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2013 Chevrolet Cruze

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cruze years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze are substantially higher than the model-year median of 250.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

417 reports with mileage · 169 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 211 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 121 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 112 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

54 crash reports8 fire reports25 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

121 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2017
Electrical System

AFTER DRIVING I PARK AND REMOVED THE KEY, THE ENGINE TURN ON AND 2 SECONDS TURNS OFF, I MENTION TO MY BOSS, AND MY 12YRS OLD SON WE GOT SCARED I THOUGH SOME SPELL OR SOMETHING.STILL DOES THAT 3 TIMES OF MONTH

NHTSA ODI #11034176

71,000 miles · Jul 18, 2017
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 18 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE WRENCH WARNING SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL. IN ADDITION, OTHER ERROR WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMIANTED AS THE WINDOW ROLLED UP AND DOWN. THE MAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 18 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE WRENCH WARNING SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL. IN ADDITION, OTHER ERROR WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMIANTED AS THE WINDOW ROLLED UP AND DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11006085

200 miles · Jul 10, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

SINCE PURCHASING MY CAR IT HAS DONE STRANGE THINGS WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE BREAKS. WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT ETC.. THE CAR WILL JUMP FORWARD.. SOMETIMES ONLY ONCE AND OTHERS IT DOES IT OVER AND OVER UNTIL I ACCELERATE AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. DAVID MAUS IN SANDFORD FL. THE SERVICE TECH TOOK A R…

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SINCE PURCHASING MY CAR IT HAS DONE STRANGE THINGS WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE BREAKS. WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT ETC.. THE CAR WILL JUMP FORWARD.. SOMETIMES ONLY ONCE AND OTHERS IT DOES IT OVER AND OVER UNTIL I ACCELERATE AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. DAVID MAUS IN SANDFORD FL. THE SERVICE TECH TOOK A RIDE WITH ME.. HE STATED THAT HE'S HEARD THIS FROM OTHER CHEVY CRUZE OWNERS AND IT'S JUST WHAT THESE CARS DO. IT DID DEMONSTRATE THE JUMPING, THRUSTING FORWARD WHILE THE SERVICE TECH WAS DRIVING. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS ANSWER BUT BELIEVED HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. YESTERDAY I GET IN MY CAR AND IT WILL HARDLY GO. THE SERVICE STABILTACK LIGHT WAS ON. THEN EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON. OBVIOUSLY I UNDERSTAND THINGS GO BAD ON CARS AS IT'S 4 YEARS OLD. BUT AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS. AND IT'S UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL AFTER ALL THE REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS. WHEN IT JUMPS HOPS THRUST FORWARD YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE OR A LOT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING WITH NO HELP FROM THE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. I PUT THE DATE AS 2013 BECAUSE AS I SAID IT'S BEEN ON GOING AND NOW IT'S COMPLETELY BROKEN. WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD THE MECHANICS HELPED ME IN 2013

NHTSA ODI #11003990

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING LOCKED UP, CAR TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE RADIO TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND CLOSE DRIVER WINDOW LIT UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS NOW. STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE ON I-95. RADIO ON AND OFF WHILE TURNING ONTO HIGHWAY AND WINDOW MESSAGE WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI #10995650

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY MY RADIO WILL TURN OFF AND ON MULTIPLE TIMES AND MY STABILITY CONTROL WILL TURN OFF AND IT WILL BE HARD TO TURN THE VEHICAL. A WARNING COMES ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN SAYING CHECK STABILITY CONTROL AND ALSO CHECK POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IT HAVE HAPPENED TODAY AS WELL AS…

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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY MY RADIO WILL TURN OFF AND ON MULTIPLE TIMES AND MY STABILITY CONTROL WILL TURN OFF AND IT WILL BE HARD TO TURN THE VEHICAL. A WARNING COMES ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN SAYING CHECK STABILITY CONTROL AND ALSO CHECK POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IT HAVE HAPPENED TODAY AS WELL AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FEEDER

NHTSA ODI #10990769

54,995 miles · May 16, 2017
Electrical System

RADIO CONSOLE GETS REAL HOT TO TOUCH. GOES AWAY THEN GETS HOT AGAIN. YEARLY PROBLEM. DONT WANT FIRE HAZARD. IS THIS NORMAL? VEHICLE REQUIRED EXTENSIVE RECALLS SINCE PURCHASE IN 2013.

