Chevrolet Cruze Reliability
5,713 NHTSA complaints (2010–2019). Complaint rate: 132.8 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2011–2014 Chevrolet Cruze (370 crash-related complaints). The 2018–2019 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: ENGINE.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Chevrolet Cruze Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1,238 | 2.8% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 730 | 3.8% |
| POWER TRAIN | 643 | 2.8% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 459 | 4.1% |
| STEERING | 372 | 8.6% |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 369 | 5.1% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 338 | 20.1% |
| AIR BAGS | 251 | 57.8% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 248 | 2.4% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 224 | 7.6% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 2010View→ |
| 2011AVOID | — | 1,109 | 67 | 30 | View 2011View→ |
| 2012AVOID | — | 1,344 | 104 | 25 | View 2012View→ |
| 2013AVOID | — | 931 | 90 | 15 | View 2013View→ |
| 2014AVOID | — | 1,084 | 109 | 28 | View 2014View→ |
| 2015 | — | 381 | 30 | 8 | View 2015View→ |
| 2016 | — | 383 | 28 | 11 | View 2016View→ |
| 2017 | — | 291 | 11 | 9 | View 2017View→ |
| 2018GOOD | — | 162 | 27 | 5 | View 2018View→ |
| 2019GOOD | — | 26 | 5 | 2 | View 2019View→ |
See also: Chevrolet Cruzeaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Chevrolet Cruze?
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