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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

Engine complaints

102 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2019
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

OVERHEATING, SPEED DROP WHEN I DRIVING, ENGINE MAKE WEIRD NOISE DEALER CAN'T FIX IT THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11219148

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2019
Engine

TAKATA RECALL GOING DOWN THE ROAD COOLENT OUTLET HOUSING DISINTEGRATED WHILE HOSE ON THE RADIATOR WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY IT CRACKED WHERE THE PART IS MOLDED PART IS GETS BAD QUICKLY OVERTIME AND HEAT

NHTSA ODI #11216920

66,000 miles · May 10, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

MY 2016 CHEVY CRUZE LIMITED STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR. NO CODE LIGHTS ARE ON AND NONE DETECTED. SO I DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE CAR AND WAITED UNTIL IT WAS COOLED DOWN AND OPENED THE HOOD TO CHECK MY OIL. I UNSCREWED THE OIL CAP WHERE YOU ADD OIL AND IT COMPLETELY SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE. NO…

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MY 2016 CHEVY CRUZE LIMITED STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR. NO CODE LIGHTS ARE ON AND NONE DETECTED. SO I DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE CAR AND WAITED UNTIL IT WAS COOLED DOWN AND OPENED THE HOOD TO CHECK MY OIL. I UNSCREWED THE OIL CAP WHERE YOU ADD OIL AND IT COMPLETELY SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE. NOW THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO GO CRAZY AND I AM TAKING IT IN BEFORE IT CATCHES FIRE AND PUTS ME AND ANYONE ELSE IN DANGER.

NHTSA ODI #11206908

70,000 miles · Mar 13, 2019
Engine

I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. TRIED A SECOND TIME AND IT STARTED WITH A WARNING THAT IT WAS IN "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR. PUT IT IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF. TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED IN FULL ENGINE POWER BUT WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. IT WAS RECENTLY SERVICED AT DENOOYER CHEVR…

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I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. TRIED A SECOND TIME AND IT STARTED WITH A WARNING THAT IT WAS IN "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR. PUT IT IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF. TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED IN FULL ENGINE POWER BUT WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. IT WAS RECENTLY SERVICED AT DENOOYER CHEVROLET IN KALAMAZOO MICHIGAN DUE TO THE SAME ISSUES, 3 TIMES PRIOR TO THIS. CAR HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT AND DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RELIABLE AT ALL WITH SAME ISSUE OCCURING SHORTLY AFTER "SERVICE/REPAIR". I WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE!!

NHTSA ODI #11186674

59,000 miles · Mar 7, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER, THE TURBO BOOSTER FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALSER POLAR CHEVROLET (612-284-4672, LOCATED AT 1801 COUNTY RD F EAST, WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT DRIV…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER, THE TURBO BOOSTER FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALSER POLAR CHEVROLET (612-284-4672, LOCATED AT 1801 COUNTY RD F EAST, WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT DRIVING IN THE COLD TEMPERATURE CAUSED MOISTURE TO FREEZE UP THE TURBO BOOSTER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

NHTSA ODI #11184840

68,000 miles · Mar 6, 2019
Engine

THE CAR OVERHEATED AND THERE IS NO COOLANT IN THE TANK AND OIL IS POURING OUT OF THE HEAD GASKET THE CAR ONLY HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11184738

82,800 miles · Feb 25, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. ALSO, THE SERVICE STABILITRAC AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WEIMER CHEVROLET (10355 MT. SAVAGE ROAD NW, CUMBERLAND, MD) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. ALSO, THE SERVICE STABILITRAC AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WEIMER CHEVROLET (10355 MT. SAVAGE ROAD NW, CUMBERLAND, MD) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE PISTON FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,800.

NHTSA ODI #11182355

30,000 miles · Feb 22, 2019
Engine

ENGINE STALLS OUT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OVER 30MPH AND AFTER 5-10 SECONDS THE ENGINE UNSTALLS AND CAR SHOOTS FORWARD. PROBLEM HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY SERVICE AND SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT HIS 2010 CRUZE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SERVICE TECHS COULD NOT DIA…

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ENGINE STALLS OUT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OVER 30MPH AND AFTER 5-10 SECONDS THE ENGINE UNSTALLS AND CAR SHOOTS FORWARD. PROBLEM HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY SERVICE AND SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT HIS 2010 CRUZE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SERVICE TECHS COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11182051

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

48,000 miles · Jan 3, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

CONTINUING ILLUMINATION OF THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. TIED TO EMISSION SUSPECT MALFUNCTION CODES. HAS BEEN SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST FIVE TIMES. REPLACED FUEL INDUCTION SYSTEM, TURBO, FUEL INDUCTION SOLENOID AND OTHER COMPONENTS. STILL NO RESOLUTION. PROBLEM IS MADE KNOWN BY ILLUMINATION OF "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WHILE …

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CONTINUING ILLUMINATION OF THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. TIED TO EMISSION SUSPECT MALFUNCTION CODES. HAS BEEN SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST FIVE TIMES. REPLACED FUEL INDUCTION SYSTEM, TURBO, FUEL INDUCTION SOLENOID AND OTHER COMPONENTS. STILL NO RESOLUTION. PROBLEM IS MADE KNOWN BY ILLUMINATION OF "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. NO AFTER MARKET PARTS, APPROX 48,000 MILES. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT SEEM TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES.

NHTSA ODI #11165659

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.