THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TWICE FOR OIL LEAKS, PROBLEMS WITH THE PCV SYSTEM AND INTAKE MANIFOLD. AFTER THE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED AT THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE TURNS OFF AT IDLE AND ROUGH IDLES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM STILL GOES OFF AND ON. THE VEHICLE HAS TURNED OFF WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
2015 Chevrolet Cruze
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze do not stand out strongly from 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
173 reports with mileage · 78 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 98 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 37 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
251 reportsTERRIBLE SMELL MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE MY EYES WATER. THERE IS NO HEAT OR AIR ON BUT HOT AIR IS COMING INTO THE CAB.THERE IS A REALLY BAD SMELL IN THE CAB AFTER A DEALERSHIP ALREADY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS AGO. THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS …
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TERRIBLE SMELL MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE MY EYES WATER. THERE IS NO HEAT OR AIR ON BUT HOT AIR IS COMING INTO THE CAB.THERE IS A REALLY BAD SMELL IN THE CAB AFTER A DEALERSHIP ALREADY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS AGO. THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE TIME AND TIME AGAIN LIKE STALLING ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO WARNING SIGNS, BELTS REPAIRS, EXHAUST PROBLEMS, ETC. I HAVE NOT EVEN OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR THREE YEARS,
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT/ANTI FREEZE, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLENISHED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A WATER PUMP …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT/ANTI FREEZE, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLENISHED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A WATER PUMP FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
PURCHASED VEHICLE USED 8/2017. 5/2018 CAR SMOKING AND OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. WATER PUMP REPLACED. STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH CAR OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING, I WAS REPLACING COOLANT ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. TWICE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS REPLACED, 8/2018 AND 11/2018. CAR HAD ISSUES AGAIN OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING IN 4/2019. AN INTE…
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PURCHASED VEHICLE USED 8/2017. 5/2018 CAR SMOKING AND OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. WATER PUMP REPLACED. STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH CAR OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING, I WAS REPLACING COOLANT ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. TWICE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS REPLACED, 8/2018 AND 11/2018. CAR HAD ISSUES AGAIN OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING IN 4/2019. AN INTERCOOLER PIPE, PVC PIPE, WATER PIPE, AND WATER HOSE WERE REPLACED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN IN 9/2019, MANY ISSUES WERE FOUND BUT I ONLY HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO REPAIR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. AT THIS POINT I WAS REPLACING COOLANT EVERY TWO WEEKS TO AVOID THE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND AT TIMES IT WAS A VISIBLE PUDDLE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. 11/20/2019 I RETURNED TO GET A SENSOR AND ANOTHER THERMOSTAT HOUSING REPLACED. 11/27/2019 I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP AFTER MY VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED OVER AND COOLANT WAS QUICKLY DRIPPING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOISY AND THERE WAS A SCREECHY SOUND UPON ACCELERATION. I HAD TROUBLE PICKING UP SPEED. I GOT TO THE GAS STATION ABOUT A MILE AWAY AND TURNED OFF THE CAR TO GET GAS. WHEN I TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE, REV UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN, AND THEN CUT OFF. I TRIED A FEW TIMES TO START THE CAR UP AND IT HAPPENED EVERY TIME. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK THE SAME NIGHT. THEY WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT ON 11/29/2019 AND REPORTED THAT THEY SAW NO ISSUES. IN DISBELIEF, I PICKED UP THE CAR, AND I DROVE AROUND FOR ALMOST A WEEK. I ENDED UP COMING BACK TO RIDE ALONG WHILE A TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE CAR. HE SAW AND HEARD THE SAME ISSUES THAT I CLEARLY HAD WITH THE VEHICLE. WE RETURNED BACK TO THE SHOP AND HE DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT SHOWED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TURBOCHARGER.
CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR A CRACKED RADIATOR. DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THAT TURBOCHARGER IS MALFUNCTIONING. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS ISSUES WITH ENGINE THE ENGINE STALLING. UPON DRIVING THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE IS ABNORMAL, LOUD ENGINE NOISES UPON ACCELERATION AND AND CAR DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED AT A FAST ENOUGH R…
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CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR A CRACKED RADIATOR. DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THAT TURBOCHARGER IS MALFUNCTIONING. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS ISSUES WITH ENGINE THE ENGINE STALLING. UPON DRIVING THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE IS ABNORMAL, LOUD ENGINE NOISES UPON ACCELERATION AND AND CAR DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED AT A FAST ENOUGH RATE TO SAFELY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND NAVIGATE AT A SAFE SPEED.
WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR A NUMBER OF "IDIOT" LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. FOR EXAMPLE, EMERGENCY BRAKE WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ON. ADDITIONALLY, THE DIGITAL SCREEN GAVE ME SERVICE MESSAGES SUCH AS "SERVICE PARKING ASSIST", "SERVICE THEFT DETERRENT" AND OTHERS. WHILE DRIVING, THE RADIO SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND ALL MY DASHLIGHTS TUR…
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WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR A NUMBER OF "IDIOT" LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. FOR EXAMPLE, EMERGENCY BRAKE WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ON. ADDITIONALLY, THE DIGITAL SCREEN GAVE ME SERVICE MESSAGES SUCH AS "SERVICE PARKING ASSIST", "SERVICE THEFT DETERRENT" AND OTHERS. WHILE DRIVING, THE RADIO SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND ALL MY DASHLIGHTS TURNED OFF THEN CAME BACK ON FOR A MOMENT THEN TURNED OFF AGAIN. MY RPM, MPH, GAS GAUGE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES WERE ALSO NOT WORKING. THE ENTIRE DIGITAL SCREEN ON THE DASHBOARD DID NOT GIVE SPEED, TIRE PRESSURE, OIL PRESSURE, OR ANY OTHER READINGS.ALL OF THESE THINGS OCCURRED WHILE PARKED AND DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND A HIGHWAY.
