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)

40 of 731 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Jan 29, 2025AirbagsCrash1 injury

I was hit side impact my airbags didn’t deploy in the car they deployed under the hood I was hit by a vehicle doing approximately 50 miles an hour the airbag that was supposed to go off went off under the hood instead of in the car

NHTSA ODI 11639492

Oct 6, 2022Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngine

Due to OnStar 2G sunsetting their services at the end of this year, all makes of General Motors vehicles did not comply to any of the customers requests to upgrade their module to 4G services, although upon researching, all Canadian GM vehicles did get the upgrade well over 7 years ago. This is well beyond a concern with GM and OnStar customers. With the NHTSA as a safety liaison and protecting the consumer, if a module upgrade can be applied in a vehicle that is on the same assembly parts, platform, electrical components...and be denied from the United States? The NHTSA should realize that this will be frivolous law suits because of neglect and safety concerns with GM and OnStar in the United States.

NHTSA ODI 11488148

May 20, 2021AirbagsEngine

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

Jan 5, 2021SteeringAirbagsBrakesCrash1 injury

I LEASED A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE AND HAD IT LESS THAN 1 MONTH. DEER WERE IN THE RD, SO I SLOWED DOWN, THEN BRAKES LOCKED, I WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT INTO A LIGHTPOLE. TOTAL LOSS, TRANSPORTED VIA EMS TO MMMHC HOSPITAL, UNCONSCIOUS FOR HALF HOUR MY MEMORY IS NOW HORRIBLE, I HAVE BAD HEADACHES, MY BACK IS HORRIBLE AND IM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. I WASNT DRIVING ABOVE SPEED LIMIT. NO COLLISION WARNING AND I'VE BEEN TO ER AND MY DR MANY TIMES

NHTSA ODI 11386717

Aug 28, 2020Electrical systemAirbags

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11351909

Aug 19, 2020AirbagsCrash2 injuries

IN A FRONT IMPACT CRASH GOING 60 MPH THE CRUZE HIT A GUARDRAIL CABLE DESTROY THE FRONT OF CAR AND NO AIRBAGS WENT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11350195

Jun 22, 2020AirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash1 injury

ME AND MY BOYFRIEND WERE DRIVING IN CALCUTTA OHIO WE WENT TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING LOT TO GO TO MCDONALD'S AND WE LOOKED BOTH WAYS AND WE WERE CLEAR TO GO AND BY THE TIME WE HIT THE CENTER TURNING LANE AND STARTED TO TURN INTO MCDONALD'S AND A JEEP CAME FLYING OUT OF NO WHERE AND OUR VEHICLES COLLIDED CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330084

Apr 16, 2019Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 TO 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,900.

NHTSA ODI 11196638

Nov 17, 2018AirbagsEngineCrashFire1 injury

DIRECT IMPACT WITH 1200 POUND COW WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ENTIRE CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES AS THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STARTED FIRE. TOTALLED. WHY DIDN'T THE AIRBAG DEPLOY? SERIOUS INJURY. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE PURCHASED 2 CRUZE'S BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES. THIS IS SO NOT SAFE AND SO UNACCEPTABLE

NHTSA ODI 11152220

Feb 3, 2018Electrical systemAirbagsSpeed control

SET UP THE AIRBAG AND THE CAR MILEAGE DOES LOOK

NHTSA ODI 11066797

Mar 16, 2017AirbagsBody & structureCrash2 injuries

ACCIDENT, ON JAN 15 2017, VEHICLE WAS TURNING INTO A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT FROM A HIGHWAY AND HIT BY A F150 PICKUP ON THE FRONT END AND WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE, GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AND OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 50MPH, NONE OF THE 10 AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HAVE SHOULDER INJURY 3 DAYS FOLLOWING ACCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COLLISON, SHOP & WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FROM FRONT END TO REAR WAS SHATTERED, THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AND TURNING INTO A BUSINESS, THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO AIR BAGS EVER DEPLOYED, IF THERE WERE A PASSENGER THEY WOULD HAVE DIED.

NHTSA ODI 10966353

Aug 29, 2016AirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

PICKED UP CAR FROM SHOP AFTER PAYING OVER 800.00 AND THE CAR STATED TO SMELL THE CAR ACT AS IF IT WILL CATCH A FIRE. SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND UNDER THE HOOD. CALLED THE DEALER AND NO HELP THE SERVICE MANAGER WILL NOT RETURN MY CALL. I'M OUT OF TOWN TWO HOURS FROM MY HOME. I WILL HAVE TO GET A HOTEL ROOM AND I PAID FOR RENTAL CAR FOR TWO DAYS ALREADY.

