLEW A HEAD GASKET. WE NOTICED IT DID SO WHEN WE SEEN WATER HAD MIXED INTO THE OIL. SUPREME CHEVROLET REPLACED THE …
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MY VEHICLE REPEATEDLY RAN HOT EVERYTIME I WOULD DRIVE IT OVER A MILE ON THE ROAD. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, ALWAYS MADE SURE IT HAD COOLANT, CHECKED MY HOSES, AND REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. BUT EVENTUALLY IT BLEW A HEAD GASKET. WE NOTICED IT DID SO WHEN WE SEEN WATER HAD MIXED INTO THE OIL. SUPREME CHEVROLET REPLACED THE ENGINE AT 96,000 MILES IN NOVEMBER 2016 UNDER WARRANTY. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 54,000 MILES WITH THE REPLACED ENGINE AND IT TOO STARTED RUNNING HOT EVERYTIME I WOULD DRIVE IT ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. THE DASH LIGHT WOULD SAY TURN A/C OFF AND IDLE ENGINE OR TURN OFF ENGINE DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE. WE CHANGED THE RADIATOR, THE HOSES, THE WATER PUMP, AND THE THERMOSTAT ON THE CAR AND IT REMAINED RUNNING HOT WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES UNTIL THAT ENGINE TOO BLEW A HEAD GASKET.THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT WARRANTY THE SECOND ENGINE ALTHOUGH IT ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES ON THE NEW ENGINE. AND NOW I AM LEFT WITH NO VEHICLE AND STILL OWE $6700.00 ON THE CHEVROLET CRUZE DUE TO THE FAULTY COOLANT SYSTEM.
DRIVING LAST NIGHT FROM WORK TO HOME AT [XXX] AROUND 7PM, I STARTED GETTING MESSAGES IN MY CLUSTER SUCH AS SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. JUST SUDDENLY MY CAR LOST ALL THE POWER AND THROTTLE WHEN I WAS TRAVELLING IN A HIGHWAY AROUND 70 MPH ON THE SECOND FASTEST LANE. IT WAS VERY SCARY…
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DRIVING LAST NIGHT FROM WORK TO HOME AT [XXX] AROUND 7PM, I STARTED GETTING MESSAGES IN MY CLUSTER SUCH AS SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. JUST SUDDENLY MY CAR LOST ALL THE POWER AND THROTTLE WHEN I WAS TRAVELLING IN A HIGHWAY AROUND 70 MPH ON THE SECOND FASTEST LANE. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION ONCE MY THROTTLE WAS COMPLETE UNRESPONSIVE AND COULD FIND MYSELF AT THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AT 5MPH . MY INSTINCT WAS TO TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND TRY TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SLOWEST LANE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. I FEEL LUCKY THAT NO ONE HIT ME IN THE BACK AND I CONSIDER THAT I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME OF THE EVENING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE EXIT [XXX] AND FROM THERE PARK THE CAR TO EVALUATE IT. I COULD NOT FIND ANY VISIBLE DEFECT EITHER INTERNALLY OR ON ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND ON SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL HAD THE SAME CLUSTER MESSAGES AND DERATED POWER. I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY TO THE PARKING LOT OF [XXX] LOOKING FOR A SAFER PLACE TO WAIT FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY. WHEN WAITING FOR THE AAA OPERATOR I WAS ABLE TO RE-START THE CAR WITH NO DISPLAY MESSAGE BUT ONLY WITH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. I DROVE THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AND NOTICED THE CAR SEEMED TO BE OK. ONCE ON THAT TIME I WAS STILL WAITING FOR THE AAA OPERATOR I DECIDED TO TAKE [XXX] AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFE ARRIVE HOME. CHECKING THE SYMPTOM I HAD IN GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE I LEARNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WHICH IS ALREADY KNOWN BY NHTSA AND GM. I HOPE MY INCIDENCE CAN BE INVESTIGATED AND A DECISION FOR RECALL BE TAKEN.I DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE TO WHAT EXPERIENCED WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH TOPIC THEREFORE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS POTENTIAL RECALL. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 1-10-18 AND SPOKE TO A SUPERVISOR. REITERATING CALL. THE VEHICLE HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE OF PURCHASE DATE. ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. #1) NOV 18 LIGHTS WERE ON, FLASHERS WERE ON AND RADIO WAS ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE AND K…
