2018 Chevrolet Cruze Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze.

20172019
Complaints
162
Crashes
27
Fires
5
Injuries
12
Fatalities
1
Recalls
3

Worst 2018 Chevrolet Cruze Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#126 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:32,240 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:2
#223 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:52,950 mi
Crash-related:3
#314 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:48,203 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze.

Engine Problems
26
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
32,240
Transmission / Drivetrain
23
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
52,950
Electrical Faults
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
48,203
Brakes
12
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
1
Avg Miles
39,607
Steering Defects
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
39,621
Airbags
8
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
65,667
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
19,150
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
29,020
Wheel Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
9,625
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Bulbs
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2018 Chevrolet Cruze

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~516,699 vehicles.

20V668000Automatic Transmission
~194,105 affected

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.

18V576000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
~210,628 affected

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.

18V304000Gasoline Fuel System
~111,966 affected

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."

Other Chevrolet Cruze Years

2018 Chevrolet Cruze — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2018 Chevrolet Cruze has 162 NHTSA complaints, 27 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 26 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (26 complaints, avg 32,240 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (23 complaints, avg 52,950 mi); Electrical Faults (14 complaints, avg 48,203 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 40,908 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze include 27 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 12 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 516,699 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Cruze reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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