2018 Chevrolet Cruze

About 10 days ago, my check engine light came on. I stopped at O’Reilly Auto Parts to have it diagnosed with a code. It threw a code for the turbo in my 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. It went off later that day. Today, it came back on and sent a message, “Engine power decreased”. I noticed no change in power or anything. Could this just be a sensor?

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle felt imbalanced and was shuddering. Additionally, the engine emitted abnormal knocking sounds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact then parked the vehicle a block away from his residence. The contact who is a certified independent mechanic, diagnosed that the fuel injectors had failed. The contact also diagnosed that the fuel injector had melted and fused into the number one cylinder, causing the engine to misfire. The contact replaced the fuel injectors, the spark plugs, the fuel line, the fuel harness, and the vehicle software were flushed. However, the failure reoccurred. Upon further investigation, the contact became aware that the engine inside the vehicle was not the appropriate engine as it was 1.5 liter and its specifications indicated that it was an engine specifically designed for a Chevrolet Malibu while the vehicle was a Chevrolet Cruze. However, the original owner of the vehicle, who was the contact's neighbor, had never replaced the engine. The contact then determined that the failure was associated to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V642000 (Electrical System, Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine). The contact notified the dealer where the vehicle was originally purchased and informed them that the engine installed was not the appropriate engine. The dealer disregarded the information and informed the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

I got my vehicle through a local dealership in town, in July of 2020 and only a couple months later my problems started. The vehicle started to vibrate violently and almost jerk back and forth on its own whenever I would drive it. And whenever I did come to a complete stop and accelerate the vehicle would hesitate a bit, it felt like I would have to really force it in order to keep driving. That same feeling would occur whenever I would have to drive on the highway it felt like I was pushing really hard on the gas in order to move. Which lead to my stability track message to appear on the dash as well as the check engine light. Then finally one day while I was driving and making a right turn to exit a shopping center my vehicle just stopped out of nowhere. I was unable to drive I tried putting it in neutral and reversing but nothing worked. I couldn't even take my keys out the ignition or turn off the vehicle I was completely stuck casing traffic on a busy street until what felt like five minutes later, I was able to turn it on and off and drive home. I then took my vehicle to the local Chevy dealership where they kept my car for a week even though no work was done to it. They wanted me to let them take apart my engine to determine what the problem was, and I was advised by multiple sources including my vehicle warranty to not let them do a tear down. The service consultant said they couldn't find a reason why my vehicle just stopped on me and blew it off as nothing. I then took it to a local mechanic in town where they replaced my air filter, spark plugs, and did a mass air flow clean. However only days later my check engine light appeared again along with the message to service the stability track. The jerking, vibrating feeling is still present when I drive also now whenever I turn on my vehicle.

Engine performance dropped noticeably, tire pressure system alert lighted, and stability track turned off. Then within a short period of time, some 30 minutes, the engine warning light activity (steady). All of this happened shortly after the 3-year warranty expired although I was having some engine roughness a few days before three years. Made an appointment at the Chevy dealership and the issue was diagnosed to a misfire on cylinder #1. Apparently, the insulator around the center electrode of the spark plug separated and slipped down. After a bit of research and asking the dealer for Chevy TSB #PIP5657D, NHTSA TSB #10201263, I was startled to find this is a somewhat frequent-enough problem affecting a number of GM models using 1.4L engine as used in my Cruze. I had a forthright conversation with Chevy dealer that this was a warranty issue as my OnStar alerted me to an emissions system malfunction. I also called GM and ACDelco, the spark plug manufacturer, and they claimed nothing or no issues. This is a safety concern to me. Paid almost $400 to have four spark plugs replaced at 3-years and only 7,000 miles; ACDelco warrants the spark plugs for 7-years or 100,000 miles!. Unacceptable.

The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving approximately 68 mph when the contact crashed into a deer, the brake pedal was depressed however the vehicle continued to move forward. The contact stated that he had placed the vehicle in park but the vehicle continued to drive, the contact had to continuedly press the ignition button for the vehicle to turn off. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The contact mentioned that the cruise control was activated at the time of the failure. The contact sustained scrapes on the arms but did not seek medical attention. A police report was taken and the vehicle was towed to a local tow yard where it was diagnosed as destroyed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000. The VIN was not available.

