Home · 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Limited · Complaints

What 731 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (731)Crash / fire / injury (69)Engine (257)Transmission & drivetrain (193)Electrical system (96)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (75)Brakes (74)Speed control (69)Steering (48)Fuel system (43)Airbags (40)Engine & cooling (39)

69 of 731 complaints match · Speed control · clear filters · page 2 of 3

Dec 3, 2015Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HESITATED TO RESPOND. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ON A SECOND OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE EACH TIME BUT THE FAILURE WAS PROGRESSING. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A LIMP MODE EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS LEFT FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 10808273

Nov 14, 2015Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

STABILITY TRAC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. EXPERIENCED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES. DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER I WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY A BIG RIG. DEALER CAN NOT IDENTIFY CODES ONLY CODE THAT APPEARED WAS PO171,FUEL TRIM LEAN CODE WAS ADDRESSED BY DEALER, DEALER CLAIMS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT WAS TIED TO THE P0171 CODE. WHILE DRIVING HOME EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND ROUGH SHIFTING. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS APPEARED. VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE BURNT OIL, AND NOTICED A LOUD TICKING NOISE. NOTIFIED DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT IS NORMAL VEHICLE WILL BE FINE AFTER 400 MILES OF DRIVING. MY FAMILIES LIFE WILL BE PLACED IN JEAPORDY FOR THE NEXT 400 MILES. THE UNRESPONSIVE ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10790420

Oct 5, 2015Speed control

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INTO AN BUSY INTERSECTION, I FLOORED MY CAR AND QUICKLY REALIZED MY ENGINE HAD DRASTICALLY REDUCED POWER. THE CAR WAS HARDLY MOVING. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING, JUST NO ACCELERATION. LUCKILY, THE DRIVER BARRELING UP BEHIND WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER INTO THE OTHER LANE OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10779636

Oct 3, 2015Speed controlEngine

ALMOST TO INTO A HUGE ACCIDENT DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY AT A SPEED OF 35MPH WHEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE GAS. IT FELT LIKE MY GEARS WERE SHIFTING WITHOUT ME SHIFTING THEM. I REALLY DON'T KNOW TO MUCH ABOUT CARS BUT I KNOW THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 10779517

Aug 31, 2015Speed controlEngineFuel system

PRACTICALLY EVERY DAY I DRIVE MY CAR, I EXPERIENCE EXTREME SHIFTING AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES. SPECIFICALLY, I HAVE TO FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL FOR THE CAR TO MOVE FROM 2ND TO 3RD SHIFT. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC CAR, AND IT DRIVES LIKE A POORLY SHIFTING MANUAL. IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL, RATHER THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH AND LOUDLY, YET THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. IT ALSO HAS MADE LOUD POPPING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR FILLS WITH AN EXHAUST SMELL, AND DURING THE WINTER COOLANT SMELL IS OBVIOUS IN AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING-AND FEEL UNSAFE-DRIVING THIS CAR AND IT IS ALMOST FOUR YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES! I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THE BELOW DATES AND THEY CANNOT ?DUPLICATE THE ISSUE?, THUS HAVE NOT FIXED IT. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR 3-WEEKS! I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE DEALERSHIP IS EVEN DAILY TESTING, OR DRIVING, THE CAR. I DO KNOW, HOWEVER, IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE SHIFTING AND ACCELERATING IS UNRELIABLE AND WILL MOST DOUBTABLE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT INJURING MYSELF AND/OR OTHERS. I HAVE ALSO CALLED GM AND NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE VERY UNHELPFUL, STATING THEY NEVER HEARD OF A SHIFTING/TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE CHEVY CRUZE, WHEN IN FACT THE 2011 CHEVY CRUZE WAS RECALLED FOR SHIFTING LOCK CABLE. I HAVE RECEIVED, UNSOLICITED; A LETTER FROM A LAWFIRM TO SUE GM NOTING THIS EXACT ISSUES SHIFTING/POWER ISSUES (AMONGST FAULTY WATER PUMPS, WHICH I ALSO HAD REPLACED AFTER ONLY OWING THE CAR 2-YEARS), SO CLEARLY THERE ARE MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES. DATES BROUGHT MY CAR TO (SULLIVAN'S ONEILLS IN AVON, CT) 1/16/2015; 5/2/2015; 5/09/2015;5/13/2015; 6/24/2015; 7/17/2015 MY GM SERVICE TICKETS ARE 71-1490864298 & 71-1490864298. THE CAR IS EITHER A LEMON, OR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR SHIFTING/TRANSMISSION ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 10760242

