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)

Newest first · 731 complaints · page 9 of 30

Feb 11, 2018Visibility & wipers

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK UNLESS PLACED ON HIGH SPEED, AND EVEN THEN, THEY STOP HALFWAY ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING VISABILITY ISSUES. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11072148

Feb 9, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LACK OF POWER AND ACCELERATION ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURBO POSITION IF THE ENGINE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKELINE HAD A FLUID LEAK. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11066289

Feb 8, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOPPED POSITION THE CAR JERKED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT TO SECOND, WITHOUT TAPPING THE GAS PEDDLE. AFTER PULLING INTO WHERE I LIVE, I STOPPED AND TRIED TO DRIVE FORWARD BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE ONLY IN REVERSE WOULD THE CAR MOVE. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW. STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY CRUZE.

NHTSA ODI 11071821

Feb 3, 2018Electrical systemAirbagsSpeed control

SET UP THE AIRBAG AND THE CAR MILEAGE DOES LOOK

NHTSA ODI 11066797

Feb 2, 2018Fuel system

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWS UP ON DASHBOARD, LOUD NOISE AS THOUGH ENGINE REVVING UP, WARNING NOTIFICATION, A.C. NOT WORKING OVERHEATING. CAR WAS IN DRIVING MODE ON CITY STREET

NHTSA ODI 11066574

Jan 18, 2018Brakes

MANUAL TRANSMISSION, NEUTRAL GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ALWAYS USED WHEN PARKING THE CAR. NOTICED THAT WHEN REMOVING THE E-BRAKE ON A HILL, THE CAR ROLLS SLIGHTLY BACKWARDS AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE E-BRAKE ENGAGED EVEN AFTER IT BEING REMOVED. THERE WAS ALSO FRICTION WHEN USING THE BRAKES, ALMOST LIKE THE BRAKE PADS WERE GETTING LOW, HOWEVER THEY HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE E-BRAKE CABLE RUNNING FROM THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO THE BACK TIRES IS MALFUNCTIONING TO WHERE IT FAILS TO RETRACT FULLY WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS DISENGAGED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PART IS ON A 4 WEEK BACK ORDER THROUGH GM BECAUSE IT IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM, AND IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE ACCORDING TO GM. HOWEVER, HAVING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PARTIALLY ENGAGED IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE IT CONFLICTS WITH NORMAL BRAKING WHEN DRIVING, CAUSING FRICTION IN THE BRAKES. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON, AND CAN'T EVEN BE FIXED SINCE IT IS ON BACK ORDER DUE TO A FAULT PART! MECHANIC SAYS HES SURPRISED MY BRAKES WERE NOT SMOKING. I DRIVE LONG DISTANCES BETWEEN STATES FREQUENTLY, AND IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND CANNOT FIX THE PART UNTIL THE BACK ORDER IS CAUGHT UP THROUGH GM.

NHTSA ODI 11063550

Jan 17, 2018Brakes

I WAS DRIVING IN A 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT ZONE AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES AS THEY WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND RODE COMPLETELY THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AFTER AND APPLY THE BRAKES WITH NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY.

NHTSA ODI 11063388

Jan 15, 2018Visibility & wipers

FRONT WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP AT OUTSIDE HUMIDITY LEVELS OF 80% AND ABOVE; STATIONARY AS IN MOTION. THE AIR SYSTEM DOES NOT CLEAR THE INTERNAL WINDOW CONDENSATION FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, UNLESS THE AC IS WORKING. WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW 75F, THERE'S NO NEED FOR AC, SO IT'S PREFERABLY TURNED OFF. HOWEVER PUTTING REGULAR AIR ON HEATER, WITH NO AC WILL FOG THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI 11062895

Jan 14, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)

ENGINE POWER REDUCED COMES ON WITH SERVICE STABILITRACK SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND DROPS ENGINE SPEED AND LITERALLY HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART CAR. NOW CAR WON'T EVEN IDLE FOR LONGER FOR A MINUTE BEFORE LIGHTS COME ON. ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS I TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES FOR WORK AND TRAVEL WITH A SMALL CHILD WHICH IN THESE FREEZING TEMPERATURES IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL DATES MOST RECENT 1/14