My vehicle is available for inspection. As of now and luckily no one has been at risk including myself with my vehicle, I fear this will not be the case anytime soon. I saw there was a recall for my year make and model of car that is not associated with my specific VIN number. I am aware that my car could be connected to the other vehicles and their VIN numbers that are associated with this recall. This could lead to a much better issue if and when we discover that there are other VIN numbers with the same year, make and model as mine. I am getting my car checked tomorrow to get this confirmation. There were no warning lamps that showed, but my car is now making consistent rattling, whooshing, and clacking noises associated with the engine. It is becoming so loud that my fear of it exploding has now become so high.

ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED WHEN BRAKING FOR NEIGHBORHOOD STOP SIGN. LOST POWER STEERING AND ENGINE POWER BUT DID NOT LOSE POWER TO GAUGES OR ACCESSORIES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR OTHER WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES ON DASH. PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED ENGINE. NORMAL START. TURNED ONTO MAJOR CITY STREET AND DROVE HALF MILE. STARTED BRAKING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT BUT DIDN'T COME TO FULL STOP BECAUSE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. SAME EXACT THING AND AGAIN NO WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH. FELT LIKE A SITTING DUCK AND VERY SCARED OF GETTING REAR-ENDED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. TURNED ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS, PUT IN PARK, AND RESTARTED ENGINE. AGAIN STARTED NORMALLY. REMAINED IN RIGHT LANE AND WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WORKED JUST DOWN THE STREET AND DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL STOPS ALONG THE WAY. PARKED CAR AND REFUSED TO DRIVE IT HOME THAT NIGHT BECAUSE I FELT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING. WHEN I TRIED TO START VEHICLE TO MOVE IT INTO A TOWING POSITION, THE ENGINE TRIED TO START BUT STALLED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN A ROW. STILL NO WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH. UNABLE TO ACCOMPANY TOW COMPANY TO DEALERSHIP DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS, BUT CALLED DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. THEY STILL HAVE THE CAR (4 BUSINESS DAYS LATER). THE CAR ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT (VERY LOW MILEAGE TO HAVE A FAILED FUEL PUMP). I NEVER LET IT GO BELOW 25% FULL TANK. IT'S A DIESEL, SO I CAN'T CONTROL FUEL QUALITY. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD A FUEL SYSTEM ISSUE WITH THIS CAR IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I'VE OWNED IT (BOUGHT NEW) - VERY INCONVENIENT. OTHER TWO TIMES WERE ALSO FAILED FUEL PUMP OR FILTER, BUT WITH CORRESPONDING CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND/OR SYMPTOMS. THIS TIME WAS WITHOUT WARNING AND MADE ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE. I REALLY LOVE THIS CAR, BUT AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE IT.

I HAVE A 2018 CRUZE THAT I WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, THE BRAKES WENT OUT WITH ME AND MY 6 MONTH OLD IN CAR, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER, TOWED TO CHEVY, THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY BRAKE PUMP, AND CHARGED ME 500 TO FIX IT. THEN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER, SAME MOUNTAIN, SAME THING, TOWED TO THE SAME CHEVY, THEY SAID THAT THE REPLACEMENT PUMP HAD EXPLODED AND IT WAS CAUSED BY ENGINE PISTON ISSUES, AND WANT 5 GRAND TO FIX IT. I BELIEVE THAT CHEVY BROKE THE CAR THE FIRST TIME AND BESIDES THE FACT, EXPLODING BRAKE PUMPS, 2 IN A ROW IS VERY SCARY. LUCKILY ME AND MY CHILD ARE STILL ALIVE TO BE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, BUT WE SERIOUSLY CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING KILLED BY THESE FAULTY BRAKES TWICE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY LIED ABOUT THE REPAIR OR IF IT REALLY IS TWO EXPLODING BRAKE PUMPS IN A ROW, BUT EITHER WAY, THESE EXPLODING BRAKES PUMPS ARE GOING TO KILL SOMEONE AND IT WAS ALMOST ME AND MY 6 MONTH OLD BABY. THE CHEVROLET DEALER IS AUTO NATION IN VALENCIA CA.

