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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

39 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2026
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I’d like to report this vehicle and its engine as I did not know I could before we have had this car since 2015 This engine has chronic repeated issues that Chevy would patch once under “special coverages” or “extended warranty” and it fails again and again but they only honor it 1 time even if it fails yet again due to bad en…

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I’d like to report this vehicle and its engine as I did not know I could before we have had this car since 2015 This engine has chronic repeated issues that Chevy would patch once under “special coverages” or “extended warranty” and it fails again and again but they only honor it 1 time even if it fails yet again due to bad engineering or design flaws. This car has had 3 water pumps 5 water outlets- I eventually had to buy an off market alternative to stop this from failing, 2 (about to be 3) valve covers because the PCV valve is a chronic failure on the system cause oil to bypass into the intake and feed back into the turbo but it’s built into the valve cover instead of a separate piece like other engines. This car with the 1.4 L turbo is not safe or reliable to be on the road. The cruise control will work 1 maybe 2 times in a drive cycle then refuse to work again with no rhyme or reason and they cannot find the issue. This car has left me stranded many of times and is not trust worthy to be sold to someone else and Chevy will not honor the fact it’s a failing engine. Could this be looked into I know I have had this car a long time it is just now at 120k miles all these problems started before 100k miles and are reoccurring.

NHTSA ODI #11760605

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2025
SteeringVehicle Speed Control

When I accelerate my rpm goes up but car dosent move as speed says and takes for me to let off the gas to speed up , and my steering when I turn it pulls away n it keep popping up service traction and going off

NHTSA ODI #11698432

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2023
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

Coming home from grocery shopping the night of Sept 3, 2023 the radio kept turning off then coming back on. I was on the highway about 20miles from home radio still turning on and off about every 5mins (go black/blank then light back up) and I had felt when i would accelerate it would as I would slightly go up hill. Once I jad g…

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Coming home from grocery shopping the night of Sept 3, 2023 the radio kept turning off then coming back on. I was on the highway about 20miles from home radio still turning on and off about every 5mins (go black/blank then light back up) and I had felt when i would accelerate it would as I would slightly go up hill. Once I jad got about 4miles from my house the radio went off once again and dash warning light said "Stabili Trak" and head lights had went off then came back on again. I just was grateful I was not to far from home since it was dark out and the lights were now Turning off too. The next morning (sept 4, 2023)since I did not have another vehicle and my son needed to get to football practice, I drove down the lane of my driveway and the dash warning light kept flashing, the window warning light said turn window on (so I rolled it back up and it turned off), radio kept turning on and off relentlessly, vehicle kept shutting off on me while driving before I even got down my driveway which is about 200 feet. I starred it back up and returned home. I made phones calls to drip it off in sussex NJ at service center where I had bought car as someone followed me(I did not have any problems the hour drive there/40miles) left a message on the voicemail regarding issue, checked to see of recalls though wasn't any. It was not safe to drive the way the car was, just with the only 1 warning dash signal in the middle of driving and headlights stop working them start to couldve caused accident then car turned off while I slowly drove down my driveway doing 7mph as well and I had my son in the car too. Very scary especially driving at night and that happens without much of a warning at 1st.

NHTSA ODI #11542531

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2021
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

Loss of power when driving

NHTSA ODI #11436710

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

150,000 miles · Nov 15, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

THE OILS IS LEAKING IS THIS VEHICLE .. AND HOW IT WAS EXPLAINED IS THAT THE OIL IS ALSO LEAKING INTO THE TURBO .. WHICH IS CAUSING OIL TO BASICALLY BE PUSHED OUT INSTEAD OF AIR BEING BROUGHT IN FOR THE CAR TO GO THE CORRECT SPEED AND THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE

NHTSA ODI #11280412

112,348 miles · Sep 4, 2019
EngineVehicle Speed Control

THE LAST FEW DAYS I HAVE BEEN GETTING MESSAGES ON MY DASH WITH ERRORS SUCH AS 'SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL/SERVICE STABILITRAK'. TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS CHECK AND WAS TOLD NOTHING SHOWED UP. HOWEVER, THIS MORNING WHILE ON MY COMMUTE TO WORK, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR DECELERATED …

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THE LAST FEW DAYS I HAVE BEEN GETTING MESSAGES ON MY DASH WITH ERRORS SUCH AS 'SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL/SERVICE STABILITRAK'. TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS CHECK AND WAS TOLD NOTHING SHOWED UP. HOWEVER, THIS MORNING WHILE ON MY COMMUTE TO WORK, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR DECELERATED AND I GOT THE MESSAGE 'ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN REDUCED/SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL/SERVICE STABILITRAK' AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BECAUSE OF THIS, I WAS FORCED TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHILE ALMOST BEING HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SCARY FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED AND IT COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE, AS WELL AS OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI #11253126

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

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.