IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING AND SERVICE STABILITRAC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cruze years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1240–25K
7825–50K
7650–75K
5775–100K
71100–150K
11150K+
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"TAKATA RECALL" WE WERE GOING TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING , IT WAS A RAINING DAY , I WAS DRIVING AT 35-38 MPH IN A ZONE 40 MPH . I WAS APPROACHING TO A CURVE WHEN I INTENDED TO BRAKE, THE CAR SLIPPED TO THE LEFT ALL THE WAY , IT DONT BRAKED, IT DONT TURN ON THE SENSOR TO STABILIZE THE CAR AND THE MOST IMPORTANT , ANY OF THE AI…
Read full complaint
"TAKATA RECALL" WE WERE GOING TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING , IT WAS A RAINING DAY , I WAS DRIVING AT 35-38 MPH IN A ZONE 40 MPH . I WAS APPROACHING TO A CURVE WHEN I INTENDED TO BRAKE, THE CAR SLIPPED TO THE LEFT ALL THE WAY , IT DONT BRAKED, IT DONT TURN ON THE SENSOR TO STABILIZE THE CAR AND THE MOST IMPORTANT , ANY OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE LEFT SIDE , IT DONT CAME OUT . THIS IS THE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT CASE # HC170007937.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED, THE RADIO SHORTED, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED EACH TIME THE FAILURES OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED, THE RADIO SHORTED, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED EACH TIME THE FAILURES OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
ROUGHLY 6 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, I STARTED HAVING INCIDENTS WHERE THE RADIO WOULD CUT OUT FOR 2-3 SECONDS AND THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WOULD GO BLANK. AT THE SAME TIME, THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" MESSAGE MOMENTARILY APPEARS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE ISN'T A TREND TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SOMETIMES IT WON'T HAPPEN F…
Read full complaint
ROUGHLY 6 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, I STARTED HAVING INCIDENTS WHERE THE RADIO WOULD CUT OUT FOR 2-3 SECONDS AND THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WOULD GO BLANK. AT THE SAME TIME, THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" MESSAGE MOMENTARILY APPEARS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE ISN'T A TREND TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SOMETIMES IT WON'T HAPPEN FOR A WEEK, OTHER TIMES IT WILL HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES IN A SINGLE DRIVE. LAST WEEK, THIS HAPPENED AND I ALSO LOST POWER STEERING AND COULD NOT STEER FOR WHAT FELT LIKE A COUPLE SECONDS. BASED ON THE CHEVROLET CRUZE CUSTOMER FORUM, THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AND OTHER'S HAVE ALSO LOST POWER STEERING PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE OR A PERMANENT CORRECTIVE ACTION THAT I'VE FOUND. IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN AND GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES BEFORE POWER STEERING IS LOST AT HIGHER SPEEDS.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE POWER STABILITY FLASHES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESETS AND IF DRIVING YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH MY CAR SINCE THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE FIST TIME. THE DEALERSHIP ACTS AS IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. I HAVE WASTED SO MUCH GAS AND I TRANSPORT CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AT TIMES IN VA DC AND MD. I HAVE CONSISTENTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STICKING THROTTLE OR ENGINE MISFIR…
Read full complaint
THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH MY CAR SINCE THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE FIST TIME. THE DEALERSHIP ACTS AS IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. I HAVE WASTED SO MUCH GAS AND I TRANSPORT CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AT TIMES IN VA DC AND MD. I HAVE CONSISTENTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STICKING THROTTLE OR ENGINE MISFIRE. PLEASE I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CLIENTS AND MY FAMILY.
STABILITRAK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON CAR OVERHEATED AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED OFF WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IN COULDN'T RESTART THE CAR HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE FOR REPAIRS WHICH WE ARE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS I HAVE A 2013 CHEVY CRUISE.
ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. KEY STUCK IN IGNITION AND CAR WILL NOT START. JUST LIKE MOST OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS CAR MOSTLY ELECTRICAL. I JUST GOT THIS CAR FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. VERY SCARY THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE DEALERS DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON VERY …
Read full complaint
ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. KEY STUCK IN IGNITION AND CAR WILL NOT START. JUST LIKE MOST OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS CAR MOSTLY ELECTRICAL. I JUST GOT THIS CAR FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. VERY SCARY THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE DEALERS DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON VERY DISAPPOINTING. AND THIS HAS HAPPENED SITTING STILL AND IN MOTION LIKE THE CAR HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN.
LATELY I'VE BEEN NOTICING THE TOUCH SCREEN RADIO TO FLICKER AND COMPLETELY LOSE POWER. I FIGURE IT WAS JUST A GLITCH WITH THE ALL THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THIS CAR HAS. WELL, THE SERVICE ANTITHEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM CONTINUES TO COME ON, BUT GOES AWAY. CAR IS FINE. LAST SATURDAY MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNTIL THE 3RD TRY. THE CAR COMPLETE…
Read full complaint
LATELY I'VE BEEN NOTICING THE TOUCH SCREEN RADIO TO FLICKER AND COMPLETELY LOSE POWER. I FIGURE IT WAS JUST A GLITCH WITH THE ALL THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THIS CAR HAS. WELL, THE SERVICE ANTITHEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM CONTINUES TO COME ON, BUT GOES AWAY. CAR IS FINE. LAST SATURDAY MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNTIL THE 3RD TRY. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, ABSOLUTELY NO POWER, KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. AFTER 15 MINUTES IT STARTED, THE RADIO FLICKER. ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE RADIO KEPT CUTTING OUT THEN AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TURN, MY STEERING AND BRAKES GAVE OUT, NEARLY CAUSING A HUGE COLLISION! THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON THING WITH THE 2013 CRUZE LT. CHEVY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING! I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR ANYMORE! NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW THE PROBLEM? IT'S LIFE OR DEATH HERE, I TRAVEL A LOT FOR WORK AND GET ON BUSY HIGHWAYS. HOW MANY INJURIES OR DEATHS DO YOU NEED TO CORRECT THIS MAJOR PROBLEM?
2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WHICH HAPPENS MOSTLY DURING THE RAIN OR WET ROADS OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRY. MAIN PROBLEM RADIO POWER AND DASH POWER CUT IN AND OUT AND OR FLUCTUATE WHILE DRIVING AND OR APPLYING BRAKES. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WILL, MOST OF THE TIME, CUT IN AND OUT ALSO WHILE TURNING TURNING KEY OFF AND…
Read full complaint
2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WHICH HAPPENS MOSTLY DURING THE RAIN OR WET ROADS OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRY. MAIN PROBLEM RADIO POWER AND DASH POWER CUT IN AND OUT AND OR FLUCTUATE WHILE DRIVING AND OR APPLYING BRAKES. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WILL, MOST OF THE TIME, CUT IN AND OUT ALSO WHILE TURNING TURNING KEY OFF AND ON AGAIN WHILE STATIONARY MAY FOR A SHORT TIME FIX THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER IT IS NOT A PERM ANY SOULUTION ONLY TEMPORARY AND MY ALSO RESULT IN A TOTAL NO POWER/ NO START CONDITION FOR THE VEHICAL POSSIBLE CAUSE IS LEAK IN THE CAR OR SHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY PROTECTION ELECTRONICS/WIRING ON THE VEHICAL
Official recalls
516V502000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.