THE VEH STARTED WITH A SMALL WATER LEAK, THEN A VERY LARGE LEAK. FOUND OUT THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS BAD AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS BAD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID HOLDER HAS A LARGE CRACK IN IT. THE VEHICLE STILL NEEDS MAINTENANCE ON IT AND CAN'T AFFORD IT. NO PHOTOS TO SHARE BUT RECEIPTS OF MY BILL TO REPLACE IT
2016 Chevrolet Cruze
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze do not stand out strongly from 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
149 reports with mileage · 100 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 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
31 reportsMY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON I GOT IT CHECKED AT MY MECHANIC BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. WHEN YOU FIRST START THE IGNITION IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BOBBING BACK AND FOURTH. ALSO AFTER THE AUTO STOP GOES ON AND YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND PUT IT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR STUTTERS. I ALSO HAD A PROBLEM W…
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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON I GOT IT CHECKED AT MY MECHANIC BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. WHEN YOU FIRST START THE IGNITION IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BOBBING BACK AND FOURTH. ALSO AFTER THE AUTO STOP GOES ON AND YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND PUT IT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR STUTTERS. I ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WHEN I WAS COMING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IT STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN.
VEHICLE WAS SHAKING PROFUSELY ON LOCAL STREET, DID NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 5 MPH, AND HAD A 'STABILITRAK' ERROR CODE. BARELY MADE IT BACK TO THE DRIVEWAY. HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND CONFIRMED PISTON/CYLINDER PROBLEM, WHICH WILL REQUIRE A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE. BOUGHT IT USED IN 2018 (WITH 54K MILES) FROM A DEALER, BUT WAS NO…
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VEHICLE WAS SHAKING PROFUSELY ON LOCAL STREET, DID NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 5 MPH, AND HAD A 'STABILITRAK' ERROR CODE. BARELY MADE IT BACK TO THE DRIVEWAY. HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND CONFIRMED PISTON/CYLINDER PROBLEM, WHICH WILL REQUIRE A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE. BOUGHT IT USED IN 2018 (WITH 54K MILES) FROM A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF SERVICE BULLETIN PIP5421; AND THE MFG'ERS WARRANTY IS NO LONGER VALID AS THERE IS OVER 90K MILES (BUT STILL WITHIN 5 YEARS). DEALER INDICATES IT WILL COST $9500 TO PUT NEW ENGINE IN, AND WE STILL OWE ON IT....WORTHLESS CAR!
MY CARS CAM SHAFT WAS REPLACED SIX MONTHS AGO, AND IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW I'M HAVING A BUNCH OF OTHER ISSUES SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ARE BECAUSE THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP, THAT REPLACED IT MY CAM SHAFT WHEEL THEY HAD TO TO TAKE PARTS OFF AND BACK ON TO FIX IT NOW THOSE PARTS THEY TOOK OFF AND NOW BAD PLUS OTHER BOTTOMS UP. IT …
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MY CARS CAM SHAFT WAS REPLACED SIX MONTHS AGO, AND IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW I'M HAVING A BUNCH OF OTHER ISSUES SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ARE BECAUSE THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP, THAT REPLACED IT MY CAM SHAFT WHEEL THEY HAD TO TO TAKE PARTS OFF AND BACK ON TO FIX IT NOW THOSE PARTS THEY TOOK OFF AND NOW BAD PLUS OTHER BOTTOMS UP. IT WON'T KEEP COOLANT. AND KEEPS OVER HEATING, AND THE DEALERSHIP, IS TRYING TO OVER PRICE ME ON PARTS THAT I CAN GET, FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE THERE CHARGING ME, AND NOW I'M WITH OUT A VEHICLE UN LESS I COME UP WITH OVER $1400, I FEEL LIKE THEY PURPOSELY DIDN'T PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER RIGHT, CUZ THEY NEW THEY COULD GET AND MAKE MORE MONEY OUT OF IT BECAUSE SOME OF THE PARTS ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. PLUSE WHEN THEY FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME. THEY CHARGE FOR A NEW BELT ON THE CAR AND I ALREADY HADE ONE WHICH WASN'T MINE TO START WITH, IT BELONG TO A FRIEND OF MINE, AND THE STOLE IT AND PUT IT ON MY CAR THEN CHARGE ME FOR IT. BE CAUSE IT WAS IN THE BACK SEAT, MY VEHICLE IS SITTING AT THE SHOP NOW. IT'S AT LEACH-WILSON CHEVROLET-BUICK IN SHELBYVILLE ILLINOIS, THERE GOING TO START WORKING ON IT ON JANUARY 11TH, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID ANYWAYS AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH THEM DOING THAT BUT I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION RIGHT NOW. AND I'M BEING FORCED TO PAY OVER $1400. PLUS THEY STOLE PARTS OUT OF MY CAR I WAS HOLDING FOR A FRIEND AND I HAD IN THE CAR AND THEY USE THEM AND CHARGED THE WARRANTY FOR THOSE PARTS AND IT WASN'T THEIRS TO SELL LIKE THAT
