What 731 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED ON MY CAR COMPLETELY IN THE SUMMER OF 2012 WHEN THE CAR WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD. IT WAS REPAIRED AND GIVEN BACK TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AFTER I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP (WHICH AGAIN PUT ME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO WORKING BRAKES). THE VACUUM PUMP WAS REPLACED ON THE CAR AT THIS TIME. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME AT THAT TIME THAT THEY HAD NOT SEEN THAT ISSUE BUT HAD ANOTHER 2011 CRUZE COME IN AFTER MINE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 20+ DAYS BECAUSE THE PARTS NEEDED WERE ON BACK ORDER. GM ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PART (VACUUM PUMP) ON AUGUST 13, 2013 BUT THE LETTER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AT THAT TIME TO FULFILL THE RECALL AND WOULD NOTIFY CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY HAD THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE RECALL. ON JANUARY 10, 2014 MY BRAKES FAILED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME, WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS 41,000 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME AND HAS HAD THREE BRAKE ISSUES IN WHICH I HAD NO WORKING BRAKES. I CONTACTED GM'S CUSTOMER CARE ON JANUARY 13, 2014 AND THEIR EMPLOYEES EXPRESSED MINIMAL CONCERN ABOUT THEIR UNSAFE PRODUCT AND THE RISK TO ME OR THE PUBLIC. *TR

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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

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ABOUT 4 PM ON 8/31/13:PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF SANDWICH SHOP AND HAIR SALON. NORMAL BRAKE PRESSURE APPLIED BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, THEN BOTH FEET PRESSED ON BRAKE, BUT CARS MOMENTUM CAUSED IT TO JUMP THE CEMENT PARKING BLOCK. TO AVOID CRASHING THROUGH SALONS GLASS FRONT, STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND CAR CRASHED INTO, AND CAME TO A STOP AT BUILDINGS OUTSIDE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE. IN SO DOING, A CAR PARKED IN THE SPACE TO THE RIGHT, SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO DRIVERS SIDE- FRONT BUMPER. CHEVY CRUZE SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO RIGHT SIDE DOOR PANELS AND RIGHT-FRONT BUMPER. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SURGED AS THE BRAKES BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VACUUM SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD AND RESISTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BUT THE BRAKING POWER WAS REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. UPDATED 10-17-13 *BF

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I HAVE TWO 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZES THAT I PURCHASED NEW IN 2011. BOTH CARS BEGAN TO HAVE A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL AT ABOUT 7000 MILES WHICH MAKES STOPPING DIFFICULT. MOST NOTABLE AT LOW SPEEDS ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE AND TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED WITH ONE CRUZE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND TOOK THREE TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR. IT JUST STARTED OCCURRING IN THE SECOND CRUZE (ABOUT 7300 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE) THIS WEEK. THE FACT YOU CAN NOT STOP THE CAR APPROPRIATELY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE RISK FOR AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THE FACT THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED IN BOTH MY CRUZES SEEMS TO INDICATE A SIGNIFICANT MECHANICAL ISSUE AND NOT JUST A ONE TIME MALFUNCTION. *TR

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WHEN ON A COLD START , AND BACKING LOW SPEED ...THE BRAKES GO TO FLOOR AND BARELY STOP VEHICLE...WAS TOLD BY GM THAT THE BRAKES ARE GOING THROUGH CHECK, AND IT IS NORMAL FOR BRAKES TO GO TO FLOOR AND NOT STOP VEHICLE. *TR

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I WAS VERY SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES WITHIN A 7 MONTH PERIOD, 3 TIMES WERE IN THE WINTER WHEN I WOULD BE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY BUT I HAD ASSUMED IT WAS DUE TO THE SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS THAT WE HAD BUT I WAS APPARENTLY WRONG. I AM SCHEDULED TO HAVE MY VEHICLE LOOKED AT ON 5/31 AND I AM HOPING THAT THEY REPAIR IT AT NO COST BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS A DEFECT. I DON'T FEEL THAT IT IS MY BRAKE PADS THAT COULD BE BAD BECAUSE ANY OTHER TIME THE CAR WILL STOP ON A DIME, THERE IS NO BRAKING NOISES OR ABNORMAL FEELING IN THE BRAKES AT ANY OTHER TIME. THINKING BACK IT ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I DON'T LET MY CAR SIT AND IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE I START GOING. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

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I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I TRIED TO STOP AT THE END. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR KEPT ROLLING. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE OR HAVING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. I HAD IT TOWED BY AAA TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY BRAKE BOOSTER WAS BAD AND THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT ABOUT HARD BRAKING. THEY ORDERED THE PART AS THEY DO NOT KEEP IT IN STOCK. THEY ARE SUPPLYING ME WITH A RENTAL WHILE I WAIT FOR THE CAR TO BE FIXED. I WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS TO IF THEM REPLACING THE BRAKE BOOSTER FIXES THE ISSUE. *TR

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THERE IS KNOCKING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A LETTER FROM CHEVY STATES THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. #PIC5726 THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THIS STARTING AT ABOUT 16,000 MILES. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 1.5 MONTHS. TAKING THE CAR BACK TO SHOP ON 1/17/2013 FOR THE HEATER AND A GRINDING NOISE WHEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN.

