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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

29 reports
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30,375 miles · Aug 10, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

I SMELLED GAS LEAKING AND WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING I SAW GAS SPRAYING THE BACK OF MY CAR. IT APPEARED TO BE LEAKING FROM THE HOSE WHERE THE CONNECTER WAS NEXT TO WHAT MAY BE THE FUEL FILTER. THIS CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH 30,375 MILES. I WAS TOLD THE PART IS ON THE NATIONAL BACK ORDER LIST WITH NO IDEA…

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I SMELLED GAS LEAKING AND WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING I SAW GAS SPRAYING THE BACK OF MY CAR. IT APPEARED TO BE LEAKING FROM THE HOSE WHERE THE CONNECTER WAS NEXT TO WHAT MAY BE THE FUEL FILTER. THIS CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH 30,375 MILES. I WAS TOLD THE PART IS ON THE NATIONAL BACK ORDER LIST WITH NO IDEAL WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11118978

4 miles · Aug 6, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING A FEW TIMES CAR HAS STOPPED ON ME AND COUKD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE I WAS IN MOTION CAR JUST CEASED.

NHTSA ODI #11118176

70 miles · Jul 22, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

I HAD MY SPARK PLUGS CHANGED THE DAY BEFORE ON THE 7/06/2018 AS I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TO TAKE MY GRANDDAUGHTER TO CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY MY CAR STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A BIRD WHEN I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR IT STARTED TO SINGING. SO I MADE IT BACK HOME, BUT SOUND IT HAD PICKED UP, SO I CALLED BACK TO MACHANIC AND THEY TOLD M…

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I HAD MY SPARK PLUGS CHANGED THE DAY BEFORE ON THE 7/06/2018 AS I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TO TAKE MY GRANDDAUGHTER TO CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY MY CAR STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A BIRD WHEN I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR IT STARTED TO SINGING. SO I MADE IT BACK HOME, BUT SOUND IT HAD PICKED UP, SO I CALLED BACK TO MACHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IN AND THEY CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS MY WATER PUMP I BELIEVE. BECAUSE OF WHERE IT WAS DRIPPING. THEY TOLD ME WHAT IT WILL COST TO GET IT FIXED, THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP SOME WATER IN AS WELL ANTIFREEZE. SO THAT WHAT I DID, BUT I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT NOW. THE FIRST PICTURE IS WHAT THEY FIXED WHERE IT SHOWS THE SOLID BLACK CAP, THEY REPLACED A GASKET BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEU SILLED RIGHT TO KEEP IT LEAKING OR SOMETHING BEHIND WHERE YOU PUT MOTOR OIL IN. THE PICTURE SHOWS WHERE IT IS DRIPPING DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11112943

75,890 miles · Dec 4, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

THE RIGHT FRONT HALF SHAFT MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE WHILE DRIVING, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND COAST TO A STOP

NHTSA ODI #11052229

5 miles · Nov 19, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL SMOKING IN MOTION.ALTERNATOR AND GENERATOR AND TURNING.

NHTSA ODI #10927081

60,050 miles · May 7, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

CAR'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO BLOWN FUEL PUMP FUSE WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 M.P.H IN CLEAR WEATHER, DURING THE DAY, ON PAVED DOWNTOWN ORLANDO STREET. WHEN ENGINE DIED, LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BREAKS, VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A COIL PACK PROB…

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CAR'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO BLOWN FUEL PUMP FUSE WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 M.P.H IN CLEAR WEATHER, DURING THE DAY, ON PAVED DOWNTOWN ORLANDO STREET. WHEN ENGINE DIED, LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BREAKS, VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A COIL PACK PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE COIL PACK AT A COST OF $534.00. I AM NOT SURE HOW THE COIL PACK THAT HOLDS THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP FUSE TO BLOW.

NHTSA ODI #10863731

25,000 miles · Mar 30, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion System

STARTING AT 20-30K MILES, SERVICE STABILITRAK WOULD COME ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BLINK FOR 30 SECONDS. AFTER SHUTTING OF THE CAR THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP THE CODE WAS CLEAR AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I GOT CHARGED FOR $180 FOR CHECKING UP AND NOT HAVING A …

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STARTING AT 20-30K MILES, SERVICE STABILITRAK WOULD COME ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BLINK FOR 30 SECONDS. AFTER SHUTTING OF THE CAR THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP THE CODE WAS CLEAR AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I GOT CHARGED FOR $180 FOR CHECKING UP AND NOT HAVING A PROBLEM ONCE. ALL THE OTHER TIMES I BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE THEY FOUND SOMETHING WRONG AND DIDN'T CHARGE ME. FINALLY OVER THE COUPLE YEARS I OWNED THE VEHICLE AND NOW AT 80K MILES, THE SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON MORE AND MORE, I FINALLY GOT IT TO COME ON AND GOT AN APPOINTMENT RIGHT AWAY. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY TOOK 2 DAYS TO FIND OUT THAT ALL MY SPARK PLUGS AND MY COIL PACK WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. IT COST $700. I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA THERE IS NO SALT ON THE ROADS AND I DON'T LIVE BY THE OCEAN. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #10852509

12,000 miles · Dec 4, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WATER PUMP HOUSING WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE AND FUEL EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10808389

650 miles · May 16, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHILE AT A STOP, MY CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD, LIKE SOMEONE IS PUSHING IT FROM BEHIND. LUCKILY I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES THIS PAST MONTH SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512447

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.