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2018 Chevrolet Cruze

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze are lower than the model-year median of 250.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

61 reports with mileage · 48 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 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

109 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED DURING THE ACCIDENT EXCEPT DRIVERS SIDE (STEERING WHEEL). THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI #11172201

9,900 miles · Jan 22, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO QUIRK CHEVROLET OF PORTLAND (LOCATED AT 1000 BRIGHTON AVE, PORTLAND, ME 04102, (207) 420-8968) AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO QUIRK CHEVROLET OF PORTLAND (LOCATED AT 1000 BRIGHTON AVE, PORTLAND, ME 04102, (207) 420-8968) AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FAST ON THE HIGHWAY TO CLEAR THE FILTER, WHICH WOULD TURN OFF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 94989017128. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,900.

NHTSA ODI #11171354

13,000 miles · Dec 7, 2018
Engine

I WAS LEAVING WORK ON 11-30-18 @ 5P.M. STARTED DRIVING DOWN LA HARPE BLVD, LIKE I DO EVERYDAY AFTER WORK. IT WAS RAINING THAT AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK. I WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. I HAD IT TOWED TO CRAIN CHEVROLET WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. THE GM C…

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I WAS LEAVING WORK ON 11-30-18 @ 5P.M. STARTED DRIVING DOWN LA HARPE BLVD, LIKE I DO EVERYDAY AFTER WORK. IT WAS RAINING THAT AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK. I WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. I HAD IT TOWED TO CRAIN CHEVROLET WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. THE GM CERTIFIED MECHANIC CALLED US HALF AN HOUR AFTER THEY OPENED SATURDAY MORNING AND SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED AND THE ONLY WAY HE FOUND THAT OUT WAS JUST STARTING THE VEHICLE UP WITHOUT LOOKING @ THE VEHICLE FIRST. MY HUSBAND AND I WENT UP THERE SATURDAY AFTERNOON JUST TO ASK IF WE COULD TAKE A PEEK AT IT NONE OF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN APART AND HE WAS WRONG ON THREE DIFFERENT THINGS HE TOLD ME AND I WAS ABLE TO PROVE HIM WRONG ON THE SPOT HE JUST CHANGED TOPIC AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY I JUST THINK THERE'S SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON HERE. I BELIEVE IF THE PROPER DIAGNOSTICS WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE HE JUST STARTED UP THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN FIXED BUT WITH GM CERTIFIED MACANIC JUST STARTING UP MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE FORCED EVEN MORE WATER INTO THE ENGINE AND PRETTY MUCH MADE IT DO WHAT IT DID. WE MADE A CLAIM ON DECEMBER 1ST WITH FARM BUREAU & MADE A CLAIM WITH THE GM SENIOR ADVISOR ON THE SAME DATE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER JUST PRETTY MUCH WENT OUT THERE AND TOLD HIM TO JUST TEAR THE VEHICLE APART AND FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT DIDN'T ASK IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IT DONE OR NOT AND NOW ALL THE SUDDEN IT'S ALL TAKEN APART AND TOTALED OUT WE'RE STUCK WITH THE DEPRECIATION VALUE AND DEDUCTABLE AND NO VEHICLE. SENIOR ADVISOR FROM GM JUST GOT BACK TO US TODAY ON THE DEC. 4TH, DALEESA WAS SUPPOSED TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP (CRAIN) AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON WITH MY VEHICLE, INSTEAD DALEESA NEGLECTED TO CONTACT ME OR MY HUSBAND. THERE WAS DIFFERENTLY SOME NEGLIGENT ACTION ON CRAIN'S SIDE AND GM.

NHTSA ODI #11156705

4,005 miles · Nov 28, 2018
Service BrakesCrash

AS I WAS BACKING OUT I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE GAS AS I GOT READY TO BREAK I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THAT'S WHEN MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE PEDAL AND BACKED INTO THE PERSON BEHIND ME.

NHTSA ODI #11154606

250 miles · Nov 1, 2018
Suspension

I LEASED A CRUZE AND WITH LESS THAN TWO WEEKS IN MY POSSESSION IT HAS BEEN MORE AT THE DEALER THAN WITH ME. FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A STRUT AND AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS THEY REPLACED THE AFFECTED PART. A DAY AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK, THE SAME CREAKING NOISE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPARENT WAS STILL THERE AND GETTING…

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I LEASED A CRUZE AND WITH LESS THAN TWO WEEKS IN MY POSSESSION IT HAS BEEN MORE AT THE DEALER THAN WITH ME. FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A STRUT AND AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS THEY REPLACED THE AFFECTED PART. A DAY AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK, THE SAME CREAKING NOISE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPARENT WAS STILL THERE AND GETTING WORSE. THEY HAVE NOW HAD MY CAR FOR 4 DAYS AND REPORTED BACK TO ME THAT THE NOISE WAS IN THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ON A NEW CAR. IT IS AMNAUFACTURING DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD RETURN IT TO GM AND GIVE ME A NEW CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11144757

5,000 miles · Oct 24, 2018
Unknown Or Other

2018 DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS ISSUE NIGHT TIME DRIVING THE DISPLAY IS WAY TO BRIGHT. DIMMING LIGHTS WITH DIMMER SWITCH HAS NO RESULTS. DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS IS SO DISTRACTING IT BLINDS OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. CONTACTING CHEVROLET THEY DISPLAYED IGNORANCE OF THE PROBLEM. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET PROVIDE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS…

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2018 DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS ISSUE NIGHT TIME DRIVING THE DISPLAY IS WAY TO BRIGHT. DIMMING LIGHTS WITH DIMMER SWITCH HAS NO RESULTS. DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS IS SO DISTRACTING IT BLINDS OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. CONTACTING CHEVROLET THEY DISPLAYED IGNORANCE OF THE PROBLEM. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET PROVIDE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON SEVERAL MODEL IN ADDITION TO THE CRUISE

NHTSA ODI #11142351

750 miles · Oct 11, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THE COMPUTER SCREEN IN THE DASH STAYS AT FULL BRIGHTNESS AT NIGHT. THIS MAKES FOR A BLIND SPOT DRIVING AND VERY HARD TO PARK THE CAR ON THE STREET AS IT BLOCKS VIEW TO THE MIRROR ON RIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #11139600

1,300 miles · Aug 17, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or OtherFire

WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY CRUZE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FUEL LINE SPRAYING FUEL ON THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11120610

100 miles · Jul 23, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR HAS SEVERAL AREAS WITH CHROME TYPE OF MATERIAL FOR DECORATIONS. DURING DAYTIME DRIVING, THE SUN HITS IT AND BLINDS ME, SO IT PREVENTS ME FROM DRIVING SAFELY UNTIL SUNDOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11112952

Official recalls

3

20V668000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 29, 2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

18V576000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper

Aug 30, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

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.

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.