MY CAR IS PARKED LOOKS LIKE A RAINBOW COLOR IS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. IT LOOKS LIKE WATER FROM A DISTANCE UNTIL YOU GET CLOSER. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND HE TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO
NEW 2016 CRUZE LIMITED, 2 YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR, WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING REPLACEMENT(COVERED BY THE DRIVE-TRAIN WARRANTY),2 YEARS LATER, CAR OVERHEATS AGAIN, I AM APPARENTLY LOSING WATER BUT NOT EVIDENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER, TOLD THEM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS HAPPENING AGAIN A…
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NEW 2016 CRUZE LIMITED, 2 YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR, WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING REPLACEMENT(COVERED BY THE DRIVE-TRAIN WARRANTY),2 YEARS LATER, CAR OVERHEATS AGAIN, I AM APPARENTLY LOSING WATER BUT NOT EVIDENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER, TOLD THEM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS HAPPENING AGAIN AND THEY CONDUCTED AN ANALYSIS FOR WHICH I HAD TO PAY $96.00, (CAR HAS 72,000 MILES, OUT OF WARRANTY) TELLING ME THE SAME THING I HAD ALREADY FIGURED OUT, THAT I NEED A NEW WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING. THEY TELL ME IT WILL COST ME ABOUT $870.00. TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT. NOW UNDERSTAND, MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON GOOD FAITH THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD RELY ON. I AM RETIRED AND SHE IS DISABLED. I NEEDED A DEPENDABLE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT IT, IT WAS GREAT. BUT BACK TO OUR DILEMMA, AFTER I WAS GIVEN THE ESTIMATE, I TOLD THEM I DID NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR THE REPAIR, AND THEY MADE SURE THE COOLANT WAS FULL AND I LIMPED IT BACK TO MY HOUSE. I PURCHASED A NEW WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT HOUSING, AND A WATER OUTLET ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. I AM AN EXPERIENCED MECHANIC. AFTER REPLACEMENT, WHILE ON OUR WAY TO AN APPOINTMENT THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR OVER HEATED AGAIN. GOT IT BACK TO THE HOUSE, FOUND NO LEAKS, BLED THE SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO AIR IN THE LINES. DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY AND THE ENGINE STOPPED ON ME ON THE ROAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT WOULD NOT RE-START. CHECKED THE OIL DIPSTICK AND FOUND WATER IN ENGINE! SOME ANALYSIS I WAS GIVEN. HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. HERE WE ARE WITH A 4 YEAR OLD CAR, 72,000 MILE ENGINE AND IT IS DONE. WE LIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND I STILL OWE PAYMENTS. WHY WEREN'T THESE CARS RECALLED IF THEY KNEW SO MANY PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS COOLING PROBLEM ON THE CARS? NOW WHAT DO WE DO? I DON'T WANT TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A BROKEN CAR!
COOLANT HOSE LEAKAGE, CRACKED COOLANT HOSE CONNECTOR, THERMOSTAT BROKEN
AFTER REPAIRING THE COOLANT SYSTEM CAR, I DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK TO ENSURE IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. UPON DOING SO, ALL GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. I ALSO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO PARK IT IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO THE SELECTED GEAR. WE HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PUSH IT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. ALS…
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AFTER REPAIRING THE COOLANT SYSTEM CAR, I DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK TO ENSURE IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. UPON DOING SO, ALL GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. I ALSO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO PARK IT IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO THE SELECTED GEAR. WE HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PUSH IT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. ALSO, ALL NOTIFICATION LIGHTS WERE ALSO LIT AT THE TIME. WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFTED INTO DRIVE THE CAR JERKED VERY HARD.
DURING DIAGNOSTIC FOUND EXCESSIVE OIL MIXED IN WITH THE COOLANT ALL THROUGH THE ENGINE. REMOVED SPARK PLUGS AND FOUND CYLINDER #4 HAD COOLANT ON TOP OF THE PISTON AND THE SPARK PLUG WAS SATURATED IN COOLANT AS WELL. REMOVED CYLINDER HEAD AND CLEANED HEAD GASKET SEALING SURFACE. INSPECTED FOR ANY SIGNS OF CRACKS AND FOUND NON…
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DURING DIAGNOSTIC FOUND EXCESSIVE OIL MIXED IN WITH THE COOLANT ALL THROUGH THE ENGINE. REMOVED SPARK PLUGS AND FOUND CYLINDER #4 HAD COOLANT ON TOP OF THE PISTON AND THE SPARK PLUG WAS SATURATED IN COOLANT AS WELL. REMOVED CYLINDER HEAD AND CLEANED HEAD GASKET SEALING SURFACE. INSPECTED FOR ANY SIGNS OF CRACKS AND FOUND NONE. USING A STRAIGHT EDGE COULD NOT FIND ANY AREAS OF THE CYLINDER HEAD THAT WERE WARPED OR DAMAGED INDICATING A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. HOWEVER ONLY FOUND OIL IN COOLING'SYSTEM BUT NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE OIL. REMOVED OIL DRAIN PLUG AND FOUND NO SIGNS OF COOLANT. REMOVED TRANSMISSION DRAIN PLUG AND FOUND NO COOLANT IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID EITHER. AFTER INSPECTING OIL COOLER FOUND IT HAD INTERNALLY FAILED CAUSING THE OIL TO LEAK IN TO THE COOLANT. RECOMMEND REPLACING HEAD GASKET, RADIATOR INLET HOSE, OIL COOLER INLET HOSE, HEATER CORE INLET HOSE, HEATER CORE OUTLET HOSE, BOTH TURBO CHARGER COOLER HOSES, THE TURBO CHARGER OIL INLET PIPE AND THE TURBO CHARGER OIL RETURN PIPE. AFTER COMPLETING REPAIRS CLEANED COOLING SYSTEM AND FLUSHED WITH WARM WATER 4 TIMES BEFORE FILLING COOLING SYSTEM WITH COOLANT. TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND AFTER TEST DRIVE. RECOMMEND CUSTOMER HAVE COOLANT FLUSHED DURING. NEXT .. OIL . CHANGE TO REMOVE ANY OIL THAT MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT IN THE COOLING SYSTEM AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE
MY 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE WITH LESS THAN 90K MILES AT THE TIME WAS RUNNING HOT IN 2018,CAR WAS FIXED BY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP (_COOLANT JUG LEAK/ WATER HOUSING MADE OF PLASTIC CRACKED AT CLAMP CONNECTION AREA) WAS DIAGNOSTIC. AFTER FEW MONTHS IT STARTED RUNNING HOT AGAIN 2019, DEALERSHIP SAID DIAGNOSIS WAS THERMOSTAT, WATERPUMP, …
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MY 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE WITH LESS THAN 90K MILES AT THE TIME WAS RUNNING HOT IN 2018,CAR WAS FIXED BY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP (_COOLANT JUG LEAK/ WATER HOUSING MADE OF PLASTIC CRACKED AT CLAMP CONNECTION AREA) WAS DIAGNOSTIC. AFTER FEW MONTHS IT STARTED RUNNING HOT AGAIN 2019, DEALERSHIP SAID DIAGNOSIS WAS THERMOSTAT, WATERPUMP, HOSES LEAKING.. AFTER ALL PARTS WAS REPLACED AND DRIVEN FOR COUPLE DAYS CAR DASHBOARD NOTIFICATION SAID A/C OFF/ IDLE ENGINE OVERHEATING. PAID FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC FROM DEALERSHIP AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING MAYBE A BLOWN HEADGASKET OR CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK DUE TO OVERHEATING.SEEMS AS THOUGH THE DEFECTED/ CHEAP PARTS CAUSED THIS FROM THE BEGINNING AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE ENGINE BLOW UP FROM OVERHEATING
Official recalls
418V304000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
May 10, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.
17V057000 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint
Jan 26, 2017
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.
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.
16V498000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Jul 1, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a GM dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet Customer Service Department at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 50190.
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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