10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,338 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #45

Feb 052016

Cruze

  • 59,000 miles
From a stopped position, I would accelerate through 1st gear, just before I change gears to 2nd. The whole car's electrical system goes haywire. All systems reset, most of the time this means I can a very bad jerk in between gears 1 and 2. a few times the car turned off. If the car does die, I am unable to start the car or jump it for at least 15 minutes. The longest I had to sit was over 30 minutes. Chevy's dic system tells me to check a variety of things, not always all of them. But usually check power steering and airbag systems. A few times it told me to check traction control systems. The check engine light has never come on in any of these instances. Chevy says this is due to a faulty ground wire, which they replaced and it continues to do this. This is a very dangerous situation, where if I was in a busy intersection I could easily be caught in an accident. Luckily, this has happened mostly in residential areas.

- Sycamore, IL, USA

problem #44

Dec 052015

Cruze

  • 62,000 miles
On 12-5-15 I was on my way to ct from mass and was on 91. About 45 minutes into the trip the car began to loose power and the check engine light came on and the service stablitrack light came on. As soon as the light came on the temperature gauge and RPM gauge would fling up and down quickly! I immediately went from 65 mph to 30 mph.( I was almost rear ended by a car behind me) I coasted my way to the right lane and was able to get off the exit. The car took about 4 hours to go back to normal. ( I returned to mass, I had to take the back way home and avoid the highway as the car still had reduce speed) the car will return to normal and the check engine light will go off. Everyday now the check engine light will come on and it will say service stablitrack. The car immediately looses power and you can hear the engine (sounds like a fan blowing hard) the transmission will not shift. The RPM will jump to 4-5 while only getting to a speed of 35 mph. The dealer has no idea what I am talking about. This car was bought in January of 2015 and has less than 65,000 miles on it. I have read a few complaints about this similar situation happening to the same car I have. This is a safety issue!!! the car has been serviced on time!!! please help me!! I refuse to take the highway as I never know when this is going to happen.....

- Monson, MA, USA

problem #43

Aug 172015

Cruze

  • 39,844 miles
Have had repeated issues with service stabilitrak light coming on while driving and then power being reduced to vehicle, causing unsafe driving conditions; following recall to reprogram computer engine fan ran continually for days; car died when startong, dealer replaced computer tried to return with check engine light on, now stabilitrak issue has recurred again. Not confident that dealership has any clue what is really wrong with this car. The dealership's most recent guess is that something is wrong with the transmission but that they are getting a code they don't recognize.

- Lexington, MI, USA

problem #42

Oct 032015

Cruze

  • 60,710 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving 70 mph, the glove box lighting started to flicker and the exterior lighting failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the negative battery terminal clamp needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under technical service bulletin number: 14311 and NHTSA campaign number: 10057574 (electrical system); however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,710.

- Williamsburg, KY, USA

problem #41

Aug 082015

Cruze

  • 58,278 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 58,278.

- Newmanstown, PA, USA

problem #40

Jun 162015

Cruze

  • 74,000 miles
This incident with my Chevrolet Cruze has happened on more than one occasion in the same month. I will be driving, coming to a stop and the whole car will turn off on me. The air conditioning shuts off, radio, the whole car powers down. I put the car into park, turn off the car, wait a few minutes and turn the car back on. Praying that me and my two year old don't get into an accident throughout the incident.

- Bullhead City, AZ, USA

problem #39

May 012014

Cruze

  • miles
It said service esp.

- Glenpool , OK, USA

problem #38

May 282015

Cruze

  • 66,000 miles
While driving the radio shuts off and a warning pops up in the center between the speedometer and RPM gauge that says service stabiltrac or service traction control. While that happens the power steering shuts off. That's a normal occurrence that happens randomly once or twice during my 20 mile drive to work, and on short drives for errands. Today the vehicle completely shut off twice while driving down the road. I almost wrecked 3 times going around corners when the power steering shut off along with the radio.