NHTSA ODI 11062680

Jan 4, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON THE STREET MULTIPLE TIMES THIS VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN REDUCING ENGINE POWER WITH SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR APPEAR ON THE DASH BOARD. THE CAR ENGINE BEGINS TO MAKE NOISES AND SLOW ABRUPTLY. I HAVE PULLED OVER TURN THE CAR OFF THEN ON AND IT STOP. THEN RANDOMLY IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN THE SENSOR HAS DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY AND WORK PERFECTLY FINE THEN THIS WILL ONCE AGIN HAPPEN. MY CAR IS UNDER 100,000 MILES AND CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICES TELLS ME IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRENTY

NHTSA ODI 11058619

Dec 20, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

MY CAR JUST WENT OUT. NO WARNING NO NOTHING. THE DASHBOARD WEND HAYWIRE AND WAS UNABLE TO READ ANYTHING AT ALL (SPEED, RPM, FUEL OR TEMP). THE IGNITION DOWNSHIFTED ON ITS OWN ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. ONCE SAFELY OFF OF THE HIGHWAY I TRIED TO PARK THE CAR IN A PROPER PARKING SPACE SO THAT I COULD INSPECT THE ISSUE AND IT WOULDN'T REVERSE AND SHORTLY AFTER WOULD NO LONGER GO FORWARD.

NHTSA ODI 11055746

Dec 19, 2017Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS MY TRACKING CONTROL, STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL, AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER LIGHT STAYS ON. I HAVE HAD KNOCK CENSOR REPLACED, VALUE COVERS BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. MY CAR CONSTANTLY CUTS OFF IN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND THREE TIMES ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MILES. THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE AND YET THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11055607

Dec 9, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

WILL DRIVING WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT FROM 1 TO ANY OTHER SHIFT AND IT JUST ACCELERATES WITH ANY SHIFTS AND LOSING SPEED IN THE HIGHWAY VERY FAST WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT BEEN ABLE TO GAIN ANY SPEED. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND ACCORDING TO AN INSPECTION SHOWING TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE

NHTSA ODI 11053641

Dec 9, 2017

NOTICED I WAS LOSING COOLANT RAPIDLY, FULL TANK WITHIN 1-2 DAYS, ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 7 MILES TO WORK AND BACK. . TOOK TO DEALERSHIP (WHERE PURCHASED) AND THEY DETERMINED ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING FROM FAULTY WATER PUMP. THOUGHT THE ISSUE WOULD BE COVERED BY GM EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE ALREADY EXISTING SPECIAL COVERAGE BULLETIN 14371A, EXISTED FOR THIS ISSUE IN 1.4L ENGINE, ...BUT NOT FOR THE 1.8L ENGINE, WHICH IS WHAT I OWN. THE WATER PUMP IN THE 1.4L IS THE EXACT SAME PART IN THE 1.8L ENGINE, SO I'M LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE WATER PUMP IN MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED DUE TO IT BEING A FAULTY PART, IN GENERAL. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AND HAVE EXPERIENCED NO MORE LEAKAGE. I AM UNABLE TO ATTACH THE SERVICE INVOICE FROM MCKINLEYVILLE CHEVROLET AND BUICK, BUT CAN PROVIDE HARD COPY.

NHTSA ODI 11053655

Nov 20, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY SLOW MOVING - ABOUT 10 MPH. AFTER SLOWING TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR OVER 3 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF AN EXIT AND PULL OVER. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD AT ALL - ONLY IN REVERSE. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHERE I FOUND OUT I HAVE FORWARD TRANSMISSION FAILURE - UNDER 89K MILES ON THE CAR AND A 2011!

