IllustrationCAR WAS JERKING, THEN STALLED, THEN STABLITRACK AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
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
1240–25K
7825–50K
7650–75K
5775–100K
71100–150K
11150K+
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
Power Train complaints
112 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V151000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE RECALL UNTIL AFTER TWO MONTHS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V151000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE RECALL UNTIL AFTER TWO MONTHS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V151000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ UPDATED 3/9/15 *JS
MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V151. THIS RIGHT FRONT AXLE PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE AT LEAST MARCH 2014. I WAS NOTIFIED IN JUNE 2014 OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER STILL HAS NO PARTS TO FIX THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (EVEN ONES THAT HAVE FAILED). OTHERS LIKE ME ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE ON LONG TRIPS WITH THE KNOWN…
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MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V151. THIS RIGHT FRONT AXLE PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE AT LEAST MARCH 2014. I WAS NOTIFIED IN JUNE 2014 OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER STILL HAS NO PARTS TO FIX THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (EVEN ONES THAT HAVE FAILED). OTHERS LIKE ME ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE ON LONG TRIPS WITH THE KNOWN UNSAFE CONDITION. STILL OTHERS ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLE AT ALL. THIS IS ATROCIOUS AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY. *TR
2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT AXLE FRACTURE RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB
2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT RIGHT AXLE HALF SHAFT RECALL NOTICE. *SMD WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, SHE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, BUT THEY HAD BEEN ORDERED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V151000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE REPAIR HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V151000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE REPAIR HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE.
I BOUGHT MY CRUZE IN NOV 2013 1.4 TURBO ENGINE, I SAW THE RECALL ON T.V. ON APR 15, CALLED MIKE CASTRUCCI MILFORD, OHIO 513-831-5460 AND ASKED ABOUT IT, I WAS LEAVING IN TWO DAYS TO DRIVE FOUR HOURS TO TAKE CARE OF MY SISTER, MY VIN NUMBER WAS CHECKED I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED. I FOUND OUT AT CARDINAL CHEVY DEALER IN…
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I BOUGHT MY CRUZE IN NOV 2013 1.4 TURBO ENGINE, I SAW THE RECALL ON T.V. ON APR 15, CALLED MIKE CASTRUCCI MILFORD, OHIO 513-831-5460 AND ASKED ABOUT IT, I WAS LEAVING IN TWO DAYS TO DRIVE FOUR HOURS TO TAKE CARE OF MY SISTER, MY VIN NUMBER WAS CHECKED I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED. I FOUND OUT AT CARDINAL CHEVY DEALER IN HAZARD, THAT IT WAS, WHEN I CALLED CASTRUCCI, THEY SAID BRING MY CRUZE IN AS SOON AS I CAME HOME, THAT WAS MAY 13, MY CAR IS UNDRIVABLE, AND HAS BEEN AT CASTRUCCI SINCE THEN WAITING ON PARTS. NOW I SEE THAT OTHER CARS LIKE MINE WERE ALREADY INVOLVED, AND WERE REPAIRED WITH FAULTY PARTS, AND HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. I WANT MY CAR FIXED OR I WANT MY MONEY BACK, I PAID CASH FOR THIS CAR AND IT HAS BEEN AT MIKE CASTRUCCI FOR TWO MONTHS!!!!! *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,400. UPDATED 10/1/14*CN UPDATED 5/12/2015 *JS
GM HAS A RECALL OUT ON THE 2013 - 2014 CHEVY CRUZE MODELS FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART ON THE RIGHT FRONT END AXLE, THEY HAVE HAD MY CHEVY CRUZE IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 12TH, 2014 WHEN THEY DID THE RECALL INSPECTION. THEY ARE UNABLE TO RELEASE THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE LIABLE IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO …
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GM HAS A RECALL OUT ON THE 2013 - 2014 CHEVY CRUZE MODELS FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART ON THE RIGHT FRONT END AXLE, THEY HAVE HAD MY CHEVY CRUZE IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 12TH, 2014 WHEN THEY DID THE RECALL INSPECTION. THEY ARE UNABLE TO RELEASE THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE LIABLE IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS, OR DO THEY HAVE A TIME FRAME AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THIS HAS CAUSED A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE FOR ME, AS I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WHICH I HAVE NO ACCESS TO, DUE TO THIS RECALL. IT IS UNFAIR AS A CONSUMER THAT A CAR WAS SOLD KNOWING THAT THEY HAD A DEFECTIVE PART AND KNEW THEY HAD NO PARTS FOR THE RECALL. JUST YESTERDAY THEY ANNOUNCED ANOTHER RECALL FOR THE 2013-2014 CHEVY CRUZE MODELS FOR A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. HAVE NOT FOUND OUT IF MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THIS ONE OR NOT, BUT AT THIS TIME, WHO CARES, THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR FOR THE FRONT END AXLE RECALL WITH NO TIMEFRAME AS TO WHEN I WILL GET MY VEHICLE FIXED. BUY YOUR CARS BACK THAT YOU SOLD TO CONSUMERS WILLING KNOWING THIS PROBLEM. LEMON LAW UNDER THE GM NEW CAR WARRANTY. *TR
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.