WHENEVER MY CAR IS TURN OFF FOR 2HRS OR MORE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, UNLESS I USE A START JUMPER BOX.
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.
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
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.
What owners actually said
249 reportsCAR 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.
MY ENGINE WILL JUST SHUT OFF RANDOMLY, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. I HAVE TOOK IT INTO DEALER BECASE IT WAS STILL COVERED UNTIL POWERTRAIN, OF COURSE THEY FOUND NOTHING AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR 4 DAYS. MY CAR SHUTS OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, OR WHILE COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY WITH CARS TRAILING BEHIND ME. IT SHUTS OFF…
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MY ENGINE WILL JUST SHUT OFF RANDOMLY, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. I HAVE TOOK IT INTO DEALER BECASE IT WAS STILL COVERED UNTIL POWERTRAIN, OF COURSE THEY FOUND NOTHING AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR 4 DAYS. MY CAR SHUTS OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, OR WHILE COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY WITH CARS TRAILING BEHIND ME. IT SHUTS OFF SITTING AT RED LIGHTS, WHEN THE AUTO START COMES BACK ON IT NEVER FULLY WILL COME BACK ON, AND JUST COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. IN WHICH I HAVE TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND START THE CAR AGAIN, AND AT TIMES IT DOESN'T START RIGHT AWAY! MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN UP, HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP AND AN AUTO STORE BOTH PULLED CODES AND NONE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL ENGINE. THERE IS ALSO A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING THAT HAS BEEN ON AS WELL. MY BREAKS WORK, BUT YOU HAVE TO PUSH DOWN VERY HARD FOR THEM TO WORK AT 100%. I HAVE 2 CHILDREN, AND AM A SINGLE MOM, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND PUTTING ALL OF OUR LIVES AT RISK! NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR, AND I DON'T WANT ANY OF US TO GET INJURED OR DIE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL.
OVERHEATING, SPEED DROP WHEN I DRIVING, ENGINE MAKE WEIRD NOISE DEALER CAN'T FIX IT THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE
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
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. EAST HILLS CHEVROLET OF FREEPORT (42 EAST SUNRISE HIGHWAY, FREEPORT, NY 11520, (888) 739-7889) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND HAD NOT YET SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER REQUIRED THAT THE CONTACT FOLLOW-…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. EAST HILLS CHEVROLET OF FREEPORT (42 EAST SUNRISE HIGHWAY, FREEPORT, NY 11520, (888) 739-7889) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND HAD NOT YET SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER REQUIRED THAT THE CONTACT FOLLOW-UP WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHEN STOPPING, AN INITIAL PRESS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT ENGAGE BRAKE LIKE USUAL. HAD TO PUSH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO GET THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES TO ENGAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, DRIVING UNDER 20MPH.
MY 2016 CHEVY CRUZE LS STARTED MAKING A ROARING NOISE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THEN THE STEERING GOT VERY STIFF I BARELY MADE IT HOME AND I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR THIS WAY THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP AT ANYTIME AND IT COULD CAUSE A VERY BAD ACCIDENT FOR I WILL NOT HAVE NO …
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MY 2016 CHEVY CRUZE LS STARTED MAKING A ROARING NOISE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THEN THE STEERING GOT VERY STIFF I BARELY MADE IT HOME AND I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR THIS WAY THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP AT ANYTIME AND IT COULD CAUSE A VERY BAD ACCIDENT FOR I WILL NOT HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR.
WHEN LEAVING A GROCERY STORE, ROUGHLY 2 MILES, MY HUSBAND SAID THE GAS PEDDLE CLICKED. MOMENTS LATER, THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING WEIRD. WOULD NOT GET PAST FIRST GEAR. SECOND GEAR MADE THE CAR SUPER SHAKY AND THEN IT SHUT OFF. WHEN RESTARTING, CAR WOULD DRIVE NORMAL FOR A MINUTE THEN ACT UP AGAIN. WE WOULD PUT IT IN NEURAL AND COAS…
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WHEN LEAVING A GROCERY STORE, ROUGHLY 2 MILES, MY HUSBAND SAID THE GAS PEDDLE CLICKED. MOMENTS LATER, THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING WEIRD. WOULD NOT GET PAST FIRST GEAR. SECOND GEAR MADE THE CAR SUPER SHAKY AND THEN IT SHUT OFF. WHEN RESTARTING, CAR WOULD DRIVE NORMAL FOR A MINUTE THEN ACT UP AGAIN. WE WOULD PUT IT IN NEURAL AND COAST IT WITH NO PROBLEMS UNTIL IT DIED AGAIN. WHEN WE GOT HOME ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, I PULLED THE CODE AND IT WAS PULLING O2 BANK 1 SENSOR 2. CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW. WAITING FOR A CALL ON THE DIAGNOSIS.
Official recalls
418V304000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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