Chevrolet

Cruze (1st)

2011-2019 · Compact Sedan ยท 5 engines
Best Engine โœ… Recommended (3.5)
3,667 NHTSA Complaints
26 Recalls
81 Fire Reports
288 Crash Reports
Includes data from: CRUZECRUZE LIMITED
๐Ÿ“‹ Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.7% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.7% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.7% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.7% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.7% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.7% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.7% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.7% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.7% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (10.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

LH7 - UREA, VGT, ALUM, CRI

1.6L 4-cyl
โœ… Recommended (3.5)
32 complaints 10.7 per year Diesel
View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission
21
other
4
electrical
3
engine
3
body
1

Known Issues

Transmission Issues (21 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (3 complaints)
Engine Issues (3 complaints)

LUZ

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo
โš ๏ธ Caution (2.1)
49 complaints 24.5 per year Diesel
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
18
engine
17
transmission
10
steering
8
brakes
5

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (18 complaints)
Engine Issues (17 complaints)
Transmission Issues (10 complaints)

Chevrolet Cruze Unidentified Engine

โŒ Avoid (1.5)
349 complaints 43.6 per year
9 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
98
electrical
94
transmission
62
other
48
steering
46

Known Issues

Engine Issues (98 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (94 complaints)
Transmission Issues (62 complaints)

LUW

1.8L 4-cyl
โŒ Avoid (1.4)
688 complaints 94.5 per year Gasoline
14 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
226
electrical
207
transmission
178
other
77
safety systems
75

Known Issues

Engine Issues (226 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (207 complaints)
Transmission Issues (178 complaints)

Same engine used in

LUV

1.4L 4-cyl Turbo
โŒ Avoid (1.0)
2,532 complaints 226.4 per year Gasoline
55 fire reports 3 fatalities
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1019
electrical
635
transmission
393
other
301
brakes
288

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1,019 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (635 complaints)
Transmission Issues (393 complaints)
Show 12 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints and aren't included in the main ratings above. Low counts can mean a genuinely clean record, but they can also reflect VIN-decode anomalies in NHTSA data. Treat as informational, not as a confident rating.

LV6

1.8L 4-cyl
โœ… Recommended (4.8)
3 complaints 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1
exterior
1
transmission
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1 complaints)
Exterior Issues (1 complaints)
Transmission Issues (1 complaints)

L37

4.6L 8-cyl
โœ… Recommended (4.4)
2 complaints 2.0 per year Gasoline
View details

LFJ

1.6L 4-cyl
โš ๏ธ Caution (3.3)
2 complaints 1.0 per year Gasoline
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

body
1
engine
1
electrical
1
cooling
1

Known Issues

Body/Trim Issues (1 complaints)
Engine Issues (1 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)

LS6

5.7L 8-cyl
โœ… Recommended (4.8)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission
1

Known Issues

Transmission Issues (1 complaints)

6.0-V8-Gas

6.0L 8-cyl
โœ… Recommended (4.8)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

safety systems
1

Known Issues

Safety Systems Issues (1 complaints)

L32

3.8L 6-cyl
โœ… Recommended (4.8)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

LNF

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo / 260 hp
โœ… Recommended (4.8)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

LQ9

6.0L 8-cyl
โœ… Recommended (4.8)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

steering
1

Known Issues

Steering Issues (1 complaints)

1.0-I3-Gas

1.0L 3-cyl
โœ… Recommended (4.8)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

2.0-I4-Gas

2.0L 4-cyl
โœ… Recommended (4.8)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
1
brakes
1
suspension
1

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)
Brakes Issues (1 complaints)
Suspension Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

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Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Chevrolet Cruze regardless of engine variant.

Engine Issues (1,367 complaints)
engine critical
Electrical System Issues (961 complaints)
electrical critical
Transmission Issues (666 complaints)
transmission critical
Steering Issues (363 complaints)
steering critical
Brakes Issues (320 complaints)
brakes critical

Recalls (26)

25V764000Jun 10, 2025serious
Air Bags

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators located on the roof rails above the headliner, may rupture at the inflator weld joint.

