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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

43 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2022
Unknown Or Other

There was a recall on leaking antifreeze for previous Chevy Cruze years but that is also happening with my 2016 Cruze in the same way. My car would not warm up in the cold and would not clear the sight of my windshield over the ice, I waited about an hour for the sun due to lack of heat. While on my way my car then overheated wh…

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There was a recall on leaking antifreeze for previous Chevy Cruze years but that is also happening with my 2016 Cruze in the same way. My car would not warm up in the cold and would not clear the sight of my windshield over the ice, I waited about an hour for the sun due to lack of heat. While on my way my car then overheated while on the highway which created an even bigger safety issue. The problem has been recalled before on different Cruze year types, my mom had a 2013 Cruze with the same issue I am experiencing. It has not been inspected yet by those listed but when I add more coolant it is empty within an hour of just sitting there. The only light is when it was overheating, but I’ve been having to refill my antifreeze repeatedly and unsure as to why until I discovered the previous recall information and it sounded like my exact issue.

NHTSA ODI #11454673

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2021
EngineUnknown Or Other

I have a Chevy Cruze LT 1.4 l turbo engine and it has an exhaust leak by the manifold or the Cadillac converter is not working, a mechanic we took it to has confirmed that one of the hoses going into the Cadillac converter burst due to the Cadillac converter not working properly today is October 2nd it happened three days ago fr…

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I have a Chevy Cruze LT 1.4 l turbo engine and it has an exhaust leak by the manifold or the Cadillac converter is not working, a mechanic we took it to has confirmed that one of the hoses going into the Cadillac converter burst due to the Cadillac converter not working properly today is October 2nd it happened three days ago from today I have talked to other Chevy Cruze owners and confirmed the day also had the same problem I heard there is a recall for this problem on 2016 Chevy cruise so I would like to know if my car is on that recall list so I can go and get it fixed I have $133,000 miles on my car so it's not under the manufacturer's warranty anymore it is a very pricey repair which I do not have the money for due to the pandemic as we all know so please contact me through my email you guys have onfile and also because of this problem I cannot work I use my car for work,My car is a 2016 Chevy Cruze LT with a 1.4 L turbo engine thank you

NHTSA ODI #11435247

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2021
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

MY 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. I HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AND AFTER A INSPECTION. THE (VVT) VARIABLE VALVE TIMING WHEN TRYING TO START MY CAR, IT WOULD CLICK BUT WOULDN'T TURN OVER ALL LIGHTS AND POWER WAS ON BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. ALSO, MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND AND THE METAL WIRE RING INSIDE OF THE START…

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MY 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. I HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AND AFTER A INSPECTION. THE (VVT) VARIABLE VALVE TIMING WHEN TRYING TO START MY CAR, IT WOULD CLICK BUT WOULDN'T TURN OVER ALL LIGHTS AND POWER WAS ON BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. ALSO, MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND AND THE METAL WIRE RING INSIDE OF THE STARTER WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF.AND HAD TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA ODI #11408416

50,824 miles · Apr 4, 2021
EngineUnknown Or Other

LEAKING OIL RIGHT BENEATH THE DIPSTICK BUT NOT DIRECTLY OUT OF THE DIPSTICK. COMING FROM UNDER THE PLASTIC ECO TECH COVER

NHTSA ODI #11406314

70,000 miles · Mar 6, 2021
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE A 2016 CHEVY CRUSE WITH 70,000 MILES AND AS OF 3-4-2021 I HAVE A CRACK ENGINE BLOCK. MY CAR AS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO BOOKLET.I HAVE CALLED DANVERS CHEVROLET WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO HELP. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT HERB CHAMBERS SELLS CUSTOMERS CARS THAT BREAK DOWN AFT…

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I HAVE A 2016 CHEVY CRUSE WITH 70,000 MILES AND AS OF 3-4-2021 I HAVE A CRACK ENGINE BLOCK. MY CAR AS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO BOOKLET.I HAVE CALLED DANVERS CHEVROLET WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO HELP. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT HERB CHAMBERS SELLS CUSTOMERS CARS THAT BREAK DOWN AFTER WARRANTY. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MODEL OF CAR WAS DECISIVE IN MY PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. MY EXPECTATIONS OF HERB CHAMBERS CUSTOMER SERVICE IS A LETDOWN. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE CAR DIED IN THE BOURNE ROTARY

NHTSA ODI #11399531

71,600 miles · Jan 13, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECKED. THE PURGE VALVE, WATER PUMP, AND CAM ACTUATOR SEALS ALL WENT BAD.