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I CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 1-10-18 AND SPOKE TO A SUPERVISOR. REITERATING CALL. THE VEHICLE HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE OF PURCHASE DATE. ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. #1) NOV 18 LIGHTS WERE ON, FLASHERS WERE ON AND RADIO WAS ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE AND KEY WAS IN THE OFF POSITION #2) DEC 2018 SAME AS #1 #3) DEC 2018 VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITH THE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION IN THE GARAGE. BY RUNNING I MEAN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND EXHAUST FUMES WERE EVERYWHERE. #4) JAN 2019. SAME AS #3. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE OR CARBON DIOXIDE POISONING COULD'VE OCCURRED. THE REPRESENTATIVES TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALLS WHICH I ALREADY KNEW AND STATED THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR A REPAIR. I TOLD THEM ABOUT A SERVICE BULLETIN, THEY DENIED THERE WAS ONE. THERE ARE TWO NUMBERS PI1329(DATE 0CT 14) AND A NHTSA BULLETIN ( ID NUMBER 10114279) DATE OCT 14. I'D APPRECIATE YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS SERIOUS MATTER AND WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED FOR FREE AT THE DEALER. CAN YOU CONTACT CHEVROLET AND TELL THEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL
MARCH 2016. PROBLEM: CAR NOT ACCELERATING CORRECTLY, DIAGNOSIS: ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR BROKEN MARCH 2018. PROBLEM: CAR OVERHEATING AND LOSING POWER OVER 40MPH, DIAGNOSIS: COOLANT HOSE BREAK MAY 2018. CAR OVERHEATING AND LOSING POWER OVER 40MPH, DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE BREAK JUNE 2018: PROBLEM: SP…
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MARCH 2016. PROBLEM: CAR NOT ACCELERATING CORRECTLY, DIAGNOSIS: ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR BROKEN MARCH 2018. PROBLEM: CAR OVERHEATING AND LOSING POWER OVER 40MPH, DIAGNOSIS: COOLANT HOSE BREAK MAY 2018. CAR OVERHEATING AND LOSING POWER OVER 40MPH, DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE BREAK JUNE 2018: PROBLEM: SPEDOMETER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AND CAR BEGAN SPUTTERING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION COMPUTER (INPUT AND OUTPUT SENSOR) FRIED JANUARY 2019. PROBLEM: COOLING DRAINING EXTREMELY FAST AND CAR MAKING GURGLING NOISE (AT ALL SPEEDS), DIAGNOSIS: WATER PUMP BREAK, THERMOSTAT BREAK, SERPENTINE BELT AND 5. JANUARY 2019: PROBLEM: OIL LEAK, DIAGNOSIS: TIMING COVER GASKET NEED REPLACEMENT
THE CHEVY ECO CRUZE HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS FROM THE START. I WAS DRIVING WITH THE AC ON AND CAME TO A SIGNAL LIGHT WHEN THE AC SHUTS OF & COMES BACK ON. ALSO AT THE SIGNAL LIGHT I THAUGHT I HAD GOTTEN A TAP FROM THE BACK FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CAR JERKED. TURNED OUT NO CAR BEHIND ME BUT CAR STILL JERKS FORWARD WIT…
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THE CHEVY ECO CRUZE HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS FROM THE START. I WAS DRIVING WITH THE AC ON AND CAME TO A SIGNAL LIGHT WHEN THE AC SHUTS OF & COMES BACK ON. ALSO AT THE SIGNAL LIGHT I THAUGHT I HAD GOTTEN A TAP FROM THE BACK FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CAR JERKED. TURNED OUT NO CAR BEHIND ME BUT CAR STILL JERKS FORWARD WITH FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON BRAKE PEDAL. NEXT IF I'M DRIVING AND SLOW DOWN TO MAKE, LET'S SAY A LEFT HAND TURN ONCE I MAKE THE TURN THE CAR IS SLUGGISH AS IF IT HAS TROUBLE PICKING UP SPEED. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR IF I SLOW DOWN IT TAKES FOR EVER TO PICK UP MOMENTUM. MAKING IT SCAREY TO MERGE OR JUST BE ON THE ROAD. ALSO IF I TURN THE RADIO UP THE LIGHTS WILL DIE OR FADE SO I'VE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR BUT IT STILL DOES IT. IVE CHECKED CONNECTIONS WIRES YOU NAME IT.
I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE RADIO TURNED OFF, I BARELY MADE IT BEFORE GETTING HIT. THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED AND I TURNED INTO THE FIRST PLACE I COULD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO START IT BUT THE BRAKE WAS LOCKED AND NOTHING WAS TURNING ON WHEN I PUSHED THE BUTTON. TRIED A FEW TIMES AN…
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I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE RADIO TURNED OFF, I BARELY MADE IT BEFORE GETTING HIT. THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED AND I TURNED INTO THE FIRST PLACE I COULD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO START IT BUT THE BRAKE WAS LOCKED AND NOTHING WAS TURNING ON WHEN I PUSHED THE BUTTON. TRIED A FEW TIMES AND NOTHING. WHILE SITTING THERE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE WHOLE DASH CAME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THE RADIO HAD BEEN TURNING ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES ON THIS DRIVE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. BUT THE RADIO HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR SOME TIME .
CAR WOULDN'T START. GOT A "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK" ON THE DASH. WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. BUT ENGINE START AND STOP STILL SOUNDS BAD.
Official recalls
516V502000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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