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2016 Chevrolet Cruze

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 250.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

149 reports with mileage · 100 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 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports6 fire reports12 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

58 reports
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30,000 miles · Dec 3, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR RADIO HAS CUT OUT MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE 'SERVICE STABILITRACK' HAS BEEN DISPLAYED ON THE DASH. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE ISSUES CONTINUED. THIS IS MAINLY SEEN WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. THE LACK OF POWER TO THE CAR THREATENS SAFETY AS MY TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO WORK AND I LOST POWE…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR RADIO HAS CUT OUT MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE 'SERVICE STABILITRACK' HAS BEEN DISPLAYED ON THE DASH. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE ISSUES CONTINUED. THIS IS MAINLY SEEN WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. THE LACK OF POWER TO THE CAR THREATENS SAFETY AS MY TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO WORK AND I LOST POWER STEERING ON ONE OCCASION. I PERSONALLY RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHERS SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RESULT MAY BE A FAULTY NEGATIVE BATTERY CONNECTION.

NHTSA ODI #11286635

72,680 miles · Oct 29, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE FROM ATLANTA LUXURY MOTORS AT KIA SOUTH ON AUGUST 11, 2019. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS-IS, BUT NO MECHANIC CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUND ANY ISSUES AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE IS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE AND ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, THE ENGIN…

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I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE FROM ATLANTA LUXURY MOTORS AT KIA SOUTH ON AUGUST 11, 2019. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS-IS, BUT NO MECHANIC CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUND ANY ISSUES AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE IS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE AND ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, THE ENGINE CUT OFF AFTER THE AUTO-STOP INITIATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE ROAD. SINCE THEN, THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE ENGINE HAS CUT OFF HAS INCREASED IMMENSELY. AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2019, MY ENGINE CUTS OFF ANYTIME THE CAR FALLS INTO AUTO-STOP. TODAY IT HAPPENED EIGHT TIMES DURING ONE FORTY-FIVE MINUTE COMMUTE.

NHTSA ODI #11276986

73,800 miles · Oct 22, 2019
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS OR CITY STREETS THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY LIGHTS ARE ON THE DASHBOARD BEFORE IT HAPPENS. ONCE CAR HAS SHUT OFF, WE CAN PUT IT IN PARK TURN THE KEY OFF AND BACK ON. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA ODI #11270104

61,000 miles · Oct 14, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES INTO AUTO SHUT OFF AT A STOP SIGN OR DURING TRAFFIC JAMS WHERE I AM JUST STOPPED BY MY BRAKE BUT NOT IN PARK IT FAILS TO RESTART AND SHUTS THE ENGINE COMPLETELY OFF. I HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK AND PRESS THE BUTTON TO START THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO GO.

NHTSA ODI #11268400

61,000 miles · Aug 28, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, TEMP GAUGE, AND TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY QUIT WORKING THIS MORNING ON OUR '16 CRUZE. CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE BUT KNOW WAY OF KNOWING OUR SPEED OR WHAT GEAR IT'S IN. PERSISTS THROUGH BATTERY DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #11252095

53,500 miles · Aug 13, 2019
Electrical System

ONSTAR MODULE FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 53,500 MILES, TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT 54,542 MILES, GM PART NUMBER 84024907, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, ONSTAR SAFETY SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI #11243750

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2019
Electrical System

WHENEVER MY CAR IS TURN OFF FOR 2HRS OR MORE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, UNLESS I USE A START JUMPER BOX.

NHTSA ODI #11231771

15,944 miles · Jul 2, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

CAR STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS. THE AUTO STOP FEATURE GOES FROM "AUTO STOP" ON THE DASH TO "OFF". PROBLEM OCCURS AS YOU ARE MOVING FOOT OVER FROM BRAKE TO GAS AND CAUSES THE CAR TO TURN OFF. HAVE TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND COMPLETELY RESTART THE ENGINE BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN IN AN INTERSECTION/A…

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CAR STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS. THE AUTO STOP FEATURE GOES FROM "AUTO STOP" ON THE DASH TO "OFF". PROBLEM OCCURS AS YOU ARE MOVING FOOT OVER FROM BRAKE TO GAS AND CAUSES THE CAR TO TURN OFF. HAVE TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND COMPLETELY RESTART THE ENGINE BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN IN AN INTERSECTION/AT A STOP SIGN AND HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HAS HAPPENED BEFORE IN MANY SETTINGS- CITY STOP LIGHT, CITY STOP SIGN, HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, HIGHWAY STOP SIGN, ETC. SUPER UNSAFE BECAUSE CAR IS UNABLE TO MOVE AND SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS. HAPPENS AT LEAST 1 TIME A DAY. MANY OTHER CHEVROLET CRUZE USERS HAVE BEEN POSTING IN FORUMS THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AS WELL. COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS. MAKES THE DRIVER FEEL UNSAFE AND UNEASY EVERY TIME THEY GET IN THE CAR TO DRIVE BECAUSE THERE IS A FEAR THAT IT WILL STALL OUT/BREAK DOWN AT EVERY INTERSECTION OR STOP THAT IS MADE THROUGHOUT THE DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11228901

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2019
Electrical System

CAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING, ERROR MESSAGE WILL BRIEFLY FLASH ON SCREEN. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS A FAULTY NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. THE SAME PROBLEM WAS PRESENT IN 2011-2015 CRUZE'S AND CHEVY ISSUED A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT FOR THOSE MODEL YEARS. SEE BULLETIN 14311B. I EXPERIENCED THE …

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CAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING, ERROR MESSAGE WILL BRIEFLY FLASH ON SCREEN. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS A FAULTY NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. THE SAME PROBLEM WAS PRESENT IN 2011-2015 CRUZE'S AND CHEVY ISSUED A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT FOR THOSE MODEL YEARS. SEE BULLETIN 14311B. I EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME ISSUES, AND THE FIX BY THE MECHANIC WAS THE SAME FIX. WHY ISN'T CHEVY COVERING LATER MODEL YEARS?

NHTSA ODI #11191342

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH ENGINE LOSING POWER OR STALING WITHOUT WARNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON BEFORE HAND. I FIRST STARTED EXPERIENCE ISSUE IN JULY 2018, THE ENGINE STALLED AT STOP LIGHT; THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED IN AUGUST. THE ISSUE RETURNED IN OCT, AT THIS TIME IT STALED GOING THREW INTERSECTION WHICH ALMO…

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I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH ENGINE LOSING POWER OR STALING WITHOUT WARNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON BEFORE HAND. I FIRST STARTED EXPERIENCE ISSUE IN JULY 2018, THE ENGINE STALLED AT STOP LIGHT; THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED IN AUGUST. THE ISSUE RETURNED IN OCT, AT THIS TIME IT STALED GOING THREW INTERSECTION WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A WRECK. DEC IT LOSS POWER WHILE GOING DOWN HEY I PULLED TO SIDE AND HAD CAR PULLED IN. LAST WEEK IT STALLED WHILE GOING DOWN HIGHWAY HAD NO POWER, I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND CHEVY AND WAS GIVING AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT IN. ITIS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME ISSUES. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO CHEVOLET AND DEALERSHIP WITH NO RESULTS. THE CAR IS BEING SERVICE AT PARIS TEXAS CHEVOLET (903) 784-7446 FOR THE 4TH TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11180543

Official recalls

4

18V304000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

May 10, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.

17V057000 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint

Jan 26, 2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.

16V502000 · 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.

16V498000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Jul 1, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a GM dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet Customer Service Department at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 50190.

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.