MULTIPLE COOLANT ISSUES. BOUGHT 2/2019, TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP FOR COOLANT ISSUES IN 3/2019 AND DISCOVERED ITS LEAKING COOLANT AGAIN. FROM THE ENGINE COOLANT WATER OUTLET.
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.
Engine complaints
211 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
I HAVE HAD A COOLANT LEAK AND HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED 5 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED. REPAIRED AT SUBURBAN CHEVROLET IN EDEN PRARIE. NOW IT HAS TO HAPPEN AGAIN SO IT IS GOING BACK AND I HAVE HAD IT TOWED AND STILL OWE 800 OR SO CRAZY
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).
COULD PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT WON'T ACCELERATE. PRESSING THE GAS WITH NORMAL PRESSURE MAKES THE RPM'S INCREASE VERY QUICKLY AND THE CAR EITHER WON'T ACCELERATE OR WILL ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON PREVIOUSLY FOR TWO DAYS AND THEN SHUT OFF AND HASN'T COME BACK ON YET. I THINK IT IS THE TURBO. UNK…
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COULD PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT WON'T ACCELERATE. PRESSING THE GAS WITH NORMAL PRESSURE MAKES THE RPM'S INCREASE VERY QUICKLY AND THE CAR EITHER WON'T ACCELERATE OR WILL ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON PREVIOUSLY FOR TWO DAYS AND THEN SHUT OFF AND HASN'T COME BACK ON YET. I THINK IT IS THE TURBO. UNKNOWN CAUSE.
MY CRUZE IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE OIL PUMP COOLER. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC SHOP AMD HAD IT DIAGNOSED. HE SAID THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER FOR THE PART. HE FINALLY FOUND ONE BUT HE HAS TO DRIVE OVER AN HOUR AWAY TO GET IT. THEY HAVE ANOTHER CRUZE IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I AM JUST WONDERING WHY THERE ISNT A RECALL IF …
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MY CRUZE IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE OIL PUMP COOLER. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC SHOP AMD HAD IT DIAGNOSED. HE SAID THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER FOR THE PART. HE FINALLY FOUND ONE BUT HE HAS TO DRIVE OVER AN HOUR AWAY TO GET IT. THEY HAVE ANOTHER CRUZE IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I AM JUST WONDERING WHY THERE ISNT A RECALL IF THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER NATIONWIDE? MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST PURCHASED IT A MONTH AGO. I KNEW THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK SOMEWHERE WHEN THERE WAS A FRESH PUDDLE OF OIL IN MY DRIVEWAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE SHOOK AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EVERYBODY RIDES AUTO SALES (4200 RIVERS AVE, NORTH CHARLESTON, SC, (843) 203-8888) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE SHOOK AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EVERYBODY RIDES AUTO SALES (4200 RIVERS AVE, NORTH CHARLESTON, SC, (843) 203-8888) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GLENDORA CHEVROLET (1959 AUTO CENTRE DR, GLENDORA, CA 91740, (909) 474-7364…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GLENDORA CHEVROLET (1959 AUTO CENTRE DR, GLENDORA, CA 91740, (909) 474-7364) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,655.
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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