23V870000Dec 20, 2023serious
Air Bags

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators may rupture at the inflator weld joint. This recall is an expansion of Recall 23V-674.

23V674000Sep 19, 2023serious
Air Bags

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators located on the roof rails above the headliner, may rupture at the inflator weld joint.

20V668000Oct 28, 2020serious
Powertrain

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.

18V576000Aug 29, 2018serious
Service Brakes

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.

18V304000Oct 4, 2018serious
Fuel System

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."

17V057000Jan 25, 2017serious
Seats

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."

16V502000May 6, 2016serious
Electrical System

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."

16V498000Jan 6, 2016serious
Exterior Lighting

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."

15V113000Feb 26, 2015serious
Parking Brake

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured February 4, 2015, to February 9, 2015. The left-rear or right-rear parking brake cable brackets may not have been properly fastened during the assembly process. As a result, the fastening bolts may back out completely, causing the parking brake bracket to separate and the parking brake to not hold the vehicle in place. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

15V876000Dec 22, 2015serious
Seat Belts

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured September 24, 2014, to May 29, 2015. In the affected vehicles, one of the driver-side seat belt assembly bolts may not be properly tightened.

15V442000Oct 6, 2015serious
Steering

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.

14V151000Mar 30, 2014serious
Powertrain

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with a 1.4L turbo engine, and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and March 7, 2014. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.

14V372000Jun 25, 2014serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's front air bag inflator may have been manufactured with an incorrect part.

14V092000Feb 20, 2014serious
Powertrain

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

14V300000Jun 5, 2014serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

14V417000Feb 6, 2014serious
Equipment

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

13V023000Jan 23, 2013serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

13V452000Sep 22, 2013serious
Powertrain

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) and manufactured January 24, 2013, through August 1, 2013. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.

13V360000Aug 14, 2013serious
Service Brakes

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with 1.4L DOHC gasoline turbo engines and 6T40 front wheel drive automatic transmissions and equipped with an electric vacuum pump to provide supplemental vacuum for brake assist, when needed. In the affected vehicles, the pump may not activate, resulting in an intermittent reduction or loss of brake assist.

12V522000Oct 30, 2012serious
Air Bags

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

12V289000Jun 21, 2012serious
Fuel System

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 14, 2012. ATTACHMENT WELDS FOR THE FUEL TANK STRAP SECONDARY BRACKETS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED.

12V288000Jun 21, 2012critical
Engine & Cooling

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 31, 2012. SPILLED OR DRIPPING OIL (SUCH AS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE) MAY COLLECT IN THE ENGINE SHIELD (BELLYPAN) NEAR HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST SYSTEM SURFACES. AS A RESULT, THE OIL AND THE ENGINE SHIELD MAY IGNITE AND BURN.

11V273000Jun 4, 2011serious
Powertrain

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 6, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 27, 2011 AND EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, 'TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT,' AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, 'THEFT PROTECTION.' THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE LINKAGE IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, THE PRNDL SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVER COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO PARK AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN PARK.

11V270000Jun 4, 2011serious
Steering

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 21, 2011. THE BOLT ATTACHING THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED.

11V221000Jun 3, 2011serious
Steering

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES. DURING MANUFACTURING THE STEERING WHEEL COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FASTENED AND MAY DETACH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN.

Alternatives in Compact Sedan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2011-2019 Chevrolet Cruze problems?

The 2011-2019 Chevrolet Cruze has accumulated 3,667 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine, Electrical System, Transmission. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Chevrolet Cruze engine is most reliable?

The 2011-2019 Chevrolet Cruze was offered with 17 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 1.6L 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2011-2019 Chevrolet Cruze a good used car?

The 2011-2019 Chevrolet Cruze can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 3,667 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011-2019 Chevrolet Cruze have?

The 2011-2019 Chevrolet Cruze has 3,667 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2011-2019 Chevrolet Cruze?

There are 26 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2011-2019 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN โ€” check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Chevrolet Cruze?

Before buying a used Chevrolet Cruze, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Engine, Electrical System, Transmission, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Cruze?

The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (10.7% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Optional. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 3,667 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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