NHTSA ODI 11047643

Nov 16, 2017Lights

THE BRAKE LIGHTS FLICKER AND/OR STAY ON WHEN BRAKES ARE NOT BEING PRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 11046549

Nov 14, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING CAUSING AN INCONVENIENCE OF LOSING MY TRANSPORTATION AND THIS IS GETTING EXPENSIVE TO KEEP FIXING

NHTSA ODI 11045997

Nov 1, 2017Engine

OIL LEAKING JUST BELOW DIPSTICK. NOT FROM THE DIPSTICK ITSELF BUT FROM A HORIZONTAL CREASE BELOW IT. OIL LEAKED ONTO HEAT SHIELD AND DOWN ONTO EXHAUST. BURNING SMELL COMES THROUGH AIR VENTS MAKING IT HARD TO BREATHE IN CAB. NOTICED THIS AFTER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND MINOR CITY TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 11042214

Oct 4, 2017Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HARDY CHEVROLET (2026 MACLAND RD, DALLAS, GA 30157) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RESERVOIR AND HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE STABILITRAK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVE RAYMAN CHEVROLET (2155 COBB PKWY SE, SMYRNA, GA 30080) AND REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO STEVE RAYMAN CHEVROLET WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO COST; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. A YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AGAIN FROM THE ENGINE AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE AIR VENT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO HARDY CHEVROLET WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW MOTOR WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI 11031658

Oct 2, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR JERKS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT A RED LIGHT, SOMETIMES IT JERKS VERY HARD. IT LAGS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER A STOP,DIP, OR SPEED BUMP. DELEARSHIP CLAIMS IT'S A BREAK PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. YET WHEN I TOOK IT IN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON, BUT THEY SAID IT'S A SOLID CODE. (P057C) AND I'VE TAKEN IT MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY NEVER TOLD ME IT HAD A CODE AND I'VE HAD THIS JERKING PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11031411

Sep 27, 2017Engine

GOT THE CAR FROM DRIVETIME ON 04/25/16 FROM DRIVETIME IN HIGHLAND INDIANA. NOT EVEN 30 DAYS WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO GO TO WORK SOMETHING POPPED UP ON MY SCREEN SAYING A/C CUTTING OFF DUE TO ENGINE OVER HEATING. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED AEVEREX AND PEPBOYS AND WAS TOLD TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR. AEVEREE DONEX HAD TO HAVE A TOW COMPANY COME AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED WHICH MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 2 TO 3 DAYS BECAUSE THEY DIDNT HAVE THE PART. GOT MY CAR BACK ON 5/17/16. I HAVE A LIST OF THINGS THAT HAD TO BE DONE TO THE CAR. NOW THE CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. A/C CUTTING OFF DUE TO OVER HEATING. LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE COOLANT IS LEAKING AND THE RESERVOIR IS EMPTY. IT DIDNT GIVE OFF NO NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THIS CAR THE CAR. IM TAKING THIS CAR TO THE SHOP ONCE AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I LOOKED ONLINE AND COME TO FIND OUT THE 2011 CHEVY CRUZE HAS A RECALL ON THE CRUZE DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING. I ALSO HAD TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WATER PUMP WHICH I ALREADY HAD IT REPLACED ONCE. I ALSO EMAILED THE GM AND EXPLAINED MY ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR WAS NO RECALL ON MY CAR WHICH I FIND TO BE UNTRUE. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I ALSO HAVE THE PAPERS FROM PEP BOYS ON WHAT WAS DONE THE 1ST TIME. ONCE I GET IT TO THE SHOP TOMMOROW I WILL UPDATE WHAT WAS DONE AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11030104

Sep 21, 2017SteeringElectrical systemEngine

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING FORWARD THE DASH SCREEN STARTED TO SHOW DIFFERENT "CHECK" WARNINGS. CHECK STABILITY CONTROL, CHECK POWER STEERING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS SO DID MOST OF THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE POWER STEERING STOPPED AND THE ENGINE TEMPORARILY QUIT. THE ENGINE RESPONDED AGAIN AND WHILE DRIVING THE DASH WENT DARK AND THE CAR DIED. I HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE LAST EVENT WAS WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ODI 11024807

Sep 19, 2017Engine

WATERPUMP WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 11024524

Sep 18, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE RIGHT AWAY, HESITATING WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE, NOW CAR JERKS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI 11024124

Sep 16, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

EVERY TIME I STOP OR GOING MY CAR ACTS LIKE IT DON'T WANT TO GO.

NHTSA ODI 11023786

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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 →