NHTSA ODI 10899317

Jul 19, 2016AirbagsSpeed controlBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 10885897

Dec 30, 2015AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

TAKATA RECALL - MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME. I TOOK A HIT TO THE HEAD, HAVING TO HAVE STICHES, ALONG WITH BOTH EYES TURNING BLACK/BLUE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10816988

Jun 7, 2015AirbagsSeats

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE KASPAR DEALER AND SANDUSKY, OH AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WAS BAD AND THE REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE 800.00. THIS IS ODD BECAUSE AT LEAST 95% OF THE TIME NO ONE SITS IN THAT SEAT. THIS CAR IS NOT OUR FAMILY CAR. IT IS STRICTLY FOR ME TO USE FOR WORK. THIS SEEMS TO ME MORE LIKELY TO BE A DEFECT THAN SOMETHING I SHOULD BE AT FAULT FOR.

NHTSA ODI 10723827

Nov 12, 2014Airbags

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING. WITH ALL THE FAULTY AIR BAG RECALLS--WHY ISN'T MINE BEING RECALLED? GM WANTS $700 TO REPAIR IT, AND THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10654534

Oct 8, 2014Airbags

I NOTICED CHEVY CRUZE FROM 2013 AND 2014 HAVE RECALLS FOR THIS VERY ITEM! THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE TO PAY $669 FOR A SENSOR? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10643451

Sep 17, 2014Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 10637088

Aug 19, 2014Electrical systemAirbagsSeats

FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF LIGHT" COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2011 CRUZE WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT -- INDICATING THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS OFF. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MY GM DEALERSHIP TWICE AND BOTH TIMES THEY SAY THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT OK AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE CAR AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THERE IS A FLAW WITH THIS SAFETY SYSTEM AND GM SHOULD STEP FORWARD AND COME UP WITH A FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10626438

Aug 11, 2014Airbags

WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SIT, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL READ "OFF". I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR AN AIRBAG FAILURE ON GM FAULT. I DOCUMENTED A VIDEO OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621389

Jul 28, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

HIT A DEER HEAD-ON GOING APPROIXATELY 50 MPH CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, BUT COULD SMELL THE AIR BAGS AND HEAR THEM IN THE STEERING WHEEL MAKING NOISE. THE CRASH WAS ENOUGH THAT ON STAR WAS ALERTED OF THE CRASH AND CALLED 911. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10616797

Jun 26, 2014Electrical systemAirbagsCrash

IN SEPT OF 2013 AFTER JUST A FEW MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR I WAS REAR-ENDED AT A SPEED OF 25-30 MPH. THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND MY HEAD BOUNCED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE HEADREST WHERE I SUFFERED A SEVERE CONCUSSION LEAVING ME OUT OF WORK FOR A MONTH. ALSO MY RADIO CONSOLE LIGHTS FLASH ON AT RANDOM TIMES, I EXPERIENCE THE TURBO LAG CRAP THE DEALERSHIP GIVES AS AND EXCUSE (ESPECIALLY AFTER TELLING ME DURING A SERVICE TEST DRIVE THAT MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE A TURBO!) AND AFTER OWNING IT FOR 1 MONTH A PART OF THE ENGINE FAN SHEERED OFF AND DESTROYED MY A/C UNIT LEAVING ME WITH A $2500 BILL TO REDO THAT. I CAN'T WAIT FOR MY SETTLEMENT FROM THE ACCIDENT TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS CAR. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST CHEVY EVER! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10606194

Jun 17, 2014Airbags

THE PASSENGER SENSOR IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND GM IS REFUSING TO COVER THE COST SAYING IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THIS WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. GM IS SAYING IT WILL COST $400 TO FIX WHICH I THINK IS RIDICULOUS. THE CAR HAS NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND AN AIRBAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. I THINK SAFETY SYSTEMS SUCH AS AIRBAGS THAT HAVE NO MEANS OF WEAR AND TEAR OTHER THAN DEPLOYMENT SHOULD BE MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. AIRBAGS ARE A SAFETY MEASURE REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE OF GOOD WORKMANSHIP AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER FOR A PERIOD MUCH LONGER THAN 3 YEARS. TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER $400 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL IS A DISGRACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN READING MY CONCERN. I WOULD APPRECIATE A FOLLOW UP TO THIS INQUIRY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10599027

Jun 1, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

WE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NEITHER THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG OR PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS PUSHED UP IN THE FRONT END AND THE BUMPER, FENDER, GRILL, HOOD, HEADLIGHT AND TURNING LIGHT WERE ALL DESTROYED. THESE WERE PUSHED UP INTO THE GRILL AREA OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10595432

May 27, 2014Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WEIGHT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN

NHTSA ODI 10594194

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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 →