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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

Service Brakes complaints

45 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2016
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

OWNER DRIVES THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MILES OR GREATER AND AFTER PARKING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES THE VEHICLE HAS A BURNING SMELL INSIDE. IT REMAINS FOR DAYS AT A TIME EVEN IF THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE OWNERSHIP. SECOND PROBLEM; BRAKES LOCK UP AFTER THE CAR IS WASHED AND PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES. REMEDY IS …

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OWNER DRIVES THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MILES OR GREATER AND AFTER PARKING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES THE VEHICLE HAS A BURNING SMELL INSIDE. IT REMAINS FOR DAYS AT A TIME EVEN IF THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE OWNERSHIP. SECOND PROBLEM; BRAKES LOCK UP AFTER THE CAR IS WASHED AND PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES. REMEDY IS TO STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR WITH THE VEHICLE IN GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE) AND PREPARE TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY. IT TOOK 1000 RPM'S TO GET THE BRAKES RELEASED THIS TIME. IT HAPPENS EACH TIME THE CAR IS WASHED IN A STATIONARY POSITION. MILEAGE IS 27,000.

NHTSA ODI #10903643

45,000 miles · May 25, 2016
Service Brakes

BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPRESS RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. SEEMS TO OCCUR AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE HAVE BEEN 4-5 OCCURRENCES IN THE LAST 3-4 MONTHS. BRINGING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR EVALUATION. CAR HAS 45000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10870900

75,687 miles · May 23, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

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…

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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?

NHTSA ODI #10870450

42,000 miles · Jan 25, 2016
Power TrainService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE ABS AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE ABS AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10822068

19,870 miles · Nov 4, 2015
Service Brakes

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT AND THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEALED SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FEB 2014. WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, THEY SAY IT'S THE TYPE OF BRAKES AND SOMETIMES THEY DO SQUEAL ESPECIALLY IF HUMID OR WET. NOW YESTERDAY SOMEONE SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES IN FRONT OF ME. …

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WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT AND THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEALED SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FEB 2014. WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, THEY SAY IT'S THE TYPE OF BRAKES AND SOMETIMES THEY DO SQUEAL ESPECIALLY IF HUMID OR WET. NOW YESTERDAY SOMEONE SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY I WAS FAR ENOUGH BACK (ABOUT 4 CAR LINKS) THAT I DIDN'T HIT THEM. WHEN I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED! I LET UP AND TRIED AGAIN AND GOT SOME BRAKE, BUT STILL NOT LIKE IT SHOULD. I COULD NOT GET THE PROBLEM TO DUPLICATE, WHEN I TRIED, THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. I WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT ON A HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH, THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THE CAR HAS 19870 MILES ON IT. THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND LEFT 4 CHILDREN WITH NO MOTHER! I SEE TONS OF ISSUES FOR THIS FROM 2011-2014 CRUZE VEHICLES, WHEN IS CHEVY AND GM GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF HIDING UNDER A ROCK AND CALLING US ALL LIARS?! SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED!

NHTSA ODI #10788265

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2015
Service Brakes

WHEN I SPEED IN THE HIGHWAY I FEEL THAT THE BRAKES ARE SHAKING

NHTSA ODI #10774593

37,047 miles · Jun 30, 2015
Service Brakes

THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK AFTER STARING CAR. IN REVERSE AFTER YOU TAKE CAR OUT OF GEAR. VERY LIMITED BRAKEING TO STOP THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN A PREVIOUS RECALL IN BOTH THE 2011, 2012 YEAR MODELS. SEEMS TO BE A ISSUE ON 2013 MODEL YEAR AS WELL. IT HAPPED AS SOON AS THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY RAN OFF. DEALERS WANT TO CHARGE A …

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THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK AFTER STARING CAR. IN REVERSE AFTER YOU TAKE CAR OUT OF GEAR. VERY LIMITED BRAKEING TO STOP THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN A PREVIOUS RECALL IN BOTH THE 2011, 2012 YEAR MODELS. SEEMS TO BE A ISSUE ON 2013 MODEL YEAR AS WELL. IT HAPPED AS SOON AS THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY RAN OFF. DEALERS WANT TO CHARGE A STEEP PRICE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT CHEVROLET NEEDS TO ADDRESS AS WELL IN THE 2013 YEAR MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #10731381

