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Chevrolet Cruze: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Cruze problems by model year, from 3,722 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2011 (64%, 443 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (63%, 140 drivetrain complaints) and 2013 (61%, 326 drivetrain complaints). 8 of the 8 Chevrolet Cruze years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 3 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Chevrolet Cruze year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2012 (50%).
By raw volume, the 2011 drew the most drivetrain complaints (443 of 1,931 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Cruze year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Cruze | too few to score | – | 1 | 2 | – | 0 |
| 2011 Cruze | very high | 64% | 443 | 732 | 1/8 | 7 |
| 2012 Cruze | high | 50% | 412 | 865 | 8/8 | 7 |
| 2013 Cruze | very high | 61% | 326 | 587 | 3/8 | 5 |
| 2014 Cruze | high | 53% | 323 | 702 | 6/8 | 10 |
| 2015 Cruze | high | 58% | 132 | 252 | 5/8 | 4 |
| 2016 Cruze | very high | 63% | 140 | 250 | 2/8 | 4 |
| 2017 Cruze | high | 58% | 106 | 201 | 4/8 | 2 |
| 2018 Cruze | high | 52% | 49 | 109 | 7/8 | 3 |
| 2019 Cruze | too few to score | – | 11 | 22 | – | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Cruze years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Cruze engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns on the Chevrolet Cruze involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 26 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2011 | 11V273000 | power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl) | 2011 |
| Jun 2012 | 12V288000 | engine and engine cooling | 2011–2012 |
| Jun 2012 | 12V289000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting | 2011–2012 |
| Sep 2013 | 13V452000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2013–2014 |
| Feb 2014 | 14V092000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2014 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V151000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2013–2014 |
| May 2018 | 18V304000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2016–2018 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V668000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2018 |
18 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2011 | 11V221000 | steering | 2011 |
| May 2011 | 11V270000 | steering: gear box: shaft sector | 2011 |
| Oct 2012 | 12V522000 | air bags | 2012 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V023000 | air bags | 2012 |
| Aug 2013 | 13V360000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist | 2011–2012 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V300000 | air bags | 2012 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V372000 | air bags | 2013–2014 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V417000 | equipment: electrical | 2013–2014 |
| Feb 2015 | 15V113000 | parking brake | 2015 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V442000 | steering | 2014–2015 |
| Dec 2015 | 15V876000 | seat belts: front: anchorage | 2015 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V498000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2016 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V502000 | electrical system: ignition | 2011–2016 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V057000 | seats: front assembly: head restraint | 2016–2017 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V576000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2018 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V674000 | air bags: side/window | 2014 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V870000 | air bags: side/window | 2014 |
| Nov 2025 | 25V764000 | air bags: side/window | 2014 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Cruze
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Cruze
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Cruze?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Cruze years are the 2011 (64% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2016 (63% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2013 (61% of relevant complaints, very high). 8 of 8 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Cruze?
No Chevrolet Cruze year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2012 (50%).
Does the Chevrolet Cruze have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 8 scored years, 1,931 of 3,392 relevant NHTSA complaints (57%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Is the Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 8 of 8 Chevrolet Cruze years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 57% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Cruze?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Chevrolet Cruze years we track, out of 26 in total: 14V151000 (Mar 2014, 2013–2014), 18V304000 (May 2018, 2016–2018), 20V668000 (Oct 2020, 2018), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.