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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

Power Train complaints

112 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2020
Power Train

A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMP WARNING ON THE DASH. TRIED RESETTING ECU, DIDN'T WORK. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. CHANGED BOTH COOLANT SENSORS AND STILL BROKEN. REPLACED OLD BROKEN THERMOSTAT WITH A NEW FACTORY SENSOR, AND 4 MONTHS LATER IT'S ALREADY BROKEN.

NHTSA ODI #11306672

88,792 miles · Dec 8, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

CHEVY CRUZE 2013 LTZ TURBO, I HAVE THE PAPERWORK STATING IT IS TURBO. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIPS BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. THEY CLEARED EVERYTHING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS WHETHER IT HAS TURBO OR NOT. THE TURBO WAS SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE ME…

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CHEVY CRUZE 2013 LTZ TURBO, I HAVE THE PAPERWORK STATING IT IS TURBO. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIPS BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. THEY CLEARED EVERYTHING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS WHETHER IT HAS TURBO OR NOT. THE TURBO WAS SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP SAID IT DID NOT HAVE TURBO. I ASKED THE HEAD MECHANIC TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH ME IN IT. HE DID, THE HEAD MECHANIC CONVINCED ME IT HAD TURBO AND IT WAS WORKING FINE, I SAID IT DOESN'T ACT LIKE IT TO ME, HE SAID THIS IS ALL ITS GOT AND THAT'S IT, THE CAR IS FINE. THE HEAD MECHANIC SAID IT WAS FINE, I SAID SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT, HE CONVINCED EVERYTHING WAS AND TO PUSH THE CLEAR BUTTON WHEN IT WOULD BE AND IT WOULD BE FINE. THIS HAPPENED BETWEEN 2014 AND 2018 THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS. I WAS TOLD TO BASICALLY TOUCH THE CLEAR BUTTON. CODES STARTED TO POP UP; IT STARTED WITH THE WINDOW. I WAS TOLD TO HIT CLEAR BUTTON WHEN THIS HAPPENS, SO I DID. THEN CHECK ENGINE CODES POP UP ON DASH SAYING: ROLE WINDOW DOWN AND BACK UP, CHECK TRANSMISSION, KEY REMOTE NOT DETECTED, START WITH REMOTE START, CHECK AIR BAGS, IT HAS DONE THIS OFF AND ON FOR A SEVERAL YEARS, OFF AND ON . NOW THIS WEEK IT GOT REALLY BAD TO THE POINT THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF, THEN IT WILL NOT START, UNTIL I TOUCH THE CLEAR BUTTON OR I HAVE TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY OTHERWISE THE DASH WILL NOT TURN OFF AND I CAN'T START IT. I TOOK IT TO HAVE CODES CHECKED AND MASS FLOW SENSOR , THEN IT SAID VAPOR CANISTER PURGE VALVE THEN MAP SENSOR, I REPLACED ALL, THE CAR STILL ACTS THE SAME. CODES STILL APPEAR ON DASH. START THE CAR IT SEEMS OK, THEN YOU DRIVE IT AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUTS OFF AND CODES START TO APPEAR AGAIN. SHOULD THIS BE CHECKED INTO. I CAN'T FIND RECORDS, I WILL TRY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU DEALERSHIPS.

NHTSA ODI #11287751

18,000 miles · Oct 24, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, JERKED, AND FAILED TO MOVE BEFORE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB BELL NISSAN (7900 EASTERN AVE, BALTIMORE, MD 21224, (410) 288-2500) TO BE DIAGNO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, JERKED, AND FAILED TO MOVE BEFORE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB BELL NISSAN (7900 EASTERN AVE, BALTIMORE, MD 21224, (410) 288-2500) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ODI #11270604

70,000 miles · Oct 21, 2019
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11269842

58,000 miles · Aug 5, 2019
Power Train

THE TURBO BOOSTER MALIFUNCTION THE CAR WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED AND TIME WOULD STOP ALL WILL YOU ARE ACCELERATING ON THE GAS

NHTSA ODI #11241672

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

15 miles · Apr 17, 2019
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

MY CHECK ENGINE KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF AND WHEN COMES ON GIVE OUT POWER LITTLE BY LITTLE TILL MY ENGINE REDUCE POWER COMES UP AND GIVES OUT AND ALMOST CRASHED ON FREEWAY SERVAL TIMES

NHTSA ODI #11197061

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2019
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

TAKATA RECALL A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN IT GOES OFF THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT'S BACK ON AND MAKES A NOISE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS ON.

NHTSA ODI #11184285

72,750 miles · Jan 16, 2019
EnginePower Train

COULD PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT WON'T ACCELERATE. PRESSING THE GAS WITH NORMAL PRESSURE MAKES THE RPM'S INCREASE VERY QUICKLY AND THE CAR EITHER WON'T ACCELERATE OR WILL ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON PREVIOUSLY FOR TWO DAYS AND THEN SHUT OFF AND HASN'T COME BACK ON YET. I THINK IT IS THE TURBO. UNK…

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COULD PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT WON'T ACCELERATE. PRESSING THE GAS WITH NORMAL PRESSURE MAKES THE RPM'S INCREASE VERY QUICKLY AND THE CAR EITHER WON'T ACCELERATE OR WILL ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON PREVIOUSLY FOR TWO DAYS AND THEN SHUT OFF AND HASN'T COME BACK ON YET. I THINK IT IS THE TURBO. UNKNOWN CAUSE.

NHTSA ODI #11170289

90,000 miles · Jan 10, 2019
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

MARCH 2016. PROBLEM: CAR NOT ACCELERATING CORRECTLY, DIAGNOSIS: ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR BROKEN MARCH 2018. PROBLEM: CAR OVERHEATING AND LOSING POWER OVER 40MPH, DIAGNOSIS: COOLANT HOSE BREAK MAY 2018. CAR OVERHEATING AND LOSING POWER OVER 40MPH, DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE BREAK JUNE 2018: PROBLEM: SP…

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MARCH 2016. PROBLEM: CAR NOT ACCELERATING CORRECTLY, DIAGNOSIS: ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR BROKEN MARCH 2018. PROBLEM: CAR OVERHEATING AND LOSING POWER OVER 40MPH, DIAGNOSIS: COOLANT HOSE BREAK MAY 2018. CAR OVERHEATING AND LOSING POWER OVER 40MPH, DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE BREAK JUNE 2018: PROBLEM: SPEDOMETER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AND CAR BEGAN SPUTTERING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION COMPUTER (INPUT AND OUTPUT SENSOR) FRIED JANUARY 2019. PROBLEM: COOLING DRAINING EXTREMELY FAST AND CAR MAKING GURGLING NOISE (AT ALL SPEEDS), DIAGNOSIS: WATER PUMP BREAK, THERMOSTAT BREAK, SERPENTINE BELT AND 5. JANUARY 2019: PROBLEM: OIL LEAK, DIAGNOSIS: TIMING COVER GASKET NEED REPLACEMENT

NHTSA ODI #11166192

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.