- Uniontown, PA, USA

problem #37

May 022015

Cruze

  • 21,536 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the ignition key failed to release from the ignition switch. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the gears shifter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,536.

- Grosse Pointe Woods , MI, USA

problem #36

May 012015

Cruze

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced difficulties when attempting to start the engine. The contact discovered that acid residue was present on both the negative and positive battery cable leads. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the negative battery cable was serviced. The contact indicated that the positive battery cable continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Villa Park, IL, USA

problem #35

Feb 012015

Cruze

  • 29,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving at approximately 60 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The instrument panel warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,000.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #34

Jan 092015

Cruze

  • 43,000 miles
I purchased a used 2011 Chevy Cruze lt three months ago. Prier owner owned the vehicle for 3 years and hardly drove it. I was sitting at a light when the check engine light came on the "engine power reduced" flashed on my screen. The car slowed to 2 mph. I pulled over and turned off the vehicle. Later I turned the car back on, check engine light came on. When I started to drive "service esp" flashed on my screen, then "service traction" flashed on my screen following by "engine power reduce." This happened to me 3 times in the same trip and is very dangerous. I thought maybe it was because of the snowy weather and freezing temperature" anyone have this happen? how can I fix it? help!"

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #33

Dec 192014

Cruze

  • 24,000 miles
Leaving a parking lot the instrument panel began to blink on and off every check engine light started to come on and off. Power steering was lost for a short period. Still in the parking lot at a stop sign turn the engine off. The car was completely dead, no lights no clicking noise when you attempt to re start. Opened hood checked the new battery wiggled the cables interior lights came on and car started up. Since then it has happened numerous times each event getting worse. Eventually it died and was towed to the dealership and is being looked at. This seems to be common with Chevrolet Cruze.

- Bluemont, VA, USA

problem #32

Dec 192014

Cruze

  • 5,500 miles
I was driving on my way to the store, suddenly I started smelling something burning. I the thought that the smell was coming from outside. But it happened again on December 31st when I was on my way home from work. I didn't see any smoke, but I smelled something burning. The fumes were coming from the vent. This needs to be checked out.

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #31

Jan 012015

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 28,000 miles
The Chevrolet Cruze 2011 is compromised by hacking and tampering and allows for the endangerment of the drive, other motor vehicle drivers or pedestrians. The radio antenna will sound off and constantly make a roaming noise as if being accessed. This is at every stop sign and every stop light or every destination reached by gps markers. The Cruze system is allowing the 24/7 tracking when it is used and tampering with the intent to cause malfunction or annoyance. The throttle is being cut off deliberately at stop signs, and traffic lights and destinations, the radio antenna will constantly make a roaming noise "searching or access". the vehicle is deliberately being used for stalking blacks for hate crimes while testing out vehicle halting systems by clearly satellite. This has happened 100 or so times in the 3 year I have had the vehicle and there is no remedy. When other persons use my own vehicle these issue do not arise and I have confirmed this with other owners, my vehicle is a unique occurrence that involves also a hate crime in public, police stalking, law enforcement stalking, home stalking and tampering of all electronic devices I own or use in my home. This car is not safe and the throttle cut offs are deliberate and specific. The throttle as I said already is cut off at a stop sign or mid acceleration with the intent to remove operator control and halt the vehicle. The lights are turned on and off on their own on one occasion. I have had other people test the car, these things do not occur even while I am in the passenger side. Only when I am the sole individual driving the vehicle alone is the throttle cut off and the lights tampered with including the antenna for stalking and tracking where I go. This is my second filing to address white supremacy under the color or law that interferes with personal property and use and control of property.

- New Paltz, NY, USA

problem #30

Dec 152014

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 55,450 miles
Heater at first did not work; dealer removed air bubbles and topped off radiator. The dealer mechanics mentioned that typically the thermostats or temperature sensors have gone in the Cruze. 2 weeks later - sure enough, back at dealership - need 2 temperature sensors now. Based on blog activities - it seems like these warrant a recall.