NHTSA ODI #11387859

66,445 miles · Jan 10, 2021
EngineUnknown Or Other

BEFORE LEAVING WORK, I TURNED ON MY CAR FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES TO WARM UP. WHEN I ENTERED THE CAR TO LEAVE WORK, I WAS OVERCOME WITH THE SMELL OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GASOLINE. I DROVE LIKE NORMAL ON MY WAY HOME, ROLLING THE WINDOW DOWN TO GET RID OF THE SMELL, AND I ALSO THOUGHT SOME SMOKE OR HAZE MAY HAVE ENTERED MY CAR, ALTHOUGH…

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BEFORE LEAVING WORK, I TURNED ON MY CAR FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES TO WARM UP. WHEN I ENTERED THE CAR TO LEAVE WORK, I WAS OVERCOME WITH THE SMELL OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GASOLINE. I DROVE LIKE NORMAL ON MY WAY HOME, ROLLING THE WINDOW DOWN TO GET RID OF THE SMELL, AND I ALSO THOUGHT SOME SMOKE OR HAZE MAY HAVE ENTERED MY CAR, ALTHOUGH IT WAS DARK AND FOGGY SO I CANNOT BE SURE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR'S (2016 CHEVY CRUZE) OIL LIGHT CAME ON. IT GAVE ME AN URGENT MESSAGE OF "LOW OIL PRESSURE- STOP ENGINE" AND BEEPED CONTINUOUSLY, WHILE A THICK SMELL OF OIL FILLED THE CAR. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS NEAR AN EXIT AND I PULLED OFF IMMEDIATELY INTO A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND LATER THAT WEEK, I LEARNED THAT MY CAR HAD LEAKED 3.3 QUARTS OF OIL, LEAVING ME WITH 1.25 QUARTS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I WAS LUCKY I PULLED OFF WHEN I DID, AND THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS RISK OF ENGINE DAMAGE. HE ALSO LET ME KNOW THAT ANOTHER CAR, SAME MAKE AND MODEL, WAS ALSO IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM, AND THAT THAT CAR'S ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. I QUOTE FROM MY $500+ INVOICE, "THE TURBO OIL FEED PIPE WAS LEAKING AT THE OIL COOLER DUE TO POOR SEALING. VEHICLE WAS 3.3 QUARTS LOW ON FLUID."

NHTSA ODI #11387432

67,240 miles · Oct 20, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

REOCCURING PROBLEMS WITH PCV SYSTEM.EMISSIONS SYSTEM, MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS,O2 SENSORS,INTAKE MANIFOLD, VALVE COVERS WONT ACCELERRATE, STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND IDLING, HARD SHIFTING, STABILITY CONTROL SSUES AND STABILITRACK ISSUES, INTAKE AIR FLOW SYSTEM,FUEL TRIM SYSTEM LEAN BANK

NHTSA ODI #11365475

62,000 miles · Oct 3, 2020
StructureUnknown Or Other

2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE LS REAR-WINDSHIELD OUTER BRAKE LIGHT PLASTIC HOUSING HAS VERTICAL CRACK ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE OUTER PLASTIC HOUSING. UPON RESEARCHING, THIS WRITER FOUND ONLINE THREADS AND OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE OUTER PLASTIC HOUSING HAVING A VEHICLE CRACK.

NHTSA ODI #11362594

114,000 miles · Sep 8, 2020
Unknown Or Other

P0171 CODE CONTINUES TO COME UP, VALVE COVER AND INTAKE MANIFOLD HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES, WITHIN A WEEK BREAKS AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11353886

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.