What 731 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

As I was on the highway, I was unable to pick up speed without feeling resistance! After awhile I couldn’t go past 25 mph and my car eventually gave out before I made it home. I had to call a tow to have them tow me to my park lot! A couple days went by and my car was able to drive through the parking and park in different spots. I am not sure what the problem may be but I just bought this car and it has been causing unsafe issues for about a year now! Please help!

NHTSA ODI 11445156

i have an oil leak coming from the valve cover gasket ,,it is a brand new genuine cover and gasket so oil is falling on the drive belt which breaks pretty quickly while driving I heard that it might be an issue with the pcv check valve inside the manifold Apparently many customers complaints about this issue and no recall yet

NHTSA ODI 11444878

Every year there’s always a issue with oil leakage resulting into smoke coming out of my car, another thing is my car starts to hesitate literally once a year. This has been happening since I purchased my car in February of 2015

NHTSA ODI 11441910

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from under the hood and a burning odor was detected. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with oil leakage from the valve cover gasket. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact scheduled an upcoming appointment for diagnosis with the dealer. The vehicle had a Manufacturer Recall N202299080 (Special Coverage Camshaft Cover Replacement) performed in 2019. However, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

NHTSA ODI 11438376

Unknown. When stopping then going to accelerate again the engine acts like it’s in nuetrual and revs the engine up then causing it to jerk forward. This happens at almost every stop.

NHTSA ODI 11437841

The car cuts out and jerks (has no power) (no warning lights) when accelerating or staying at a steady speed with engine light coming on or flashing. I've reported to dealership. So far, Don't know the cause of problem.

NHTSA ODI 11421801

The car overheated out of nowhere. Oil busted out of the compartment it’s supposed to be held in and got all over my mechanical parts inside the vehicle. My car caught on fire from the bottom where the engine and transmission are. The car started rattling and giving me warnings to get out of the vehicle because the vehicle was unsafe. It gave me the warning that the engine is idle, Engine locked up, and also an coolant issue. The car didn’t have issues before this. I literally had to jump out of the car with my family. The warning light for the engine and coolant came on. There hasn’t been In problems prior to this other than changing a sensor. The insurance was notified and don’t have a solution. We’re trying to figure out what to do because it’s not driveable. Going to contact Chevy dealer or GM as well.

NHTSA ODI 11418488

Real bad oil leak my oil been leaking for months and a intake manifold code P2076 I really need this problem fix. I done spend a lot of money getting this car repaired everytime I get this Chevy Cruze out the shop something else wrongs I can’t out no more money into this car too many car problems I haven’t drove this car in 3 weeks because I was driving somewhere and white smoke started coming out the tailpipe bad somebody called the fire department and police on me that’s how bad the smoke was coming out the tailpipe mind you I had just got the car out the shop i had got code P0303 fix this car cost me alot of money I got alot of repairs done on this car

NHTSA ODI 11417895

AFTER I DID AN OIL CHANGE ON MY CAR IT BEGAN TO LEAK A LITTLE AND BUILD UP ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE SHIELD OF THE CAR THEN LEAVING A SMALL PUDDLE

NHTSA ODI 11395076

THE CAR IS HESITATING AFTER STOPPING WHETHER ITS A LIGHT OR SIGN ALSO HAS WHILE IN MOTION WHICH ALMOST GOT ME HIT! !T1HERE IS ALSO A BURNING SMELL AT TIMES! I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT WITHIN THE MONTH AND THEY SAID IT WAS A SENSOR , NO-ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ! BOU8GHT THIS CAR FROM HONDA IN ANDERSON INDIANA!! ITS HAD PROBLEMS THE WHOLE TIME I'VE HAD IT1 ILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CRUZE

NHTSA ODI 11383175

ENGINE BLEW ON THE FREEWAY WITH EVERYTHING BEING LOOKED AT AND TOPPED OFF THE DAY BEFORE

NHTSA ODI 11365247

SPILLING AND DRIPPING OIL COLLECTED IN THE OIL PAN NEAR THE HOT ENGINE APPEARS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE OR OIL COOLER. BURNS AND SMELLS AS IF SOMETHING MAY CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11364311

THE 2011 CHEVY CRUZE ECO HAS BEEN HAVING A COUPLE ISSUES FROM THERE BEING A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE IT DRIPS MORE AFTER DRIVING AND ALSO ANOTHER LITTLE LEAK TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR THEN ALSO MY STABLITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL ISSUES KEPT ME FROM GETTING OUT OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY WHEELS DIDN'T MOVE THE WAY I PLANNED TOO, THE RADIATOR FAN ALSO HAS BEEN WORKING HARDER THEN USUALLY IT NON STOP IS BLOWING VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR COOL. LAST UNDER THE CAR THE BOTTOM TRAYS HAVE SOME OIL BUILDING UP AND BUILDING UP

NHTSA ODI 11363711

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT OIL AND COOLANT WERE MIXING IN THE ENGINE AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND COOLANT RESERVOIR WERE REPLACED. SIR WALTER CHEVROLET (8501 GLENWOOD AVE, RALEIGH, NC 27612), WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V288000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.

NHTSA ODI 11362172

I'VE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS AWARING ME ABOUT THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) PRESSURE REGULATOR VALVE. THAT MAY DEVELOP A CONDITION WITH MY VEHICLE, AND I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE IS IN THE CONDITION AS THEY DESCRIBED. BUT THE I CAN ONLY GET IT REPAIR AT NO COST IF MY VEHICLE WAS LESS THEN 120,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE 2020 AT 160,000 MILES. MY CONCERN IS THAT NOW KNOWING ABOUT THIS ISSUE WORRIES ME AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY GETTING AROUND. AS THIS IS MY MAIN VEHICLE USE TO GET TO WORK, ETC.