STARTED CAR AND IT RANDOMLY THE SERVICE STABILITY TRAK LIGHT CAME ON. STARTED TO DRIVE HOME AND CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND SHAKING AS IF IT WANTED TO CUT OFF. GOT HOME TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON THE LIGHT WENT OFF BUT CAR STILL SPUTTERS AND SHAKES AND HESITATES TO ACCELERATE.
THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING FINE, I DROVE IT THE NIGHT PRIOR BACK HOME AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE LIKE I NORMALLY DO. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER BUT THE RADIO AND WHAT NOT WOULD TURN ON. WE TRIED JUMPING THE CAR, CHARGING THE BATTERY, CHANGING THE BATTERY OUT AN…
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THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING FINE, I DROVE IT THE NIGHT PRIOR BACK HOME AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE LIKE I NORMALLY DO. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER BUT THE RADIO AND WHAT NOT WOULD TURN ON. WE TRIED JUMPING THE CAR, CHARGING THE BATTERY, CHANGING THE BATTERY OUT AND NOTHING WORKED. WE GOT IT TOWED TO THE AUTO SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE AS IT'S ELECTRICAL. WE LIVE IN THE DESERT AND THE CLOSEST DEALER IS OVER AN HOUR AWAY IN PALM SPRINGS SO NOW WE HAVE TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED THERE, AT OUR EXPENSE, TO TRY AND GET IT LOOKED AT
CAR SURGES, ENGINE LOSES POWER OFF, C/S TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITRAC LIGHT COMES ON DASH, DOOR LOCKS ACTIVATING ON THEIR OWN, WE HAVE PUT NEW BATTERY NEW NEGATIVE CABLE WITH NEW BOLT. CAR AT SPEED 60- 65 THIS HAPPEN,DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND INTERSTATE. I DROVE CAR 3 TIMES HAPPENED, TECH DROVE CAR THIS HAPPENED, CAR BEEN CHECKED AT…
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CAR SURGES, ENGINE LOSES POWER OFF, C/S TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITRAC LIGHT COMES ON DASH, DOOR LOCKS ACTIVATING ON THEIR OWN, WE HAVE PUT NEW BATTERY NEW NEGATIVE CABLE WITH NEW BOLT. CAR AT SPEED 60- 65 THIS HAPPEN,DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND INTERSTATE. I DROVE CAR 3 TIMES HAPPENED, TECH DROVE CAR THIS HAPPENED, CAR BEEN CHECKED AT DEALER 3 TIMES AND STILL AT DEALER AS OF 11/16/2019
ON OCTOBER 25, 2019 MY TURBO FAILED LEADING DEBRIS TO CLOG MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER LEADING IT TO FAIL AS WELL. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW ON OCTOBER 10, 2015. SINCE BUYING IT, MY WATER PUMP FAILED TWICE, CAMSHAFT COVER REPLACED TWICE, THERMOSTAT REPLACED, OIL TUBE AND PAN REPLACED TWICE, COOLANT TUBE REPLACED ONCE. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT …
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ON OCTOBER 25, 2019 MY TURBO FAILED LEADING DEBRIS TO CLOG MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER LEADING IT TO FAIL AS WELL. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW ON OCTOBER 10, 2015. SINCE BUYING IT, MY WATER PUMP FAILED TWICE, CAMSHAFT COVER REPLACED TWICE, THERMOSTAT REPLACED, OIL TUBE AND PAN REPLACED TWICE, COOLANT TUBE REPLACED ONCE. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, I REPORTED THE CAR'S PROBLEM OF IDLING ROUGH WHILE IN DRIVE AT A STOP LIGHT OR IN PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY AND EVERY TIME, THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. WHEN I WAS TOLD MY TURBO HAD FAILED, THEY SAID THAT'S WHY MY CAR WAS IDLING ROUGH. EVERY TIME ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM LUCKY I WASN'T HIT OR KILLED IN ANY OF THESE INSTANCES.
Official recalls
416V502000 · 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.
15V876000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Dec 23, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured September 24, 2014, to May 29, 2015. In the affected vehicles, one of the driver-side seat belt assembly bolts may not be properly tightened.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An insufficiently torqued bolt may prevent the seat belt from holding the required load in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2016 Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15777.
15V442000 · Steering
Jul 10, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Separation of the tie rod from the steering gear could result in the loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15386.
15V113000 · Parking Brake
Feb 27, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured February 4, 2015, to February 9, 2015. The left-rear or right-rear parking brake cable brackets may not have been properly fastened during the assembly process. As a result, the fastening bolts may back out completely, causing the parking brake bracket to separate and the parking brake to not hold the vehicle in place. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the parking brake bracket separates, the parking brake may not hold the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll away and a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left-rear and right-rear parking brake brackets bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15135.
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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