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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.

About this comparison →

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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

62 reports
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91,300 miles · Apr 30, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

SERVICE STABLI TRAC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL COME ON. CAR IS 'CHUGGING' WHEN IN MOTION AND THEN DIES. IGNITION COIL GET BURNT OUT. THIS IS NOW THE 3RD TIME IN A MONTH.

NHTSA ODI #11322896

995,861 miles · Mar 10, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

THE STABLIC TRACT, THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE SLOWS DOWN, THE POWER STEERING, THE ENGINE MODULE HAS BLOWED I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR DAY 1, I BOUGHT FROM JDA AUTOMOTIVE ON GARNERS FERRY ROAD. I HAVE BEEN TAKING CAR TO CHEVROLET IN COLUMBIA,SC HARBISON . THEY REPAIRED RECALLS BUT SOON AS REPAIR THEY SEND A SIGNAL TO CAR TO TEA…

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THE STABLIC TRACT, THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE SLOWS DOWN, THE POWER STEERING, THE ENGINE MODULE HAS BLOWED I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR DAY 1, I BOUGHT FROM JDA AUTOMOTIVE ON GARNERS FERRY ROAD. I HAVE BEEN TAKING CAR TO CHEVROLET IN COLUMBIA,SC HARBISON . THEY REPAIRED RECALLS BUT SOON AS REPAIR THEY SEND A SIGNAL TO CAR TO TEAR UP .THE CAR COME TO COMPLETE STOP CAUSING ME TO NEED NECK BRACE IT ALSO IS TEARING UP THE THREAD ON TIRES. AND PEOPLE ARE BLOWING HORN AND ALSO HITTING ME IN BACK EVERYWHERE I GO I HAVE TO USE EMERGENCY BLINKING LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #11317420

55,000 miles · Dec 8, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM A USED CAR LOT IN MARCH. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS, I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE CRUISE SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. DURING THE TIME I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE, I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT CONTROL, AS WELL AS A COIL IN THE ENGINE. F…

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I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM A USED CAR LOT IN MARCH. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS, I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE CRUISE SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. DURING THE TIME I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE, I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT CONTROL, AS WELL AS A COIL IN THE ENGINE. FOR THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS OR SO, I'LL BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE SERVICE STABILITY TRACK WILL SHOW UP, WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING. MY CAR WONT LET ME SPEED UP, AND IT WILL SLOWLY SLOW DOWN. IF I HAVE MY CRUISE ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR'S RPM WILL SHOOT UP IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SPEED I HAD IT SET AT. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE WITH THE LIGHTS ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL STOP BLINKING AND THE CAR WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL (THE TRACTION LIGHT WONT TURN OFF UNTIL I TURN OFF THE CAR). I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC, AND HIS COMPUTER SHOWS CODE UO100, WHICH IS "LOST COMMUNICATION WITH ENGINE CONTROL MODULE", WHICH IS A VERY GENERAL CODE AND COULD COME FROM ANYWHERE. HE CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE WIRES SEEM CONNECTED PROPERLY, AND EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE, OTHER THAN THE LIGHT ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AT ANY RANDOM MOMENT. IT OCCURS AT LEAST EVERY 3 DAYS, IF NOT EVERYDAY.

NHTSA ODI #11287794

52,000 miles · Jun 15, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

THE CAR WOULD BECOME HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL. ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL IN STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED HIGHWAY ORE CITY. THE TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. (THIS IS A TSB I LATER FOUND BUT THE COULD EASILY CAUSED A CRASH ON ACCIDENT)

NHTSA ODI #11220346

90,475 miles · Jun 3, 2019
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainCrash

MY CAR IS A DANGER THE ENGINE POWER SLOWS DOWN WHEN DRIVING CAUSING ANOTHER TO HIT IN THE BACK POWER STEERING LIGHT DISPLAYS, STABILIZE TRACT AND ENGINE POWER, I HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT.I TOOK CAR TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP HARBISON RD COLUMBIA SC THEY JUST HALF REPAIR IT SOMEONE MAY DIE IF CAR CONTINUE TO POWER D…

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MY CAR IS A DANGER THE ENGINE POWER SLOWS DOWN WHEN DRIVING CAUSING ANOTHER TO HIT IN THE BACK POWER STEERING LIGHT DISPLAYS, STABILIZE TRACT AND ENGINE POWER, I HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT.I TOOK CAR TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP HARBISON RD COLUMBIA SC THEY JUST HALF REPAIR IT SOMEONE MAY DIE IF CAR CONTINUE TO POWER DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11217617

86,821 miles · Mar 20, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

WENT OUT AND STARTED CAR UP. CAR WAS SHAKING AND SERVICE STABILITRAC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WERE ON THE DASH SCREEN. THIS HAPPENED BACK IN DECEMBER AS WELL AND THEN THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER.

