HEAD GASKET BLOWN LOSING COOLANT
2014 Chevrolet Cruze
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Cruze years
Owner complaints for the 2014 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
483 reports with mileage · 219 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 217 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 187 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
217 reportsTHIS HAS OCCUR MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF TIMES. THIS IS THE MOST RECENT ONE, I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION TURNED OFF MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO START IT NOTHING WAS WORKING NO LIGHTS, NO POWER ANYWHERE. I WIGGLED THE BATTERY CABLE AND IT CAME BACK ON BUT, I HAD TO TURN THE KEY ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES FOR IT TO FINALLY START. AS I'…
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THIS HAS OCCUR MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF TIMES. THIS IS THE MOST RECENT ONE, I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION TURNED OFF MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO START IT NOTHING WAS WORKING NO LIGHTS, NO POWER ANYWHERE. I WIGGLED THE BATTERY CABLE AND IT CAME BACK ON BUT, I HAD TO TURN THE KEY ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES FOR IT TO FINALLY START. AS I'M LEAVING THE GAS STATION I TURN TO THE LEFT AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING NONE WHATSOEVER. THEN IT CAME BACK SECONDS LATER I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AND THE WHEEL JERKED ON ITS ON AND IT SAID SERVICE POWER STEERING AND ONCE AGAIN I HAD NO POWER STEERING. IT WENT OFF MOMENTS LATER. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION IT LOST ALL POWER AGAIN.
I REPLACED THE ENGINE ALREADY WITHIN AN YEAR OF HAVING IT AND NOW MY TURBO BLEW AND MY HEAD GASKET BLEW AS WELL
I AM HAVING THREE TYPES OF ISSUES WITH MY CRUZE IT HAS BEEN POPPING THE TRUNK OPEN AND WHEN I GET TO ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR IT MAKES A VERY LOUD SHIFTING SOUND AND MY LATEST IS WHEN I PUT FUEL IN IT THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO START BACK UP WHEN I GET IT RUNNING I HAVE TO LET IT SIT TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES WH…
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I AM HAVING THREE TYPES OF ISSUES WITH MY CRUZE IT HAS BEEN POPPING THE TRUNK OPEN AND WHEN I GET TO ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR IT MAKES A VERY LOUD SHIFTING SOUND AND MY LATEST IS WHEN I PUT FUEL IN IT THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO START BACK UP WHEN I GET IT RUNNING I HAVE TO LET IT SIT TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES WHICH IS A PAIN I HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT CHEVY PRODUCTS AND WOULD LIKE TO IN THE FUTURE BUT IF I DON'T GET ANY REPLY TO MY CONCERN I MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS
WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I NOTICE THE "ENGINE OVERHEATED - IDLE ENGINE" CAME ON. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON A NUMEROUS OF OCCASIONS. I'VE TAKEN IT IN TO BE CHECKED BUT EVERYTHING WORKS FINE. IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK NOW. THERE HAS TO BE A RECALL FOR BECAUSE I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER CHEVY CRUZE…
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WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I NOTICE THE "ENGINE OVERHEATED - IDLE ENGINE" CAME ON. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON A NUMEROUS OF OCCASIONS. I'VE TAKEN IT IN TO BE CHECKED BUT EVERYTHING WORKS FINE. IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK NOW. THERE HAS TO BE A RECALL FOR BECAUSE I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER CHEVY CRUZE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING TO THEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING ALERT SOUNDED OFF AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE MORE ANTI-FREEZE DUE TO THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING ALERT SOUNDED OFF AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE MORE ANTI-FREEZE DUE TO THE WATER PUMP LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-70 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GATES CHEVY WORLD (636 W MCKINLEY AVE, MISHAWAKA, IN 46545, (574) 256-3000) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LEARNED OF A TSB FOR SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT (14371B). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SPECIAL COVERAGE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 55,000.*DT*JB
THE VALVE PAN COVER & GASKET KEEPS LEAKING OIL EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR A YEAR AGO & WAS TOLD NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? I CANT KEEP FIXING THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS RATHER EXPENSIVE.
THE CAR IS A 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE LT THAT WAS JUST PURCHASED FROM A USED CAR DEALER AND WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK THE ENGINE RETARDS ITSELF AND THROWS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE CODE READS P0325 WHEN READ. THE WIRING HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT AND HAS NOTHING WRONG. THE KNOCK SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. AFTER BEING REPLACED, THE CODE W…
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THE CAR IS A 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE LT THAT WAS JUST PURCHASED FROM A USED CAR DEALER AND WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK THE ENGINE RETARDS ITSELF AND THROWS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE CODE READS P0325 WHEN READ. THE WIRING HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT AND HAS NOTHING WRONG. THE KNOCK SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. AFTER BEING REPLACED, THE CODE WILL GO AWAY ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO A MONTH AND THEN THE SAME ISSUE STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.
FAULTY TURBOCHARGER, MULTIPLE OWNERS THAT I SPOKE TO HAVE REPLACED THEIR TURBOCHARGER TWICE ONLY TO KNOW THAT IT KEEPS FAILING. THE TURBOCHARGER RUINED MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACE DU TO A CRACK IN THE TURBOCHARGER.
OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES OCCURRING. THE ENGINE OVERHEATS AND A MESSAGE THAT READS "A/C OFF HIGH ENGINE TEMP" APPEARS. THE HOSE WAS REPLACED, AND IT WAS OK FOR AWHILE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED TWICE MORE. THE ENGINE GASKET COVER HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL, AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS LEAKING AGAIN, AND OVE…
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OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES OCCURRING. THE ENGINE OVERHEATS AND A MESSAGE THAT READS "A/C OFF HIGH ENGINE TEMP" APPEARS. THE HOSE WAS REPLACED, AND IT WAS OK FOR AWHILE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED TWICE MORE. THE ENGINE GASKET COVER HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL, AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS LEAKING AGAIN, AND OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS RANDOMLY, A MESSAGE WILL APPEAR THAT STATES TO SERVICE STABILTRAK. I'VE HAD A COIL PACK REPLACED AND THE MESSAGE WENT AWAY, BUT REAPPEARS EVERY NOW AND THEN, AND UPON START UP OF CAR MOST DAYS, RUNS VERY ROUGH AND I HAVE TO WAIT A MINUTE BEFORE PUTTING INTO GEAR. THE OVERHEATING AND ROUGH ENGINE PROBLEMS KEEP REOCURRING NO MATTER WHAT WORK I HAVE DONE TO IT. MOST RECENT ISSUES WITH THE AC OFF AGAIN, AS OF TODAY, 12/8/2020.
Official recalls
1025V764000 · Air Bags:side/window
Nov 6, 2025
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators located on the roof rails above the headliner, may rupture at the inflator weld joint.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator that ruptures may partially inflate the air bag and cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 5, 2025. 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 N252530830. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 23V674 and 23V870.
23V870000 · Air Bags:side/window
Dec 21, 2023
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators may rupture at the inflator weld joint. This recall is an expansion of Recall 23V-674.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator that ruptures may partially inflate the air bag and cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 22, 2024. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232425640.
23V674000 · Air Bags:side/window
Sep 20, 2023
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators located on the roof rails above the headliner, may rupture at the inflator weld joint.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator that ruptures may partially inflate the air bag and cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2024. 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 N232408490.
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.
15V442000 · Steering
Jul 10, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Separation of the tie rod from the steering gear could result in the loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15386.
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.
14V092000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Feb 21, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Buick owners at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC owners at 1-800-462-8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.
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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