NHTSA ODI #10986086

11,000 miles · May 4, 2017
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ODI #10983570

128,000 miles · Apr 12, 2017
Electrical System

"SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM" ERROR MESSAGES - 2 BODY MODULES BAD AND ALREADY REPLACED ONCE. MODULE FAILURE CAUSES ADDITIONAL CASCADING FAILURES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SYSTEM AND AFFECTS DASH CONTROLS/TURN-SIGNALS, MPG, FUEL CALCULATIONS & NOW "MY LINK" SCREEN BLANK WITH "SERVICE PARKING ASST MESSAGE ON DASH. SINCE MYLINK …

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"SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM" ERROR MESSAGES - 2 BODY MODULES BAD AND ALREADY REPLACED ONCE. MODULE FAILURE CAUSES ADDITIONAL CASCADING FAILURES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SYSTEM AND AFFECTS DASH CONTROLS/TURN-SIGNALS, MPG, FUEL CALCULATIONS & NOW "MY LINK" SCREEN BLANK WITH "SERVICE PARKING ASST MESSAGE ON DASH. SINCE MYLINK SCREEN DEAD, RADIO DIALS/CONTROLS DO NOT WORK AND CANNOT SEE/CONTROL HEATING CONTROLS AND NAVIGATION SCREEN DEAD AS WELL. THESE SAME TWO SIDE MODULES WERE ALREADY REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SINCE VEHICLE IS NOW OVER ON MILEAGE, I AM LEFT ON MY OWN TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. MODULES GET BASICALLY ONE WINTER SEASON HERE IN THE NORTHEAST AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. MALFUNCTIONS CAUSE CASCADING FAILURES THROUGHOUT REST OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND MAKE CERTAIN VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND SAFETY FUNCTIONS INOPERABLE. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER CARE AND BASICALLY THEY SAID THERE IS NO ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT IS "NOT A KNOWN CONCERN" ON THIS VEHICLE. MODULE LOCATION IS BEHIND REAR WHEELS IN BUMPER COVER AREA, AND ARE OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS AND POORLY SEALED. WATER/SALT WATER SEEMINGLY EASILY PENETRATES THESE MODULES AND CAUSES THEM TO FAIL. BECAUSE THEY ARE DIRECTLY TIED INTO THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHEN THEY DO FAIL IT CAUSES CASCADING FAILURES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SYSTEM SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM. (SOME OF THE SYSTEMS ARE CRITICAL TO VEHICLE SAFETY AND OPERATION.

NHTSA ODI #10972062

69,500 miles · Mar 20, 2017
Electrical System

WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN MY COMMUNITY THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. THIS LOCKED MY STEERING WHEEL ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10967312

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING RADIO CUTS IN AND OUT FOR 5-10 SECONDS, THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN GOES BLANK, THE SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT FLASHES, OTHER WARNING LIGHTS FLASH, AND YOU HAVE TO RAISE THE DRIVER'S WINDOW DOWN AND BACK UP FOR THE INFORMATION SCREEN TO SHOW YOUR SPEED AND MILEAGE WHEN STARTING THE CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROB…

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WHILE DRIVING RADIO CUTS IN AND OUT FOR 5-10 SECONDS, THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN GOES BLANK, THE SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT FLASHES, OTHER WARNING LIGHTS FLASH, AND YOU HAVE TO RAISE THE DRIVER'S WINDOW DOWN AND BACK UP FOR THE INFORMATION SCREEN TO SHOW YOUR SPEED AND MILEAGE WHEN STARTING THE CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ITS ASHAMED THAT GM HAS NOT RECALLED THIS VEHICLE TO FIX THESE ISSUES. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL SOON BEFORE SOMETHING AWFUL HAPPENS TO INNOCENT PEOPLE. BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP AT A GOOD DEAL, GUESS I KNOW WHY NOW.

NHTSA ODI #10955500

Official recalls

5

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

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."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

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."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

14V417000 · Equipment:electrical

Jul 2, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

14V372000 · Air Bags

Jun 26, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike and potentially seriously injure the vehicle occupants. Additionally, if the air bag does not inflate, the driver is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14305.

14V151000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft

Mar 31, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right half shaft, as needed, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. GM will send an interim letter to owners in May 2014. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's number for this recall is 14079. This is an expansion of recall 13V-452. NOTE: Some vehicles subject to this recall were subject to the recall campaign initiated in 2013. Some of those vehicles were repaired using defective parts. Those owners will be advised that they must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign and that having the earlier recall completed did not remedy their vehicles.

13V452000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft

Sep 23, 2013

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: General Motors has notified owners. Dealers will replace the half shaft assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 15, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300. This is General Motors campaign number 13276.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.