21,000 miles · Jun 26, 2015
Service BrakesCrash

I WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR STOP LIGHT AND VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WASN'T SLOWING/STOPPING; I THEN PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE AND MY VEHICLE STOPPED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS TOO LATE. I WAS AT LEAST 3-5 CAR LENGTHS AWAY FROM THE V…

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I WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR STOP LIGHT AND VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WASN'T SLOWING/STOPPING; I THEN PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE AND MY VEHICLE STOPPED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS TOO LATE. I WAS AT LEAST 3-5 CAR LENGTHS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I ENDED UP CRUSHING IN THE GRILLE IN WHICH PUSHED THE RADIATOR BACK AND THEN IT BROKE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND LOST ANTIFREEZE SOON LATER WHEN DRIVING; ALL THIS BECAUSE OF NO BRAKES, AND STRIKING THE RECEIVER HITCH COVER ON THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. ALL IN ALL $2K IN DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, AND UNDRIVEABLE. THE MAIN BRAKES DIDN'T REACT UPON PRESSING, THIS IS WAY WEIRD SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE NEW, TO DATE NEVER NOTICED ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. NOW, THE WEATHER WAS "HOT", IT WAS AROUND 95F AND HUMID, THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY WITHOUT RAIN. OF COURSE THE POLICE OFFICER THAT DID THE REPORT SAID THAT ALOT OF THESE MINOR FENDER BENDERS HAPPEN AT THIS SET OF STOP LIGHTS DAILY/WEEKLY DUE TO THE LIGHTS BEING TOO QUICK, AND DISTRACTED IN A HURRY DRIVERS; AND I WAS JUST A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT MY BRAKES FAILED ALSO. I AM A FAN OF THE CHEVROLET CRUZE, BUT "WOW" THIS HAPPENED, AND POSSIBLY THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER RECALL FOR A FAULTY BRAKE/ABS SYSTEM SINCE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES DID WORK (DRUM BRAKES). THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID SAY THAT THE CAR WILL BE RAN THROUGHT THE SHOP TO CHECK THE BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #10730582

40,000 miles · Jun 27, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

A VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF ME AND WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND AT IMPACT OF THE HEAD ON COLLISION MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606453

5,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesSteeringCrashInjury

THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY IN BALDWIN COUNTY, ALABAMA, WHEN SHE APPROACHED A RIGHT HAND CURVE (WHICH THE DRIVER WAS FULLY AWARE OF). DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES SO AS TO SLOW DOWN TO NEGOTIATE THIS CURVE, BUT WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY DID NOT RESPOND. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO LOSE POW…

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THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY IN BALDWIN COUNTY, ALABAMA, WHEN SHE APPROACHED A RIGHT HAND CURVE (WHICH THE DRIVER WAS FULLY AWARE OF). DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES SO AS TO SLOW DOWN TO NEGOTIATE THIS CURVE, BUT WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY DID NOT RESPOND. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO LOSE POWER STEERING FUNCTION. IT APPEARED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THE MOST RECENT IGNITION DEFECTS ON OTHER GM VEHICLES. DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY, THE VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT OFF ROADWAY AND CRASHED CAUSING SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL INJURY TO THE DRIVER. FURTHER, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. WE CONTACTED GM, AND AGREED TO ALLOW GM REPRESENTATIVES INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT BY DOWNLOADING THE ESIS INFORMATION, WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT GM WOULD PROVIDE THE OWNER WITH THE RESULTS OF SAID INVESTIGATION IN A READILY UNDERSTANDABLE FORMAT. AFTER DOWNLOADING THE INFORMATION, GM DENIED ANY LIABILITY FOR THE INCIDENT, AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE OWNER WITH THE RESULTS OF ITS INVESTIGATION IN A FORMAT THAT WAS READILY UNDERSTANDABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW, AND HAD NO PRIOR ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604304

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.