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
What owners actually said
586 reports
25,500 miles · Feb 18, 2014
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL IN THE DIRECTION BEING STEERED. THERE WAS FORCE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS AND LUNGED FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY WHEN AT A S…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL IN THE DIRECTION BEING STEERED. THERE WAS FORCE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS AND LUNGED FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY WHEN AT A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,500.
NHTSA ODI #10564792
700 miles · Feb 14, 2014
Service Brakes
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE THERE WAS AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE BLEED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED B…
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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE THERE WAS AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE BLEED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700. AP *TR
NHTSA ODI #10564320
5,800 miles · Feb 12, 2014
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BRAKES AND CALIPERS BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BRAKES AND CALIPERS BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,800.
NHTSA ODI #10564025
20,000 miles · Feb 6, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling
NOTICED A COOLANT (ANTIFREEZE) ODOR WHEN THE HEAT IS ON. I DON'T NOTICE IT ALL THE TIME, SOME DAYS THERE'S A STRONGER ODOR THAN OTHERS. PLENTY OF INFO ON OTHER WEBSITES WITH SAME ISSUE. (CRUZETALK.COM) *TR
NHTSA ODI #10563258
16,500 miles · Feb 6, 2014
Steering
STEERING BECOMES "NOTCHY/STICKY" WHILE DRIVING, MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I DRIVE 40 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND NOTICE THIS ABOUT 95% OF THE TIME. WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE FINE. DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPRODUCE THE SYMPTOMS. THEY NEED TO DRIVE IT FOR MORE THAN A MILE. PLENTY …
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STEERING BECOMES "NOTCHY/STICKY" WHILE DRIVING, MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I DRIVE 40 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND NOTICE THIS ABOUT 95% OF THE TIME. WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE FINE. DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPRODUCE THE SYMPTOMS. THEY NEED TO DRIVE IT FOR MORE THAN A MILE. PLENTY OF DISCUSSIONS ON OTHER WEB SITES WITH THE SAME ISSUES. (CRUZETALK.COM). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10563256
6,735 miles · Jan 21, 2014
Power Train
CAR HAD LOUD NOISE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND LOST GEAR. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR OR PARK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10560850
10,801 miles · Jan 10, 2014
Engine
TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR CAR WASH ,AFTER DOING COMPLIMENTARY MULTI POINT INSPECTION THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME MY WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING.THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP ON A CAR WITH ONLY 10801 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10559364
26,000 miles · Dec 23, 2013
Steering
2013 CHEVY CRUZE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SEEMS TO HAVE THE STEERING LOCK OR BECOME "STICKY". PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MAKE MINOR CHANGES IN DIRECTION WHEN TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE "LOCK UP" SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN CORRECTING TO THE LEFT COMPARED TO CORRECTIN…
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2013 CHEVY CRUZE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SEEMS TO HAVE THE STEERING LOCK OR BECOME "STICKY". PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MAKE MINOR CHANGES IN DIRECTION WHEN TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE "LOCK UP" SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN CORRECTING TO THE LEFT COMPARED TO CORRECTING TO THE RIGHT. THIS BECOMES A REAL CONCERN WHEN DRIVING ON ICY OR SNOW PACKED ROADS AS I FEAR A LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN OVERCORRECTION DUE TO THE "STICKY" STEERING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557119
13,400 miles · Dec 23, 2013
Steering
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS >55 THE STEERING WHEEL GIVE RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO MAKE MINOR LANE CORRECTIONS. WHEN YOU GET PAST THE RESISTANCE THE STEERING OVER CORRECTS WHICH CAUSES YOU TO SWERVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557063
6,000 miles · Dec 20, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZ. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, BACK, NECK, LEFT GROIN AND LEFT SHOULDER. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT SUSTAINE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZ. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, BACK, NECK, LEFT GROIN AND LEFT SHOULDER. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BLURRED VISION AND NUMBNESS IN THE LEFT ARM. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, BACK, NECK, RIGHT SHOULDER, NUMBNESS TO THE RIGHT ARM AND BLURRED VISION. BOTH THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER BUT NO INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6000.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2013 Chevrolet Cruze Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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