Feb 24, 2015Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HOME FROM WORK AT THE END OF JANUARY, I FELT IT SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. I HAD A MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY TO SERVICE STABILITRAK AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I HAD NO POWER TO THE CAR AND HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I TURNED MY CAR OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THEN BACK ON, IT STARTED AND RAN FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. THEN AGAIN TODAY, FEB. 24TH, 2015, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING. I HAD TO MOVE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN EARLY MORNING TRAFFIC (NOT AN EASY THING TO DO!), AND TURN MY CAR OFF. I WAITED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, STARTED IT AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY INTO WORK WITHOUT PROBLEMS. AFTER READING THE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME SITUATIONS, I WOULD THINK IT'S TIME FOR A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT DUE TO THE SUDDEN REDUCTION OF POWER!! *JS

NHTSA ODI 10690215

Feb 8, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WHILE DRIVING I LOST ENGINE POWER AND HAD NO FOOT THROTTLE. THE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON THAT STATED REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND CHECK STABILATRAK. SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RESTART DID NOT FIX. MY CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 4MPH AND I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10681987

Jan 14, 2015Speed controlEngine

MY DAUGHTER ALMOST DIED DRIVING IT ON MONDAY. SHE WAS ON ROUTE 1 IN COLLEGE PARK, MD WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE/REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON AND SHE COULD GO NO MORE THAN 2-3 MPH. THIS IS A VERY BUSY ROAD, AND SHE WAS ALMOST IN A POTENTIALLY TRAGIC ACCIDENT. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SPORT CHEVROLET IN SILVER SPRING, MD (240-471-3190). OUR SERVICE ADVISOR ([XXX]:) INFORMED ME THIS MORNING THAT THE FIX IS A THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT WHICH WILL COST $648. IN GOING ON THE CHEVY FORUM WEBSITE, THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES TO CHEVY CRUZE AND MALIBU MODELS. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE DIES. THE THROTTLE BODY IS ONLY COVERED UP TO 35K SO I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10672483

Jan 9, 2015Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE DRIVING AT NO SPECIFIC SPEED THE CAR ALERTS AND SAYS CHECK ENGINE, REDUCED ENGINE SPEED, AND CHECK STABILIZER TRACTION CONTROL. THE ENGINE THEN POWERS DOWN AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENED, TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT I ENDED UP IN A DITCH AND HAD TO BE TOWED OUT. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED WHICH WAS COSTLY AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY CHEVY OFFERS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT ON THE CAR AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALL, DUE TO THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED I WAS TOLD IT WAS GONNA BE 4-6 WEEKS TO WAIT ON THE PART BECAUSE THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH CHEVY THEY HAD NO CONCERN THAT A CAR LOSING POWER WHILE TRAVELING WAS NO BIG DEAL. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A SEMI-TRUCK AND WAS FORCED INTO A DITCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671401