NHTSA ODI 11361733

CODE P1101 SITTING IN A PARKING LOT IN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 24 HOURS OF BUYING THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11351548

VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAS BEEN OVERHEATING SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. ENGINE LEAKING OIL. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION, HEAD COVER GASKET, VALVE COVER AND WATER PUMP ALL REPAIRED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND NO MECHANIC CAN FIGURE OUT WHY. VEHICLE STILL OVERHEATS AND LEAKS OIL.

NHTSA ODI 11348871

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN, THIS VEHICLE HAS ISSUES WITH STABILTRAK/TRACTION CONTROL. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ROUTINELY THROUGHOUT THE TIME I HAVE HAD IT. THIS VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN AT THE DEALERSHIP UPON RECEIVING THE LETTER FOR THE RECALL, I DO NOT THINK THIS WAS THOROUGHLY INSPECTED. IT WAS UNDER TEN MINUTES, THAT I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM. IN MY OPINION, THIS WAS TOTALLY INCORRECT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED STILL TO THIS DAY. NOBODY REPORTED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY AND I. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. IF THE DEALERSHIP DID SAY THEY THOROUGHLY INSPECTED IT, WHY DIDN'T THEY REPORT THIS MATTER TO YOU, WHICH WOULD BE LANDERS MCCLARTY CHEVROLET, HUNTSVILLE AL. I HAVE DONE MAJOR RESEARCH AND THIS MATTER IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS COMPLETELY IN THE WRONG. NONE OF THIS MATTER WAS HANDLED CORRECTLY, WHY DIDN'T I GET ANY DETAILS OR DOCUMENTATION. WHY WASN'T IT REPORTED?? I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR PAPERWORK, AND THE EXACT DATES WHICH I TOOK IT THERE. I WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH MY LAWYER, AND GET ANY PAPERWORK AND EVIDENCE REVIEWED. THE STABILTRAK LIGHT STAYS ON, AND CAUSED ME NOT TO GO INTO REVERSE. THE STEERING COMPLETELY WENT DOWN AND PARKING ASSIST, AS WELL AS TRACTION CONTROL IS ALWAYS ON. THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLETE DISASTER. I ASK YOU WITH COMPLETE SINCERITY, TO FOLLOW UP. MY FAMILY'S LIFE SHOULDN'T BE IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF AN IMPROPER INVESTIGATION. THIS DEALERSHIP WILL NEED TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBLITY. I WILL UPLOAD AND PICTURES OR ATTACHMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED. KEEP IN MIND, THAT THESE ARE THE EXACT ISSUES THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR, THE SAME ENGINE WHICH IS THE 1.4 LITER TURBO, AND THE SAME MODEL THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT MALFUNCTION!

NHTSA ODI 11341954

THE 'AC OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMP' WARNING KEEPS COMING ON, THE AC WON'T WORK AND THE TEMP GAUGE GOES BACK TO ZERO. WE HAVE HAD THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMP SENSOR REPLACED AND THE RADIATOR TEMP SENSOR REPLACED ALSO AND WE ARE STILL HAVING THIS ISSUE! ALONG WITH THE DASH AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11337079

MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE VALVE COVER GASKET WHICH MAY LEAK OIL AND DROP DOWN CAUSING A FIRE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS FIXED UPON TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE OIL WAS DRIPPING DOWN CAUSING SMOKE AND THE PART THAT IT WAS DRIPPING ON WAS RED HOT WHICH WAS THE COIL WIRE. WAS IN FACT NOT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11322420

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN THE BRAKES BEGAN TO LOCK. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BY KICKING THE DOORS TO FORCE THEM TO OPEN. ONCE THE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH FORT DODGE FORD TOYOTA LINCOLN (2723 5TH AVE S, FORT DODGE, IA 50501 PHONE: (515) 576-7505) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL FOR THE BRAKES AND LOW OIL LEAKING CAUSING A FIRE. THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V36000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICS) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 188,000.

NHTSA ODI 11320017

THE CAR OVERHEATS, THIS IS THE 2ND TIME REPLACING THE MOTOR. THE FIRST TIME I REPLACED THE MOTOR, IT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL MOTOR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER REPLACED THE MOTOR.

NHTSA ODI 11316057

THERE IS A BAD OIL LEAK ON THE CAR THAT I WASN'T INFORMED OF AND THE OIL PLUG HAS BEEN STRIPPED OUT AND THERE IS OIL ALL UNDER THE MOTOR AND YOU CAN SMELL IT WHEN PARKED AND IT'S STARTING TO COME THROUGH THE VENTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11308404

IT LEAKS MOTOR OIL EVERYTIME IT GETS CHANGED,THERES ALWAYS A HUGE PILE OF OIL ON THE GROUND, I CAN ALSO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT WITHOUT NEEDING TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL . OVERALL ITS BEEN A HASSEL TO DEAL WITH IT.

NHTSA ODI 11307853

WE PURCHASED A 2011 CHEVY CRUZ WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES. IN THE 2 YEARS WE'VE HAD IT WE'VE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, OIL COOLER, AND ALL THE HOSES. THE FURTHEST WE'VE DRIVEN IT IS 400MILES IN A TRIP. WE HAVEN'T TAKEN IT UP MOUNTAINS, AND WE KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE

NHTSA ODI 11307501