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I WAS IN STOP AND GO MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC GOING APROX. 10 MPH. I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP SLIGHTLY MORE THAN ONE CAR LENGH AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKES FELT SOFT AND I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDEL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO GET IT TO RESPOND. THE BRAKES DID NOT CATCH ALL THE WAY, THEY ONLY SLOWED THE CAR SLIGHTLY (TO APROX. 5MPH) AND I REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD THE BRAKES, FLUID, AND ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER COMPONENTS CHECKED, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

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THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. FIRST OF ALL JUST TO MAKE YOU AWARE, THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ON A COLD START FOR THE VEHICLE. I AM AT AN INCLINE, IT MAY EVEN BE A SLIGHT INCLINE, I GO TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, AND I LOSE MY BREAKS. THIS SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT I AM REPORTING ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LEAVING A MALL PARKING LOT, AND I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT, AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSHED ON THE BREAKS. ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. UPON THAT HAPPENING I MADE A CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK THE CAR IN THE SAME DAY. THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR SEVEN DAYS, AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE THE SERVICE LIGHTS FOR ABS AND STABILITRAK BEGIN INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATING AT THE SAME TIME, REMAINING ON FOR RANDOM PERIODS OF TIME. *TR

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WHEN IN REVERSE THE BRAKES WERE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. IT WAS PUT INTO DRIVE AND BACK INTO REVERSE AND THEY WORKED PROPERLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP BUT ISSUE COULD NOT BE RECREATED. PROBLEM CONTINUES RANDOMLY, MOSTLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN USED, PARKED, AND THEN USED AGAIN (COMING HOME FROM WORK). ON 6-22-12 THE CAR WAS BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND PUT INTO DRIVE, WHILE MY HUSBAND PULLED UP TO OUR MAILBOX THE BRAKE WAS PUSHED DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL. *TT

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BECAME SPONGY AND WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURE WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,930.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE BOOSTER KIT, RETAINER, CYLINDER KIT AND THE VALVE KIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,835.

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VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE OFF POSITION THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD DOWN A HILL DRAGGING MY CHILD WITH IT. *TR

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I HAVE AN LT CRUZE MODEL 2011. THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFT (AS IF THE BRAKE FLUID HAS SOME AIR IN IT) CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO RESPOND NORMALLY TO BRAKES AND IT VERY EVIDENT IS THE SLOWER SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER ABOUT 2000 KM FROM USE. I HAVE A FRIEND (WHO OWNS ANOTHER CRUZE) AND WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND COMMENTED THAT THE BRAKES FEELS "WEARED"! I COMPLAINED DURING BOTH THE 5000 AND 10000 KM SERVICE BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG AS THEY CLAIMED. NOW I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE VERY MUCH DURING TRAFFIC SPEEDS TO NOT MAKE AN ACCIDENT!!! THIS IS A CONSTANT ATTITUDE OF MY CAR AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO? P.S: THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM OF A VERY STRANGE AND LOUD NOISE DURING BRAKING WHILE MOVING BACKWARD, BUT THIS WAS REPAIRED BY CHANGING THE CALIPERS OF REAR BRAKES. *TR

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE ACCELERATING AT ANY SPEED. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE MOVED BACKWARDS WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS AND ADVISED THE CONTACT HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 752,000.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL DROPPED BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TAPED A BLOCK OF WOOD ON TOP OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RAISE THE BRAKE PEDAL 1 1/2 INCHES TO PREVENT IT FROM FALLING BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. UPDATED 06/09/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS VERY LITTLE ROOM BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. SO WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, HIS FOOT ALSO HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. UPDATED EVOQ. 06/15/11 UPDATED 07/11/11

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME SPONGY UPON APPLICATION, FOLLOWED BY AN EXTENSIVE DELAYED RESPONSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. UPDATED 06/24/11

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WE PURCHASED AND TOOK POSSESSION OF A NEW 2011, CHEVY CRUZE ON WED., MARCH 30TH. FIRST NEW CAR IN 11 YEARS AND WE WERE THRILLED. THRUS., MARCH 31TH, MY HUSBAND ALMOST RAMMED THRU THE STORE FRONT OF A SHOP.....STOPPING INCHES BEFORE THE MAIN ENTRANCE......FRI., APRIL 1ST, WE WENT THRU A STOP SIGN INTO THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND ON APRIL 2ND I HAD A CAR FULL OF WOMEN COMING HOME FROM A LUNCHEON. LUCKILY, I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE BECAUSE IT WAS TOO WARM. I WAS ONLY DOING ABOUT 20 MPH AND STEPPED ON THEY BRAKE TO FIND I WAS ALSO STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL, JUST MY HUSBAND HAD DONE THE OTHER 2 TIMES. I WAS LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO SHOVE IT PARK. TRUST ME, WE R TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MONDAY, APRIL 4TH AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE RESPONSE WILL BE. IN THE MEAN TIME, WE R AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I WOULD FEEL AWFUL IF ANYONE GETS HURT OR INJURED BECAUSE I HAVE NOT BROUGHT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION?????? *TR

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