CAR IS HAVING TURBO PROBLEMS. NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT IT SHOWS A TURBO UNDERBOOST DEFECT. SAYS ONLINE IT IS COMMON AMONGST CHEVY CRUZES
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.
What owners actually said
586 reportsTL* 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.
WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURN IN CITY, CAR JERKED, ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND "SERVICE POWER STEERING" LIGHT CAME ON, THEN CAR RECOVERED AND WAS DRIVEN HOME
WIPER ASSEMBLY BROKE AND DEALER REPLACED ASSEMBLY AND MOTOR, 1 MONTH LATER NEW ASSEMBLY HAS BROKEN AGAIN, CAUSING WIPER ARMS TO FREEZE
FROM ONSTAR: P0087 THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. AN ISSUE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM WHICH MONITORS AND CONTROLS ENGINE TEMPERATURE TO MAINTAIN OPTIMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND AVOID OVERHEATING CONDITIONS. IF YOU ARE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, PLEASE CH…
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FROM ONSTAR: P0087 THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. AN ISSUE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM WHICH MONITORS AND CONTROLS ENGINE TEMPERATURE TO MAINTAIN OPTIMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND AVOID OVERHEATING CONDITIONS. IF YOU ARE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, PLEASE CHECK THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IF THE NEEDLE IS IN THE RED WARNING AREA, THE ENGINE IS TOO HOT. PULL OFF THE ROAD, STOP THE VEHICLE, AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE CONDITIONS: DRIVING 30MPH, ASPHAULT, WINTER WEATHER
WOW THIS IS THE BAD CAR EVER I HAVE A LOT FIRST AIR FLOW SENSOR BAD PVC VALVE 2 TIMES NEW
ENGINE OVERHEATING REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED EVERY 3,000 MILES COOLANT SYSTEM PLUGS REPLACED SPARK PLUGS REPLACED DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED (FIRESTONE) DEALERSHIP INSPECTED EMISSIONS TEST PASSED CAR'S ONBOARD DISPLAY REPEATEDLY DISPLAYS "A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE" AND "ENGINE OVERHEATING - IDLE ENGINE" WHEN …
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ENGINE OVERHEATING REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED EVERY 3,000 MILES COOLANT SYSTEM PLUGS REPLACED SPARK PLUGS REPLACED DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED (FIRESTONE) DEALERSHIP INSPECTED EMISSIONS TEST PASSED CAR'S ONBOARD DISPLAY REPEATEDLY DISPLAYS "A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE" AND "ENGINE OVERHEATING - IDLE ENGINE" WHEN NOT UNDER LOAD AND OCCURS AT REGULAR HIGHWAY (55-75MPH) AND CITY (30-45MPH) SPEEDS. CEL FLASHES (3-5 SECONDS OF INTERVAL FLASH) RANDOMLY - SPARK PLUGS REPLACED LAST OCCURANCE.
EXACT SAME COOLANT SYSTEM PROBLEMS AS IN THE EARLIER MODEL CHEVY CRUZE RECALLS. FAULTY COOLANT SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY A LEAKING WATER PUMP, INACCURATE THERMOSTAT AND LEAKING COOLANT FEED AND RETURN LINES TO THE TURBOCHARGER. SO FAR IT HAS COST ME CLOSE TO $1500 AT ONLY 110K MILES AND I STILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET W…
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EXACT SAME COOLANT SYSTEM PROBLEMS AS IN THE EARLIER MODEL CHEVY CRUZE RECALLS. FAULTY COOLANT SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY A LEAKING WATER PUMP, INACCURATE THERMOSTAT AND LEAKING COOLANT FEED AND RETURN LINES TO THE TURBOCHARGER. SO FAR IT HAS COST ME CLOSE TO $1500 AT ONLY 110K MILES AND I STILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS THE RESULT OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM BEING UNABLE TO COOL THE ENGINE PROPERLY DUE TO THE BAD WATER PUMP. TOTAL LEMON, THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN WITHIN TWO YEARS.
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LOSING COMPLETE POWER AND STEERING! SO DANGEROUS AND DEADLY! TAKING THE CAR IN TODAY, CAR ALSO RIDING ROUGH AND MISFIRING. ALL MAINTENANCE DONE EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AND THIS LAST ONE COULD HAVE KILLED MY TEENAGER DAUGHTER! IT STOPPED ON HER 5 TIMES ON THE F…
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VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LOSING COMPLETE POWER AND STEERING! SO DANGEROUS AND DEADLY! TAKING THE CAR IN TODAY, CAR ALSO RIDING ROUGH AND MISFIRING. ALL MAINTENANCE DONE EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AND THIS LAST ONE COULD HAVE KILLED MY TEENAGER DAUGHTER! IT STOPPED ON HER 5 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY!
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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