Model record
Chevrolet Cruze Years to Avoid: Reliability and Recalls
Every Chevrolet Cruze model year in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2011 to 2019: how many complaints each year drew, the problem owners named most, and the recalls to check before you buy.
NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 3, 20263,710 complaints9 model years
The Chevrolet Cruze years with the most owner complaints are 2012, 2011 and 2014. Owners named the engine most for 2012, 2011 and 2014.
It's a count of reports, not a failure rate, and the newest years have had less time on the road to collect them.
Most of the complaints fall on the first Cruze, and they peak at 864 for 2012.
Chevrolet Cruze complaints by model year
Every Chevrolet Cruze model year in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2011 to 2019. Years with 2,000 or more complaints are dark; beside each bar is the system owners named most that year.
- 2011Engine35%731
- 2012Engine31%864
- 2013Engine36%585
- 2014Engine31%702
- 2015Engine39%251
- 2016Engine40%247
- 2017Engine36%201
- 2018Engine25%109
- 2019Powertrain30%20
Best Chevrolet Cruze years by complaint count
Of the years with at least five years on the road, these drew the fewest owner complaints. Fewer reports is not a clean bill of health: check the recalls for the exact car.
- 2019Powertrain · 2 recalls20
- 2018Engine · 3 recalls109
- 2017Engine · 2 recalls201
Most common Chevrolet Cruze problems
The systems owners named most across all 9 model years, counted from each year's six most-named systems.
- EngineNamed most in 8 of 9 years1,254
- Electrical systemNever the top system in a year741
- PowertrainNamed most in 1 of 9 years648
- SteeringNever the top system in a year301
- Stability controlNever the top system in a year275
Our guides for these problems
Check engine codes Chevrolet Cruze owners name
The OBD-II codes owners wrote into their complaints for the Cruze years we have read in full (2012), one count per complaint. Tap a code to read our guide; grey codes have no guide yet.
Chevrolet Cruze years to avoid by generation
Chevrolet called the 2016 Cruze all-new, so the years in the file fall into two groups. NHTSA's file has the Cruze from 2011 to 2019.
2011–2015
First Cruze sold in the US
2012 most complaints · engine
- 2011731
- 2012864
- 2013585
- 2014702
- 2015251
3,133 complaints · 5 model years
2016–2019
All-new for 2016
2016 most complaints · engine
- 2016247
- 2017201
- 2018109
- 201920
577 complaints · 4 model years
Chevrolet Cruze recalls by year
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for each model year, read Oct 3, 2026. A campaign that covers several years counts in each of them. Recall repairs are free at the dealer; check one car with its VIN.
- 2011Most often: steering7
- 2012Most often: airbag system7
- 2013Most often: powertrain5
- 2014Most often: airbag system10
- 2015Most often: electrical system4
- 2016Most often: fuel system4
- 2017Most often: fuel system2
- 2018Most often: powertrain3
- 2019Most often: powertrain2
Chevrolet Cruze crash test ratings by year
NHTSA's overall star rating for each model year, with the frontal, side and rollover stars beside it.
- 2011Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2012Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2013Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2014Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2015Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2016Frontal 5 · Side 4 · Rollover 44/5
- 2017Frontal 5 · Side 4 · Rollover 44–5/5
- 2018Frontal 5 · Side 4 · Rollover 45/5
- 2019Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
Federal investigations
NHTSA's defect office has opened 3 investigations into 3 problems that cover Chevrolet Cruze model years from 2011 to 2019. An investigation looks into a possible defect; it is not a finding.
Common questions
What are the Chevrolet Cruze years to avoid?
The years with the most owner complaints are 2012, 2011 and 2014. Treat them as the years to inspect hardest, not as a verdict on every car: run the VIN for open recalls and have the systems owners named checked before you buy.
What year is the most reliable Chevrolet Cruze?
Complaints can't name a most reliable year, because the file counts reports, not failures per car sold. Of the years with at least five years on the road, 2019 drew the fewest complaints: 20. Newer years have fewer still, but they have had less time to collect them.
What is the most common problem with the Chevrolet Cruze?
Across every year in the file, owners named the engine most, in 1,254 complaints, then the electrical system, in 741.
Which Chevrolet Cruze years have the most recalls?
2014, 2011 and 2012, with 10, 7 and 7 recall campaigns.
Cruze year pages
2012864What the complaint record can't tell you
Sources
Show all 4 sources
Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.