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)

193 of 731 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 2 of 8

Jan 6, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP FROM 2ND GEAR, THE CAR SHIFTS HARD AND JERKS BACK WHEN SHIFTING DOWN INTO FIRST GEAR. OFTEN TIMES, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR DOESN'T ACTUALLY GET POWER; THE RPMS JUMP TO ABOUT 6000 AND THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE. WHILE DRIVING, IT FEELS LIKE TENSION AGAINST THE GAS PEDAL WHILE THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S DRAGGING BACK AND BOGGING DOWN (THE RPMS DON'T INDICATE BOGGING, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE). WHEN IT FINALLY CATCHES A GEAR, IT JERKS BACKWARDS AND ALMOST FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11297379

Dec 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL JUST REV UP AND WILL NOT ACTUALLY ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI 11288496

Oct 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2011 AND HAS 135,000 MILES ON IT. BODY AND INTERIOR IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND I TAKE CARE OF THE ENGINE AND POWERTRAIN FOR ITS SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I HAVE THE DOCUMENTS TO PROVE MY STATEMENT. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A HEADACHE. I JUST WANTED TO NOTIFY YOU AND WARN ANY OTHER PERSON THAT MAY BE THINKING OF BUYING A CRUZE TO NOT PURCHASE. I WAS HOPING ALSO THAT I MAY HAVE A RECOURSE UNDER THE LEMON LAW TO RECOVER SOME OR ALL OF THE LOSSES INVESTED IN TRYING TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN RUNNING CONDITION. THE TRANSMISSION IS CURRENTLY MALFUNCTIONING AND THE TURBO WAS ALSO RECENTLY MALFUNCTIONING. CURRENTLY THIS VEHICLE IS IN A PARKING LOT COLLECTING DUST. THE COST TO REPAIR OR REPLACE IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. CAN YOU ADVISE OR HELP WITH A SOLUTION? IT WOULD BE SAD TO SEE HONEST CONSUMERS INVEST THEIR HARD EARNED CASH ON A PRODUCT THAT WILL LAST THEM FOR LESS THEN A DECADE.

NHTSA ODI 11276953

Sep 3, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN JERKING, ACTING LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER. AFTER TURNING OFF THE MAIN ROAD ONTO A SIDE STREET, TRIED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. AFTER LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR, IT WENT INTO 1ST GEAR, BUT COULDN'T DRIVE FASTER THAN 15-18 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED.

NHTSA ODI 11252851

Aug 5, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WAS DRIVING UP HILL ON INTERSTATE AND LOST POWER. MADE IT TO A PARKING LOT AND DID NOT HAVE ANY REVERSE AND ONLY 1ST AND 2ND GEAR WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. DID A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WITH ONSTAR. THEY GAVE ME CODES P0776 AND P0700. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED.

NHTSA ODI 11241791

Jul 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR ONLY HAS 123K AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT SINCE DAY ONE THIS CAR HAS HAD ISSUES, INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED TWICE

NHTSA ODI 11229790

Jun 8, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE LT WHEN IT GETS T0 BETWEEN 30-40 MPH THE RPMS WILL GO EXTREMELY HIGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN AS IT IS SLOWING DOWN IT WILL JERK INTO THE LOWER GEARS IF I DON'T PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. SINCE I DON'T HAVE A READER FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND DISCONNECT MY BATTERY TO GET THAT TO SHUT OFF. I HAVE TO LET MY CAR ENGINE/TRANSMISSION COOL DOWN BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN OTHERWISE I WILL ONLY MAKE IT EIGHTH OF A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS. I WANT THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I OFFICIALLY HATE MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. MAKES ME NEVER WANT TO BUY A CHEVROLET AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN MAY COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO THIS YEAR OF CAR. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED FREE OF CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI 11218717

May 21, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR WILL SLOW DOWN AND BARELY TAKE OFF. ENGINE IS RESPONDING TO GAS PEDAL BUT NO POWER IN LOW GEAR SO TAKES OFF VERY SLOW NEARLY RESULTING IN WRECK. TWO SHOPS, INCLUDING TRANSMISSION SHOP, STATE ITS ELECTRONIC PROBLEM INCLUDING 'LACK OF COMMUNICATION'. IT HAPPENS FROM BEING STATIONARY OR IN PROCESS OF DRIVING WHEN IT LOSES POWER SUDDENLY. WHEN ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF IT RUNS OK. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'LL ACT UP. STARTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, AND IS INTERMITTENT.

NHTSA ODI 11209022

Apr 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION ISSUES IN THESE CARS AND GENERAL MOTORS ONLY MADE THEM FOR ONE YOUR KNOWINGLY THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND DON'T WANT TO RECALL THE ISSUE. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE SUPER EXPENSIVE DUE TO ONLY BEING MADE FOR ONE YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11203028

Apr 22, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

CAR SEEMS TO STALL WHILE DRIVING (RECURRENT/ CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR 4 MONTHS: CAR HAS < 65K MILES). ENGINE/ LOSS OF STABILITRACK LIGHTS COME ON AND ENGINE REVS HIGH WITHOUT SPEED. LIGHTS ON RADIO BLINK AND ENGINE/OIL/ COOLANT LEAKS. DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO FIX PROBLEMS, CAR CONTINUES TO STALL OUT, LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED IN ROADWAY. ENGINE REBOOTS ARE TEMPORARY FIX, BUT THE COMPUTER SEEMS TO BE TAKING OUT SYSTEMS 1 BY 1. GM SPECIALIST HAD CAR FOR 2 WEEKS IN JANUARY & COULD NOT SOLVE.

NHTSA ODI 11202971

Mar 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I WENT AND GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF ROME GA AND I WAS DRIVING AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO FORWARD IN TRAFFIC AND THE SPEED STAYED ON 0 AND IDLED OUT ON ME. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN RIGHT MY CAR WOULDN'T GO AND SOMEBODY HAD TO PUSH MY VEHICLE. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE IT, IT WAS IN DRIVE AND WOULDN'T GO 20 MPH. I GOT THE VEHICLE MARCH 13 AND HAVEN'T HAD IT FOR A MONTH AND EXPERIENCED THIS.IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AND I FELT LIKE I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE. I WAS TRYING TO TURN AND PUT OF NOWHERE IT WOULDN'T GO OVER 20 MPH.MOST SCARIEST SIRTIATION EVRER..

NHTSA ODI 11191240

Feb 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I DROVE MY 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE TO WORK WITHOUT ISSUE. UPON LEAVING I STARTED MY MY VEHICLE, PUT IT IN REVERSE AND BACKED OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT BUT IT WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOME. THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT START UP ENTIRELY.

NHTSA ODI 11179832

Sep 14, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, AS I TRIED TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE. THE CAR WAS RATTLING, THE RPMS WERE GOING UP, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR. MY FAMILY PUSHED MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN NEUTRAL AND I DROVE IT 2 MILES TO MY MECHANIC. DURING THAT 2 MINUTE DRIVE, THE CAR CONTINUALLY SLIPPED GEARS. FAST FORWARD TO HAVING THE CRUZE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP (AFTER NOT HAVING HEARD FROM CHEVROLET AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS CONTACTING THEM) AND I FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY BROKE. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND OF COURSE CHEVROLET LENT NO ASSISTANCE, SO I PAID $3,674 TO HAVE A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PUT IN WITH A 500,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CRUZE NEVER ACTED COMPLETELY RIGHT (A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG MANY CRUZE OWNERS)- NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY WHEN GOING UP HILLS, JERKING WHEN SHIFTING ON FLAT PAVEMENT. IT'S MIND-BLOWING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY REPORTED ISSUES OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THIS MODEL, BUT CHEVROLET HAS YET TO MAKE ANY RECALLS. IT'S NOT ONLY A FINANCIAL ISSUE, IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN. I WILL NOT BE BUYING A CHEVY AGAIN, AS THEY WERE UNWILLING TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WHEN THIS MAJOR COMPONENT FAILED. NOT EVEN 90K MILES, SEVEN YEARS OLD, THIS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE AN ISSUE YET.

NHTSA ODI 11129492

Sep 10, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

2016 ECM REPROGRAMMING RECALL EVER SINCE I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL IN 2016 TO HAVE THE ECM REPROGRAMMED, I HAVE HAD SEVERE ISSUES WITH VERY ROUGH IDLING, SLOW ACCELERATION, AND INCONSISTENT FUEL USAGE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND LISTS SEVERAL SENSORS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. WE REPLACED ALL OF THEM AND THE PROBLEM STILL COMES BACK. NOW THE CODES INDICATE THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC ISSUE WITH THE ECM AND CHEVY WILL NOT COVER IT EVEN THOUGH THIS ISSUE STARTED FROM THEIR OWN RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11128457

Aug 19, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

ON MY WAY TO THE BEACH I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. AFTER STOPPING I PROCEEDED TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND ALL I GOT WAS ENGINE REVVING THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE AT ALL. I TRIED SHIFTING THE GEAR FROM PARK BACK TO DRIVE AND I TRIED AGAIN. THE CAR STILL DIDN'T MOVE AND I GOT REVVING AGAIN. SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL WHILE BEING IN DRIVE. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO PARK AND TURNED IT OFF, AFTER WAITING A FEW SECONDS I STARTED THE CAR UP AGAIN PUT IT IN DRIVE AND I ACCELERATED FORWARD, I PULLED INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT AND EASED MY WAY INTO A SPACE, BEFORE MAKING IT ALL THE WAY INTO THE SPACE I LOST GEAR AGAIN. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACKED OUT OF THE SPACE. PUT IN BACK IN DRIVE AND AGAIN DIDN'T GO FORWARD, JUST REVVING. I ULTIMATELY PARKED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE ARE MOST COMMONLY KNOWN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BUT THERE IS NO OPEN RECAL. MY CRUZE COULD HAVE SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE I WAS ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING IT WAS GONNA FAIL. NO LIGHT INDICATIONS, NO STRANGE SOUNDS COMING FROM THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY CHEVROLET DEALER TO SEE IF THEY COULD TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED. THE TRANSMISSION GUY DROVE IT AROUND THE LOT AND THEN TOLD ME HIS BEST EDUCATED GUESS ON WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE 3,5,R PLATE BROKEDOWN AND CLOGGED THE FILTER. THEY TOLD ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND GM TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HELP AT ALL AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR CHEAPER. I TIRED TO ENCOURAGE THE GM REPRESENTATIVE I SPOKE TO, TO LOOK INTO OPENING A RECAL ON THE TRANSMISSIONS OF 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE BEING THAT IS THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT. HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON IF THEY WOULD OPEN A RECAL.

NHTSA ODI 11120955

Aug 7, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

TAMARA RECALL: I AM A FORMER GM EMPLOYEE. I PURCHASED A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE RIGHT AFTER HAVING IT A FEW MONTHS I HAD A ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I'VE ALSO HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE OIL GETTING INTO THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. WHICH HAS NOW HAPPENED THEE TIMES. THE COST IS RIDICULOUS!!!! I JUST SPENT $1050 ON THAT AND A NEW WATER PUMP JUST TO FIND OUT I'M STILL WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS RIGHT BACK DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND JERKING. I FEEL LIKE GM SHOULD BE PAYING ME BACK MY MONEY FOR THIS CRAP PIECE OF CAR. I TRY HARD TO TAKE CARE OF MY CAR BUT THIS IS HORRIBLE!!!! I WANT MY CAR FIXED AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER DIME. I LOSS MY JOB BECAUSE MY CAR WENT OUT ON ME. I HAS TO BORROW THE MONEY TO GET THE GASKET JOB DONE AGAIN. I'M CALLING THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING AND IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT TRANSMISSION I AM GOING TO PUT GENERAL MOTORS ON BLAST!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11118213

Jul 24, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE ALMOST HAD COLLISIONS BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE GOING UP A HILL THE RPM WOULD REV UP HIGH BUT IT SEEMED MY TRANSMISSION SLOWED DOWN/SLIPPING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL GARAGE TO BE CHECKED WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG "WASTED $80 FOR NOTHING" WITH MY CAR BUT I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. WHEN I GO TO CLIMB ANY HILL NOW THE CAR STILL ACTS LIKE IT HAS NO POWER TO GO BUT ENGINE RPMS RUN HIGH AND FEELS LIKE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND NOT WORKING RIGHT. I CAN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO PASS ON HIGHWAY/ROAD BECAUSE I KNOW THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER. THE WAY THIS CAR OPERATES IS CONCERNING TO ME AND IS UNSAFE IN MY EYES.

NHTSA ODI 11113359

Jul 16, 2018Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

1. EACH TIME I GET AN OIL CHANGE, THE CAR SMELLS LIKE IT'S BURNING OIL AND IT'S REALLY STRONG. 2. HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS CAP AS IT BECAME STRIPPED CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. REPLACED WITH CORRECT CAP, LIGHT WENT OUT. FILLED CALL WITH FUEL, LIGHT CAME BACK ON, NOW SHOWING CODES.

NHTSA ODI 11111494

Jul 16, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

BOUGHT A CRUZE IN 2011 AND FULLY SERVICED IT ALL OF ITS LIFE, IT'S NOW 2018 WITH 111K MILES AND THE TRANNY BLEW.

NHTSA ODI 11111739

May 21, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, LAGGING AND NOT ENGAGING. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE IT MAY LAG BEFORE FINALLY GOING INTO GEAR. WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AUTOMATICALLY, IN MOTION, THE CAR WILL LAG BETWEEN GEARS AND WILL ABRUPTLY GO INTO GEAR AFTER A LAG CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP.

NHTSA ODI 11097063

May 4, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineCrash

MY 2011 CHEVY CRUZ THE TURBO WENT OUT ON IT REPLACE THE TURBO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD REPLACED THE LINE THAT GOES INTO THE OIL PAN I HAVE A VACUUM LEAK SOMEWHERE I CAN'T FIND A VACUUM LEAK THERE SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING UNDERNEATH THE SEATS AND SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO SHIFT IT DOESN'T SHIFT RIGHT.ALSO THE LIGHTS ON THE FRONT THEY FLICKER AND BLANK THE SEATBELTS DON'T LIKE TO COME OUT WHEN YOU CLICKI WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE DAY I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT ON THE EXPRESSWAY COMING OFF OF THE RAMP TRYING TO GET SPAYED AND THERE WAS NO POWER AND DIDN'T WANT TO GO ANY FASTER BY THE TIME I GOT HOME IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS WHISTLING AND NO POWER AT ALL THE TURBOS FIX BRAND NEW THE MANIFOLD BRAND NEW IT'S ALL BRAND NEW WHITE NEXT TO HIS CAR IS GIVING ME A PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11091722

Mar 31, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

ON DECEMBER 30, 2017 MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME,WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY. SO HE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN HE WENT TO TAKE OFF THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THANK GOODNESS HE WASN'T FAR FROM HOME SO WAS ABLE TO VERY SLOWLY GET HERE. THE CAR HAD 111144 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAD BEEN INOPERABLE SINCE THAT DAY. WE HAVE REPLACED THE VALVE BODY BUT THAT DID NOT HELP. TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION ONLY HAD REVERSE AND 3RD GEAR AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER DOING SOME ONLINE SEARCHING I DISCOVERED MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11082293

Mar 30, 2018Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlFuel system

CAR DOES NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE, SO MUCH SO THAT I NEED TO USE THE HAZARD LIGHTS TO AVOID BEING HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND ME WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN. I DROVE 40+ MILES (CITY MILES) AND HAD NO ISSUES GETTING THERE, BUT THEN WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN TO RETURN HOME, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED THE ENGINE GO FROM COLD TO HOT VERY QUICKLY, DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE "ENGINE HOT A/C OFF" AND IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE. AT THIS POINT I SWERVED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER AND I FEARED FOR OUR SAFETY AND THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, WE BOTH OPENED OUR DOORS AND TOOK OFF RUNNING FROM THE CAR UNTIL WE REACHED A SAFE DISTANCE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 40+ MILES TO MY HOME. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR HAD CRACKED AND THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND ALSO THE WATER PUMP, AND ENSURED THE PROPER AMOUNTS OF ALL FLUIDS. ALSO, WHENEVER I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT END OF THE CAR GETS VERY HOT AND THE "TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINE" MESSAGE COMES ON AND THE AC, WHICH WAS WORKING FINE, DOES NOT WORK NOW. STILL, THE MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION! THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COME STRAIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH WITH NO AC GETS SUPER HOT IN ADDITION TO THE 80+ DEGREE WEATHER IN CENTRAL FLORIDA (AND IT'S NOT EVEN SUMMER YET!). EVERY TIME I HAVE TO HAVE TRIED TO REFUEL THE CAR WITHIN THE PAST 2 WEEKS OF ME HAVING PURCHASED IT, THE ENGINE STALLS AND STALLS AND STALLS. IT TAKES 10-15 TRIES TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON EVERY TIME I REFUEL. IN ADDITION TO THIS, ONCE YOU ACTUALLY GET THE CAR BACK ON THE CAR JERKS WHEN PUT IN DRIVE. I HAVE TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE GAS OR THE CAR WILL SHUT BACK OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11082230

Mar 11, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

DRIVING ALONG AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH OUT AND SUDDENLY THE CAR LOST ALL ACCELERATION. IT WOULD GO IN REVERSE, BUT NOT FORWARD. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ADDED SOME AUTOMATIC TRANS. FLUID AND THAT DID NOT HELP. REMOVED THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL FROM THE BATTERY FOR A FEW MINUTES TO "RESET". THE CAR WAS THEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT VERY SLOW ACCELERATION IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CODE CHECKED BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LATE IN THE EVENING. LIMPED THE CAR 20 MINUTES HOME. ONCE IN 3RD GEAR AND ABOVE, IT RAN FINE. BUT WHEN GOING FROM A DEAD STOP, IT WOULD TAKE FOREVER TO GET OUT OF 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THE DASH DISPLAY NO LONGER WOULD SHOW THE DRIVE SHIFT CONTROL DISPLAY. ONLY SHOWED "D" AND NOT M1, ETC. GOT VEHICLE HOME AND IT NOW SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI 11078607

Feb 16, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

YOU DRIVE FOR 15 MILES GOES INTO LIMP MODE HAVE PUT 3 TECOMS IN THE CAR AND STILL DOES THE SAME THING

NHTSA ODI 11073315

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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 →