Dec 21, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION, USE TO MY NORMAL POWER AND ALMOST GOT HIT BECAUSE MY CAR WOULDN'T GO OVER 15MPH FLOORED. THEN LOOKED DOWN AND SAW A ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED, SERVICE STABILI TRAK AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. SO I TOOK TO A MECHANIC HE HOOKED IT UP AND THE CODE SHOWED UP AS MY THROTTLE BODY POSITION SENSOR. THEY REPLACED IT AND DROVE IT AND IT DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. I WAS JUST GOING DOWN THE ROAD THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR DID THE SAME THING. I LOST POWER SO FAST THAT I ABOUT GOT REAR ENDED. TOOK IT BACK TO THE BODY SHOP AND SHOWED THE SAME CODE SO THEY REPLACED THE PART AGAIN. AND TWO DAYS AFTER ALL THIS MY CAR IS DOING THIS AGAIN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT HOW IT LOOSES ENGINE POWER. IT LOOSES IT SO FAST THAT SOMEONE CAN GET HURT EXTREMELY BAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10667535

Dec 1, 2014Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 67MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR JUST LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. ALL OF THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS LOST POWER ,GAS GAUGE REGISTERED EMPTY, ETC. ALTHOUGH THE RADIO DID NOT GO OFF. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WITH VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF IN THE EMERGENCY LANE AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE WITH NO TROUBLE. CONTINUED OUR TRIP AND DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. AFTER THINKING ABOUT THIS I DID NOTICE THE VEHICLE A FEW WEEKS AGO LOSING SOME ACCELERATING SPEED/POWER INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING. NOT SURE IF THAT WAS AN INDICATOR OR NOT. DID CALL ONSTAR APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AFTER INCIDENT TO DIAGNOSE AND SEE IF ANY ERROR CODES CAME UP AND THEY STATED THEY SHOWED NOTHING. THIS IS MY DAUGHTERS VEHICLE AND I FEAR THAT IF SHE IS TRAVELING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THIS HAPPENS AGAIN THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SEVER ACCIDENT. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10661462

Aug 20, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WE HAVE A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AT ANY SPEED AND TWO ERRORS COME UP, "SERVICE STABILITRACK" AND "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" . ENGINE LOSES POWER AND CANNOT MAINTAIN SPEED ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO MAINTAIN FREEWAY SPEEDS. ALSO HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS, 10 TO 25 MPH. THEREFORE IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED. CAN RESET BY REMOVING BATTERY CABLE, BUT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WITHIN A DAY OR TWO. THIS ISSUE STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME NOW AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. WENT ON LINE AND FOUND BLOGS WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE ALSO HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SUGGESTED WE TAKE OFF THE BATTERY CABLE TO RESET. WE CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AS ONE BLOG SAID AND THEY ARE ALL OK. CALLED CHEVY DEALER AND THEY HAD NO RECALL AND WANTED 100 DOLLARS TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN DECIDE IF IT FELL UNDER WARRANTY. PURCHASED CAR AT 43,000 MILES, CURRENTLY AT 73,000 MILES. THE ISSUE USED TO HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME NOW IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT THINK IT IS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BUT WILL NOT SAY UNTIL WE TAKE IT IN TO HAVE IT SERVICED. WE MIGHT ADD WE HAVE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AS THIS MAY DIFFERENT THAN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. TRYING TO SHIFT WITHOUT ANY ENGINE POWER IS A PROCESS IN TERROR ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10626928

Aug 12, 2014Electrical systemLightsSpeed control

MY CAR KEEPS SHUTTING OFF WHILE IM DRIVING IT.. IT IS NOW NOT EVEN TURNING ON AT THIS POINT. I TRY TO START IT AND WONT TURNOVER. LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED 35-40, MY RADIO AND A/C TURNED OFF, THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, THEN SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I WANT TO ADD HOW EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THIS IS FOR ME (7 MONTHS PREGNANT, AND 2 LITTLE GIRLS IN CAR). I TRIED SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE ELECTRICAL RECALL AND HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FAR OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621734

Jul 22, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE FROM A STOP TO MOVE AND ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION. EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND HESITATES AND WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFTS IT SLAMS INTO GEAR. THE MOSTLY OCCURS FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND THEN DURING ACCELERATION. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IS HOW IT IS DESIGNED AND NOTHING IS WRONG. BUT THE PROBLEM JUST KEEPS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. LONGER HESITATIONS AND HARDER SHIFTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10615226