- Rowley, MA, USA

problem #29

Nov 302014

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Was traveling on the highway with cruise control set at 67mph when suddenly the car just lost power and the engine quit running. All of the dashboard instruments lost power, gas gauge registered empty, etc. Although the radio did not go off. Luckily this happened with very light traffic and was able to pull off in the emergency lane and put the vehicle in park and restarted the vehicle with no trouble. Continued our trip and did not happen again. After thinking about this I did notice the vehicle a few weeks ago losing some accelerating speed/power intermittently while traveling. Not sure if that was an indicator or not. Did call onstar approximately 5 hours after incident to diagnose and see if any error codes came up and they stated they showed nothing. This is my daughters vehicle and I fear that if she is traveling in heavy traffic and this happens again that this could cause a sever accident.

- Fraser, MI, USA

problem #28

Dec 042013

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Vehicle shutdown while driving on highway, several times. The car electric turns off and or flashes, stabiltrak lights come on and flashes, check engine flashing, car completely shuts down, steering is electronic or motor powered and is hard to use, transmission jerks before shutdown and breaks don't work very well. Ran over curb and off the road to avoid colliding with other vehicles. Picture, im driving on a highway at night doing 65 or so, all power goes out, its dark, other cars can not see me well, they are swerving and im swerving. This happened first around 20K and has happened on several occasions after. No corrections offered by GM under warranty, complaints were completely ignored, until murdock Chevy in manhattan ks. They are currently trying to get it fixed and gave me a loner car, all other servicing dealers refused a loaner car, and told me its fixed each time. Car still has the problems listed and no solution is given from GM or Chevy to fix this deadly situation. Also damage to the car from an engine overheat or dashboard overheat at the same time damaging electric, windshield, radio, gauges and dash compartment lever. Extreme heat, burning smell inside. Floorboard by the feet melts carpet and burns feet, all at the same time, on drives of 30 minutes or more.

- Junction City, KS, USA

problem #27

Apr 212014

Cruze

  • 88,895 miles
On this date we scheduled a oil change with a dealer who has performed all maintenance, recalls and repairs since the purchase of our new car. We where notified that the car was ready for pick up that morning as we arrived we paid our invoice, the consultant made us aware that the engine light came on (first time since new?) this consultant did not document this engine light to our records. Well, the engine light kept going off and on during the next 10K miles (2 oil change later, out of warranty, my fault) I had this check engine light diagnosed by our dealer and they had the codes and then further tried to correct the problem. They wanted $800 to install a new air intake manifold and throttle body then continue to test for more problems with no guarantee of repair. I could not afford the repair and declined the fix. The other problem surrounding this car since April 21, 2014 was that the fuel gauge would not show full after fill up and would move up and down the scale on the gauge. The ac would come on at strange times when running the heater" well any ways that was 7 hours at the dealer and made for a long day. I had to return to pick up the cover they forgot to install over the spark plugs, and complained about the leather sets being soaking wet with water and that the car has had these problems since April 2014 under warranty, the dealer did not want to help us? I purchased this car from them and purchased the 35K oil change extended warranty and bumper to bumper warranty" this dealer did all ! the maintenance, recalls and repairs. I'm glad we didn't go over the 1000 foot cliff at yellowstone when the brakes decided not to work (we learned later of the brake recall) they have a excuse for every question you ask, no reports on the all point inspection on our brakes and tires, password problem they say? I'm ready to buy a truck elsewhere now, poor GM an Chevy.

- Walnut Creek, CA, USA

problem #26

Nov 182014

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 77,000 miles
The vehicle would not shift out of park nor remove the key. The wheel was locked as well as the shift lever. The car would turn on however would not move. There was no lights in the vehicle.

- Garden City, MI, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »