Clutch pedal does not return, cannot change gears. Chevy issued a TSB, however they do not warranty the repair. The problem is with a clogged orifice which is a engineering defect. This is a well know problem and is extremely dangerous. I assume enough people haven't died yet from this issue for a recall.
2017 Chevrolet Cruze
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2017 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
114 reports with mileage · 87 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 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 33 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
39 reportsChevy Cruze 2017 manual transmission clutch pedal stuck to the floor while driving preventing changing of gears. Was able to lift pedal with toe, but was still not fully able to then depress clutch to get the car in gear. Pumping the pedal helped loosen and eventually allowed it to work normally temporarily. For the past year…
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Chevy Cruze 2017 manual transmission clutch pedal stuck to the floor while driving preventing changing of gears. Was able to lift pedal with toe, but was still not fully able to then depress clutch to get the car in gear. Pumping the pedal helped loosen and eventually allowed it to work normally temporarily. For the past year, occasionally the clutch would be slow to return after depressing, but did not cause any safety issue and since it could not be reproduced for dealer, no repairs were made. Having an experience of not being unable to change gears in traffic caused a significant safety issue, which will need to be remedied. Appointment for service is scheduled for tomorrow and will find out more what the problem is, but based on online forums, it likely is a faulty slave cylinder which has been reported in other Chevy Cruze cars of this year.
I should have filed a complaint here after the catastrophic failure. The next time I may not be so lucky and it could cause loss of life. I was driving at approx. 65 MPH on the frwy when bang! An explosion under my hood that caused my car to jump over a lane, I slammed on the breaks, swerved but couldn't push the brake pedal do…
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I should have filed a complaint here after the catastrophic failure. The next time I may not be so lucky and it could cause loss of life. I was driving at approx. 65 MPH on the frwy when bang! An explosion under my hood that caused my car to jump over a lane, I slammed on the breaks, swerved but couldn't push the brake pedal down anymore. It felt hard and would barely move. i had no way to slowdown or stop! And traffic infront of me was slowing fast. I put all my weight on that pedal even tried pumping it, but it would only move alittle. Luckily the car in front sped up just enough for me to swerve onto the shoulder. As I slowed i could depress pedal alittle if I stood up on it out of my seat but stopping distance was like 15ft while maybe going 15 mph. This all happened in a matter of minutes i still dont know how I was able to avoid an accident. The engine sounded really rough. So I called the dealership they said to bring the car in. I had already spoke. With them that week due to traction control system and transmission causing instability and brake issues. I was mortified when I found out what happened I had cracked 2 pistons & the force was so strong it blew thru the membrane that seperates the break system, got oil in my break lines! This is a new car! Dealership said it was a known issue & GM determinedtitle was a design flaw. I had 2 pistons replaced and my break system flushed my car has never been the same. There's always something little and intermitten still with the transmission & Now the engine jumps while idling and stopped in drive it jumps so hard the car jumps fwd, feels like ill hit whats in front of me. I lost significant value at only 26,290 miles, i cant afford to trade it in on disability, covid turned into long haul covid, no affordable extended warranty. I have no piece of mind in a car I dont feel safe in. What happens when the pistons fail they didnt fix. How many injuries or lives must be sacrificed before they do something.
While driving down the Interstate my clutch failed and remained on the floor and I was unable to shift. Luckily there was an open lane next to me and I was able to pull off the highway. I checked the fluid reservoir it was full and no air bubbles I managed to limp it home after manually hand pumping the clutch to get it back up …
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While driving down the Interstate my clutch failed and remained on the floor and I was unable to shift. Luckily there was an open lane next to me and I was able to pull off the highway. I checked the fluid reservoir it was full and no air bubbles I managed to limp it home after manually hand pumping the clutch to get it back up and I would get two or three shifts out of it maybe and then have to do it again once I was forced to stop at a light or a stop sign. I just have not been able to get the car in as it is out of warranty and I'll have to pay for tow and for it to be fixed. I just had the engine replaced (under extended warranty) roughly 5000 miles ago. There was no accident but there certainly could have been a Harry Chapin type situation. There were no warning lights or messages that appeared and the clutch is currently inoperable on the floor.