NHTSA ODI #11190338

82,301 miles · Feb 10, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON AN OFF RAMP THE DISPLAY PANEL SHOWED 3 WARNING LIGHT, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE. THE COMMUNICATION PANEL, WHERE THE SPEED AND ALL COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE CAR ARE GIVEN, THEN SAID REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN AND MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE PANEL THEN ALSO SAID SERVICE ST…

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON AN OFF RAMP THE DISPLAY PANEL SHOWED 3 WARNING LIGHT, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE. THE COMMUNICATION PANEL, WHERE THE SPEED AND ALL COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE CAR ARE GIVEN, THEN SAID REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN AND MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE PANEL THEN ALSO SAID SERVICE STABILITRAK AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE THE ECM A FEW YEARS AGO AND IT HASN'T FIXED THE ISSUE AS IT STILL OCCURS. THE MOST RECENT EVENT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.

NHTSA ODI #11176001

10 miles · Jan 26, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

DRIVING LAST NIGHT FROM WORK TO HOME AT [XXX] AROUND 7PM, I STARTED GETTING MESSAGES IN MY CLUSTER SUCH AS SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. JUST SUDDENLY MY CAR LOST ALL THE POWER AND THROTTLE WHEN I WAS TRAVELLING IN A HIGHWAY AROUND 70 MPH ON THE SECOND FASTEST LANE. IT WAS VERY SCARY…

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DRIVING LAST NIGHT FROM WORK TO HOME AT [XXX] AROUND 7PM, I STARTED GETTING MESSAGES IN MY CLUSTER SUCH AS SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. JUST SUDDENLY MY CAR LOST ALL THE POWER AND THROTTLE WHEN I WAS TRAVELLING IN A HIGHWAY AROUND 70 MPH ON THE SECOND FASTEST LANE. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION ONCE MY THROTTLE WAS COMPLETE UNRESPONSIVE AND COULD FIND MYSELF AT THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AT 5MPH . MY INSTINCT WAS TO TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND TRY TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SLOWEST LANE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. I FEEL LUCKY THAT NO ONE HIT ME IN THE BACK AND I CONSIDER THAT I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME OF THE EVENING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE EXIT [XXX] AND FROM THERE PARK THE CAR TO EVALUATE IT. I COULD NOT FIND ANY VISIBLE DEFECT EITHER INTERNALLY OR ON ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND ON SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL HAD THE SAME CLUSTER MESSAGES AND DERATED POWER. I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY TO THE PARKING LOT OF [XXX] LOOKING FOR A SAFER PLACE TO WAIT FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY. WHEN WAITING FOR THE AAA OPERATOR I WAS ABLE TO RE-START THE CAR WITH NO DISPLAY MESSAGE BUT ONLY WITH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. I DROVE THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AND NOTICED THE CAR SEEMED TO BE OK. ONCE ON THAT TIME I WAS STILL WAITING FOR THE AAA OPERATOR I DECIDED TO TAKE [XXX] AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFE ARRIVE HOME. CHECKING THE SYMPTOM I HAD IN GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE I LEARNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WHICH IS ALREADY KNOWN BY NHTSA AND GM. I HOPE MY INCIDENCE CAN BE INVESTIGATED AND A DECISION FOR RECALL BE TAKEN.I DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE TO WHAT EXPERIENCED WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH TOPIC THEREFORE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS POTENTIAL RECALL. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11172290

65,000 miles · Oct 29, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LOSING COMPLETE POWER AND STEERING! SO DANGEROUS AND DEADLY! TAKING THE CAR IN TODAY, CAR ALSO RIDING ROUGH AND MISFIRING. ALL MAINTENANCE DONE EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AND THIS LAST ONE COULD HAVE KILLED MY TEENAGER DAUGHTER! IT STOPPED ON HER 5 TIMES ON THE F…

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VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LOSING COMPLETE POWER AND STEERING! SO DANGEROUS AND DEADLY! TAKING THE CAR IN TODAY, CAR ALSO RIDING ROUGH AND MISFIRING. ALL MAINTENANCE DONE EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AND THIS LAST ONE COULD HAVE KILLED MY TEENAGER DAUGHTER! IT STOPPED ON HER 5 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY!

NHTSA ODI #11143855

68,000 miles · Jul 20, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

"TAKATA RECALL"- THE DASH LIGHTS CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE STREERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE THE CAR IN DRIVING AT 70MPH. MESSASGE ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL STABILITY CONTROL POPS UP.

NHTSA ODI #11112755

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.