BEEN HEARING TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. CODE P0234
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
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.
What owners actually said
586 reportsI AM WRITING TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO CHEVROLET CRUZE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURES. THE ISSUE IS A SMALL PLASTIC GEAR THAT STRIPS OUT AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE BLEND DOOR TO CYCLE FROM WINDSHIELD DEFROST / DASH VENTS / AND FLOOR VENTS. THIS IS A HIGH SAFETY CONCERN IN COLD / RAINY WEATHER DRIVING DUE TO THE VEHICLE O…
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I AM WRITING TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO CHEVROLET CRUZE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURES. THE ISSUE IS A SMALL PLASTIC GEAR THAT STRIPS OUT AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE BLEND DOOR TO CYCLE FROM WINDSHIELD DEFROST / DASH VENTS / AND FLOOR VENTS. THIS IS A HIGH SAFETY CONCERN IN COLD / RAINY WEATHER DRIVING DUE TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR IS UNABLE TO ADJUST THE BLED DOOR TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IN TURN ALLOWS THE WINDSHIELD TO BECOME FOGGED, (OR FROSTY IN EXTREME COLD) WHICH LEADS TO VERY POOR VISIBILITY. I HAVE A PROFESSIONAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL THAT SHOWS THE ISSUE IN DETAIL THE LINK IS HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/I5PDAIA0P-8 QUOTES TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE RANGE FROM $800.00 TO $1500.00. BEING THIS FAILURE CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT CAUSED FROM POOR VISIBILITY FROM AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW, TO CUT CORNERS AND SAVE MONEY, THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. MY VIDEO HAS NEARLY 11,000 VIEWS FROM PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. ALSO ALMOST EVERY FORUM ONLINE HAVE PEOPLE DISCUSSING THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS N BAD TASTE FOR CHEVROLET TO NOT YET ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A RECALL.
DEFROST QUIT WORKING..AIR BLOWS OUT OF ALL OTHER VENTS BUT NOT DEFROST
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR MAKING A WEIRD NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE RPM GOES UP BUT THE CAR IS NOT UP TO SPEED. THEN SOME LOUD WEIRD NOISE HAPPENS WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS. I TOOK IT TO GET DIAGNOSED AND IT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A TURBO UNDER-BOOST.
THE LOCKS KEEP LOCKING & UNLOCKING, SOMETIMES AFTER GETTING THE FEELING THAT THE CAR WAS BUMPED, WHICH IT WASN'T. LATELY IT ALMOST STALLS THEN ACCELERATES TOO QUICKLY & MAKES A REVVING SOUND. I'M NOT DRIVING IT RIGHT NOW. THE BUMPING & LOCKS ON & OFF HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STOPPED.I CAN'T GIVE A DATE. IT'S BEEN HAPPEN…
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THE LOCKS KEEP LOCKING & UNLOCKING, SOMETIMES AFTER GETTING THE FEELING THAT THE CAR WAS BUMPED, WHICH IT WASN'T. LATELY IT ALMOST STALLS THEN ACCELERATES TOO QUICKLY & MAKES A REVVING SOUND. I'M NOT DRIVING IT RIGHT NOW. THE BUMPING & LOCKS ON & OFF HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STOPPED.I CAN'T GIVE A DATE. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR COUPLE OF MONTHS. THANK YOU
COOLANT IS LEAKING AND NEEDING TO BE REFILLED DAILY, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON EVERYDAY. 'ENGINE HOT, CAR NEEDS TO IDLE' COMES ON ANYTIME YOU DRIVE IT. ENGINE POWERED REDUCED. AS FOR ELECTRICAL, WHILE FRONT PANEL WILL GO BLACK AND EVERYTHING WILL SHUT DOWN FOR A COUPLE HOURS OR EVEN DAYS.
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.
I WAS SITTING IN MY VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, SINCE IT IS AUGUST AND VERY HOT IN LAS VEGAS. I HAD BEEN IN MY VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES ABOUT TO LEAVE WHEN MY AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. I SMELT AN ELECTRICAL SMELL IN COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THEN MY CAR SHUT OFF AND S…
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I WAS SITTING IN MY VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, SINCE IT IS AUGUST AND VERY HOT IN LAS VEGAS. I HAD BEEN IN MY VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES ABOUT TO LEAVE WHEN MY AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. I SMELT AN ELECTRICAL SMELL IN COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THEN MY CAR SHUT OFF AND SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. I QUICKLY EXITED MY VEHICLE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES, THE ENTIRE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WAS IN ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAVE NOT DONE ANY MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE OR WORK TO MY VEHICLE RECENTLY. I HAD MY OIL CHANGED APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AGO. I HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE UNTIL IT CAUGHT ON FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY AND RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING.
OUT OF NO WHERE THE ENGINE STARTS TO SPUTTER WHILE SITTING IN IDLE ON THE 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. IT IS THE VALVE COVER, LETTING IN TOO MUCH AIR TO THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER TO TRY TO CORRECT WHICH, IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY, CAUSES THE CRANK SHAFT TO GO BAD WHICH MAKES YOUR CAR SOUND LIKE YOU SHOULD BE …
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OUT OF NO WHERE THE ENGINE STARTS TO SPUTTER WHILE SITTING IN IDLE ON THE 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. IT IS THE VALVE COVER, LETTING IN TOO MUCH AIR TO THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER TO TRY TO CORRECT WHICH, IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY, CAUSES THE CRANK SHAFT TO GO BAD WHICH MAKES YOUR CAR SOUND LIKE YOU SHOULD BE ON THE JETSONS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THIS SAME COMPLAINT OVER THE INTERNET AND WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE AS I AM NOW HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE.
VIHICLE WAS ON FREEWAY AND HEATED UP SO BAD QUICKLY AND HAD TO PULL OVER. . LOOSES COOLANT CONSTANTLY. PART NEEDS TO BE CHANGED EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT IS HARD TO GET THE PART IN MY AREA AND NEIGHBOR CITIES BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO A LOT TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR. I AM CONSTANTLY FIXING LINES AND REPLACING COOLANT EV…
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VIHICLE WAS ON FREEWAY AND HEATED UP SO BAD QUICKLY AND HAD TO PULL OVER. . LOOSES COOLANT CONSTANTLY. PART NEEDS TO BE CHANGED EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT IS HARD TO GET THE PART IN MY AREA AND NEIGHBOR CITIES BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO A LOT TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR. I AM CONSTANTLY FIXING LINES AND REPLACING COOLANT EVERY WEEK.
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.
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