POWER TRAIN, PREMATURE MALFUNCTIONED ENGINE PISTONS, LOW SPEED, CHEVY SHAKE. AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT JOSEPH CHEVROLET ON COLERAIN AVE CINCINNATI, OH. MY SAFETY AND SAFETY OF OTHERS WAS COMPROMISED DUE TO LACK OF EXCELRATION , LOW COMPRESSION.PROBLEM IDENTIFIED BY JOSEPH CHEVROLET DEALER SERVICE WRITER CODY. IDENTIFIED . TH…
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POWER TRAIN, PREMATURE MALFUNCTIONED ENGINE PISTONS, LOW SPEED, CHEVY SHAKE. AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT JOSEPH CHEVROLET ON COLERAIN AVE CINCINNATI, OH. MY SAFETY AND SAFETY OF OTHERS WAS COMPROMISED DUE TO LACK OF EXCELRATION , LOW COMPRESSION.PROBLEM IDENTIFIED BY JOSEPH CHEVROLET DEALER SERVICE WRITER CODY. IDENTIFIED . THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR THE STABILITY TRAK AND THE ENGINE APPROXIAMETLY APRIL. 2022.
Slave cylinder failed on manual transmission/transaxle where you cannot get vehicle out of gear which is a huge safety issue especially with the rampant traffic added to congestion on freeways. It’s frustrating because it seems this has been a common issue with most manual transmission/transaxels which is why GM selected to not …
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Slave cylinder failed on manual transmission/transaxle where you cannot get vehicle out of gear which is a huge safety issue especially with the rampant traffic added to congestion on freeways. It’s frustrating because it seems this has been a common issue with most manual transmission/transaxels which is why GM selected to not produce any more manual Chevrolet Cruze’s. They later on discontinued the Cruze because the vast issues in design with the vehicle. Not only have I had this issue but I also have had diesel exhaust fluid, diesel particulate filter, and air cleaner issues. I’m hoping that enough people have submitted this complaint for GM to do a recall as it’s a $2000 job for the dealer to fix the issue as well as almost getting in a traffic incident.
While driving I went to downshift. When I pushed in the clutch it wouldn't go out and I couldn't get the vehicle into any gear. I was driving approx. 65 mph and since the clutch wouldn't disengage I couldn't get the vehicle into any gear and was almost rear ended. GM has a TSB out for what they are saying this issue is PIP5558C …
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While driving I went to downshift. When I pushed in the clutch it wouldn't go out and I couldn't get the vehicle into any gear. I was driving approx. 65 mph and since the clutch wouldn't disengage I couldn't get the vehicle into any gear and was almost rear ended. GM has a TSB out for what they are saying this issue is PIP5558C with a faulty dampener between the clutch master and slave cylinders.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while shifting from first to second gear, the clutch was depressed and remained on the floorboard. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive without shifting gears to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnose…
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The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while shifting from first to second gear, the clutch was depressed and remained on the floorboard. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive without shifting gears to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Cylinder 1 experienced cracking due to Low Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI, commonly referred to as “Knock”) just after exiting the highway in a 70 mph zone and produced a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) code of P0301. As evidenced in Attachment 1, this caused damage to the Antilock Braking System due to loss of vacuum on the system a…
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Cylinder 1 experienced cracking due to Low Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI, commonly referred to as “Knock”) just after exiting the highway in a 70 mph zone and produced a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) code of P0301. As evidenced in Attachment 1, this caused damage to the Antilock Braking System due to loss of vacuum on the system and possible fouling due to foreign object damage to the vehicle ABS. Later assessment by trained mechanics determined the root cause was due to insufficient structural capability of engine pistons to withstand brief periods of LSPI. As evidenced by attachment 18-NA-171 and PIP5490, the vehicle manufacturer (General Motors) is aware of the insufficient design of the pistons, has re-designed them to withstand LSPI, however has not made an effort to notify me or replace the existing part to prevent damage to the vehicle powertrain and ABS. While this particular instance of piston cracking due to LSPI has only had a financial impact on myself, loss of ABS functionality and potential engine seizure at highway speeds have the potential to produce dangerous, if not fatal, conditions to other drivers with similar hardware.
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT'S AND POPPED HARD SOME OF THE TIMES, FROM PARKED INTO REVERSE OR FROM DRIVE INTO REVERSE MODE, ONLY INTO REVERSE THO NOT IN ANY OTHER GEAR JUST REVERSE, BUT IT'S NOT ALL THE TIME THAT IT HAPPENS ETHIER ONCE OR TWICE A DAY, EVERY TIME I DRIVE AROUND TOWN THAT SAME DAY. COULD MY TRANSMISSION BE GOING OUT ?
Official recalls
218V304000 · 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.
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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