"TAKATA RECALL"- THE DASH LIGHTS CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE STREERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE THE CAR IN DRIVING AT 70MPH. MESSASGE ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL STABILITY CONTROL POPS UP.
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BUD CHEVROLET BUICK IN ST MARYS, OHIO, 419-954-0649) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER ASSIST …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BUD CHEVROLET BUICK IN ST MARYS, OHIO, 419-954-0649) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER ASSIST MODULES IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WERE FAULTY AND CAUSED THE BLACKOUT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FELT VERY STIFF. THE SAME DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURES WERE BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. *TT
CAR LOOSES SPEED CAN'T GIVE IT GAS HAS NO PULL! ONCE YOU TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR AND PUT BACK IN DRIVE, WORKS FINE. LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, ON RADIO. BOUGHT CAR IN FEBRUARY WITH 49.000 MILES ON IT DROVE TO STORE CAME BACK OUT OF STORE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD! MADE NO SOUND, CHECKED BATTERY EVERYTHING, 5 MIN LATER STARTED RITE UP.…
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CAR LOOSES SPEED CAN'T GIVE IT GAS HAS NO PULL! ONCE YOU TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR AND PUT BACK IN DRIVE, WORKS FINE. LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, ON RADIO. BOUGHT CAR IN FEBRUARY WITH 49.000 MILES ON IT DROVE TO STORE CAME BACK OUT OF STORE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD! MADE NO SOUND, CHECKED BATTERY EVERYTHING, 5 MIN LATER STARTED RITE UP. THIS CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO ME, I WISH I COULD RETURN IT.
CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY.AFTER 10 MINUTES WILL RESTART.STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVNG.STABLI CONTROL COMES ON.LOSS OF ALMOST AL L POWER.HAPPEN IN DRIVEWAY.WHILE DRIVING TURNING .LOSS OF POWER SO THAT CAR WONT MOVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, IT LOST POWER AND THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PARADISE CHEVROLET …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, IT LOST POWER AND THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PARADISE CHEVROLET (6350 LELAND ST, VENTURA, CA 93003). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY FOR FOUR YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO TURN OFF. IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE THE GEAR SHIFTER OUT OF THE PARK POSITION THREE TIMES AND THEN PLACE IT BACK IN PARK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO TURN OFF. IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE THE GEAR SHIFTER OUT OF THE PARK POSITION THREE TIMES AND THEN PLACE IT BACK IN PARK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
HELLO, THIS SUNDAY MY 2013 CHEVY CRUZE WHILE DRIVING AN ALERT CAME UP SAYING THAT ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND OTHER NOTICES. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE CAR LOST POWER. THANKFULLY I WAS ON A SIDE STREET AT THE TIME AT A SLOW SPEED. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH DID OCCUR T…
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HELLO, THIS SUNDAY MY 2013 CHEVY CRUZE WHILE DRIVING AN ALERT CAME UP SAYING THAT ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND OTHER NOTICES. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE CAR LOST POWER. THANKFULLY I WAS ON A SIDE STREET AT THE TIME AT A SLOW SPEED. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH DID OCCUR TO SOME PEOPLE WHO POSTED ON CHEVY FORUMS IT COULD BE FATAL. GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND WOULD NOT COVER THE COST TO REPAIR IT. THERE ARE MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AT THIS GOOGLE SEARCH HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?Q=CHEVY+CRUZE+THROTTLE+BODY+REDUCED+POWER&OQ=CHEVY+CRUZE+THROTTLE+BODY&AQS=CHROME.1.69I57J69I59J0L4.5323J0J7&SOURCEID=CHROME&IE=UTF-8 I FEEL LIKE GM SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED SO THAT THIS DOES NOT CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS FOR OTHERS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH ALL ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR QUIT WORKING. NO SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, ETC. ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASH. RADIO AND HEAT QUIT WORKING. STEERING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT. TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AND THEY HAVE REPLACED 2 MODULES AND ARE NOW GETTING INTO THE IN…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH ALL ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR QUIT WORKING. NO SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, ETC. ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASH. RADIO AND HEAT QUIT WORKING. STEERING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT. TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AND THEY HAVE REPLACED 2 MODULES AND ARE NOW GETTING INTO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. COST IS CURRENTLY AT $1500 AND ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 65-70MPH ALL GAUGES WENT DEAD. RADIO CUT OFF, HEAT SHUT OFF. NO SPEEDOMETER. ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. CAR WAS DRIVABLE BUT HAD NO TURN SIGNALS, ETC. HEAT AND RADIO WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN CUT OFF AGAIN. ONCE PARKED, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT REMOVED AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT REMOVED AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
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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