May 8, 2014Speed controlEngine

THE 2011 CRUZE SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET. THIS CAR HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST CRASH 10 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH THAT I HAVE HAD IT. THERE HAS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR. WHEN I MERGE ON TO THE INTERSTATE AND TRY AND SPEED UP THE CAR STALLS OUT AND HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING. THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A HAZARD TO VEHICHLE OWNERS AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORIST. WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS? GM SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THESE UNITS. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2011/CHEVROLET/CRUZE/POWER_TRAIN/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10587352

Apr 2, 2014Speed controlEngine

HESITANT ACCELERATION ISSUE. AFTER COMING TO A STOP. I PUT MY FOOT ON ACCELERATOR AND VEHICLE DID NOT GO FORWARD AT FIRST. THEN ENGINE REV UP BUT VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE SLOWLY. WHEN IT DID I COULD ONLY GO 27 MPH IN A 45 MPH ZONE. HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ON TO A HIGHWAY. WENT TO TWO AUTHORIZED CHEVROLET DEALERS ON 12/02/13 AND 4/02/14. BOTH DEALERS STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND ALL TROUBLE CODES INDICATED EVERYTHING IS OK. WHICH IT IS NOT. THIS IS A 1.4 TURBO 4 ENGINE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10576941

Mar 29, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS ALWAYS HAD JERKING AND HESITATION WHEN HITTING ACCELERATOR. ALSO JERKING WHEN SHIFTING AND OVER REVVING DUE TO NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE ISSUE. AT 36,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE ECM REPLACED DUE TO CAR STALLING OUT AT STOPS, RUNNING VERY ROUGH THEN STALLING AT STOPS. SEEMED TO HELP SOMEWHAT BUT DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE RUNNING ROUGH INTERMITTENTLY STILL AT STOPS WHICH IS SCARY AS DON'T KNOW WHEN IT MIGHT STALL OUT AND NOT GO AS MY JOB REQUIRES TRAVELING THROUGH THE WEEK. AT 50,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE ECM PROGRAM "UPDATED" AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED...DEALERSHIP SAID PLUGS SHOULD BE ON A RECALL BUT THEY DID REPLACE NO CHARGE I PAID FOR LABOR CHARGES OF COURSE. CAR IS STILL RUNNING ROUGH INTERMITTENTLY AT STOPS, ALMOST STALLS OUT BUT HASN'T YET...I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY PRODUCT AND AM VERY SAD TO SAY THAT AS HAD MY 1998 MALIBU FOR 12 YEARS WITHOUT MAJOR ISSUES. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10575524

Mar 24, 2014Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN, A MESSAGE CAME UP THAT SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". I COULD NOT DRIVE AND HAD NO ACCELERATION ABILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY AND COMPLETELY STALLS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10574345

Mar 12, 2014Fuel systemSpeed control

I WAS BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE FROM AT STOPPED POSITION READY TO ENTER TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR HESITATED TO THE POINT OF STALLING OUT. THE PROBLEM IS PERIODIC. IT'S VERY SCARY TO BE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR PRACTICALLY STALLS. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DIDN'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10568758

Feb 12, 2014Speed controlEngine

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY "ENGINE POWER REDUCED","SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL", AND "SERVICE STABILITRAK" WARNING NOTICES APPEARED. FRANTICALLY I PULLED OVER ON THE UP COMING EXIT RAMP, EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WOULD NOT GO OVER 5 MPH WITH MY GAS PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO BE HIT WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH , I TURNED OFF THE CAR LET IT REST AND CONTINUED DRIVING ONLY FOR IT TO HAPPEN 4 MORE TIMES WITH IN 25 MINUTES. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED 3 OTHER TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK! THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ANSWER FROM THE DEALERSHIP EVEN THOUGH I TOOK PICTURES OF THE WARNING LIGHTS AND PROVIDED MANY OTHER EXACTLY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY! I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AND ESPECIALLY NOT WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT I HAVE JUST WASTED 16K OF MY MONEY ! WHY IS THERE NOT A SOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE YET AND IF THERE IS WHY DOES IT TAKE SUCH EXTREME REMEDIES TO FIND THE SOLUTION. THIS IS A RECALL MATERIAL SITUATION! I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO CALL ME IN REGARDS TO THIS SITUATION, I FEEL THERE IS NO EXCUSE MY CHILDREN AND I COULD HAVE DIED TONIGHT ! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10563935

