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2017 Chevrolet Cruze problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
58%
106 of 182 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

58% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 78% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 19 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 53%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 106 of 182 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (58%), and the largest group is filed under engine (73). For comparison, the 2016 scores 63% and the 2018 scores 52%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
106
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
201
this model year
Fires reported
6
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
8 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE73 · 36%
POWER TRAIN39 · 19%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM33 · 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER31 · 15%
SERVICE BRAKES19 · 9%
STRUCTURE16 · 8%

The years either side

2010
too few complaints
2011
64%
443 of 732
2012
50%
412 of 865
2013
61%
326 of 587
2014
53%
323 of 702
2015
58%
132 of 252
2016
63%
140 of 250
2017
58%
106 of 201
2018
52%
49 of 109
2019
too few complaints
2020
no data
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE08/03/2022FIRE1 INJURED
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 brak…

One of 106 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline18V304000 · May 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."

Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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.…

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
seats: front assembly: head restraint17V057000 · Jan 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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2017 Chevrolet Cruze? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze

Does the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 106 of 182 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (58%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 18V304000 (fuel system, gasoline). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Chevrolet Cruze years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Cruze years we track, the 2012 (50%), the 2018 (52%) and the 2014 (53%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (58%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.