I WAS 3 FEET FROM TURNING LEFT AT INTERSECTION LEFT LANE TURN (LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED GREEN) THROUGH A INTERSECTION, WHEN I NOTICED MY ENGINE WAS OFF. I ROLLED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION; ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR - CAR DIDN'T START. THE ELECTRICITY IN CAR WAS STILL ON AND NORMAL. COOLANT WAS AT NORMAL TEMP. ONLY RADIO WAS ON LOW VOLUME. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS- NOR MESSAGES APPEARED. CAR WOULDN'T RESTART. WAS STUCK HALFWAY IN RIGHT (ONCOMING TRAFFIC) TURN LANE & HALF IN BUSINESS DRIVEWAY. PUT CAR IN PARK & TRIED TO TURN ON AGAIN. NOTHING. STEERING, BRAKES, LIGHTS AND DOORS WERE FUNCTIONAL. GOT HELP TO PUSH CAR IN A PARKING SPACE. TURNED OFF CAR COMPLETELY & ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON. CAR CRANKED & ALMOST STARTED. TRIED AGAIN - NOTHING. TURNED OFF & REMOVED KEYS TO GET OUT OF CAR TO LOOK UNDER HOOD. ALL LOOKED NORMAL. GOT BACK INSIDE CAR, ATTEMPTED TO START. IT CAME ON FOR 5 SECONDS THEN DIED. WAITED. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS NOR ERROR MESSAGES. FINALLY GOT CAR TO CRANK AND IT STAYED ON. NO ERROR MESSAGES. WENT TROUGH CAR SCREEN AND VOLTAGE WAS NORMAL 13 +/- VOLTS; IDLE WAS NORMAL - DID NOT MOVE AROUND. LEFT BUSINESS WHEN MESSAGE SAID ABOUT HAVING ANTILOCK BREAKS CHECKED BUT HAS NOT APPEARED ON CAR SCREEN SINCE (DIDN'T PRESS BREAKS BEFORE IT DIED. I PREFER ENGINE BREAKING). RECEIVED EMAIL FROM ONSTAR THAT "AN ISSUE WITH THE STABILITRAK STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM IN YOUR 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE HAS BEEN DETECTED. PLEASE SERVICE YOUR VEHICLE WITHIN 7 DAYS. & AN ISSUE WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IN YOUR 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE HAS BEEN DETECTED". I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A TRUCK WHILE STUCK HALF WAY IN STREET. CALLED AND COMPLAINED TO GM. GM REP SAID I AM PAST WARRANTY BY 9,000 MILES (CAR IS 1.5 YRS OLD). THEY CANT HELP. TOLD ME TO GO TO DEALERSHIP. CALLED 4 DEALERSHIPS, NO TECHS ON SATURDAYS AND NO LOANERS SINCE OUT OF WARRANTY. NO ERROR CODES STILL. NO LIGHTS LIT UP. CAR IS ACTING NORMAL.

I BACKED OUT OF MY ICY DRIVEWAY AND ONTO THE CLEAR, DRY ROAD. SET MY CRUISE CONTROL TO 48MPH AND AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, MY TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT SAID "SERVICE STABILITRAK" AND MY CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF. I CLOSED THE STABILITRAK MESSAGE, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURNED OFF AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF SHORTLY AFTER. BUT MY CRUISE CONTROL STILL WONT ENGAGE. I'VE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AND IT STILL ISNT WORKING. IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT GM VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED IT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS. I READ ON A FORUM THAT SOMEONE HAD THE ISSUE AND THE GM DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE AMOUNT OF ETHANOL IN THE GASOLINE. I HAPPENED TO HAVE FILLED UP MY TANK THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH REGULAR UNLEADED FROM MY LOCAL SPEEDWAY. NOT SURE OF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CONNECTED.