Feb 10, 2014Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR THE SNOWY CONDITIONS TO SLOW DOWN, I WAITED ABOUT 15 MINUTES WITH MY CAR ON IDLE. I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT TO GO TO MY DESTINATION. AS I WAS ON DRIVE, MY CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 5 MPH AND COULDN'T ACCELERATE, MESSAGE PULLED UP ON MY SCREEN SAYING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED". TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND QUOTED ME $500 TO FIX THE VALVE BODY SYSTEM. I'VE READ ON A FORUM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10563643

Feb 6, 2014Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY 2011 CHEVY CRUZE LTZ WENT IN TO REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE AND SAID TO SERVICE STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES WITH FROZEN PRECIPITATION ON THE GROUND. RESEARCH ONLINE INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVY CRUZE VEHICLES. THE CAR WAS DRIVE ABLE AFTER POWERING DOWN FOR A FEW SECONDS, BUT A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT WOULD GO INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST WEEK. LIKELY THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10563208

Dec 16, 2013Speed control

2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING FROM 68 MPH TO 6 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON THE PA TURNPIKE, WHEN SUDDENLY,THE VEHICLE WENT FROM 68 MPH TO 6 MPH WITH NO WARNING. WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC SHE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE OUTER LANE AND OFF THE ROAD. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY.

NHTSA ODI 10556683

Dec 8, 2013Speed controlBrakesEngine

1.4 LITER 2011 CRUZE HEATER BLOWING COOL AIR. GM INSPECTION DONE ON 10/17/13 AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT KEEPS COMING ON. THIS HAPPENED WITHIN TWO WEEKS. WE ADDED A ALMOST A QUART OF COOLANT FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. NOW A MONTH LATER IT IS A QUART LOW AGAIN BLOWING COOL AIR FROM THE HEATER AND A STRONG SWEET SMELL PERMEATES THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO FAILS TO PROPERLY BRAKE AT TIMES AND GAIN SPEED AT TIMES. IT HAS STALLED WHILE IDLING AT STOPLIGHTS. THERE IS A OILY RESIDUE ON THE PLASTIC SHIELD LOCATED NEAR THE OIL PAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10555229

Nov 25, 2013Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

2011 4DR ECO.VEHICLE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, STRONG SMELL OF COOLANT AND RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 12V288 GM 12081 OIL ON ENGINE SHIELD, REPAIR DONE 11/7/2013 WHILE VISITING COLORADO SPRINGS, CO... DEALER INVO CLAIMS THERMOSTAT HOUSING LEAKING, REPLACED PART...CRUISE CONTROL NOT HOLDING. ..NOT ADDRESS...11-12-2013 2ND FAILURE COOLANT LEAK AND OIL MILEAGE AT FAILURE 93513 DEALER FOUND LEAK AT THE CORNER OF WATER OUTLET ON REAR CYLINDER HEAD, AND REPLACED OUTLET TUBE..11-23-13 WENT TO START MY CAR FOUND ANTIFREEZE AND OIL LEAKING ON THE GROUND....CALLING DEALER IN COLORADO SPRINGS AGAIN...THIS IS [XXX]...SOMETHING WHEN ITS COLD IS CAUSING COOLANT AND OIL TO LEAK...FOUND MANY SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THESE ITEMS AND 2 RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10553714

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Working with the data? Download all 731 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Limited verdict →