What 731 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END (MOSTLY DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR) COLLISION WHERE A PERSON RAN A RED LIGHT. BOTH OF OUR VEHICLES WHERE GOING BETWEEN 40 TO 50 MPH. ON IMPACT OF MY CAR NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SIDE WINDOW. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT FOR REPAIRS I MENTIONED THIS TO THE MECHANICS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE HIT IN CERTAIN SPOTS BEFORE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY! SERIOUSLY? I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR KNOWING THAT IF I AM INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT BE THERE TO SAVE MY LIFE! AND TO THINK THAT IS ONE REASON WHY I PURCHASED THE CAR WAS THE FACT IT HAD HIGH SAFETY STANDARDS! ABSURD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10533417

CONSUMER STATED CHEVROLET CRUZE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, COULD NOT STOP. IT CRASHED INTO A FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 10523384

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE REPORT FILED THAT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 10505206

THE CHROME COATING ON THE INSIDE DRIVERS SIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE IS FAILING. THE EDGES OF THE CHROME WHERE IT HAS SEPARATED FROM THE PLASTIC ARE RAZOR SHARP AND HAVE CAUSED MULTIPLE FAIRLY DEEP LACERATIONS TO MY FINGERS WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. I INQUIRED AT THE DEALER ABOUT THEM REPLACING THE PART UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE ITS CAUSING ME INJURY DESPITE MY CAUTIOUSNESS WHILE OPENING THE HANDLE, THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVERED AND WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX DUE TO THE LABOR INVOLVED. MY SECOND COMPLAINT IS THE HEAT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID I HAD A CRACKED THERMOSTAT HOUSING WHICH WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY DID NOT FIX IT HOWEVER AND SIMPLY REFILLED MY ANTIFREEZE AND SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME TO HAVE IT FIXED WHEN THE PART CAME IN....THAT WAS ALMOST TWO WEEKS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10503649

2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, GIVING HER NO TIME TO REACT, WITH APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER HIT A PLANTER BOX, WHICH STOPPED HER FROM CRASHING INTO A WALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10495502

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE WITH THE GEAR SHIFTED IN PARK AND THE ENGINE IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT WAS STANDING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN SEVERAL MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RE-ENTER THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRAG HER UP AGAINST A CONCRETE POLE. THE CONTACT LANDED ON THE GROUND WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS AND THE VEHICLE THEN DROVE OVER HER LEFT FOOT. THE CONTACT'S LEFT ARM SUSTAINED A SEVERE FRACTURE TO THE RADIUS AND HUMERUS. THE CONTACT ALSO SUSTAINED NERVE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FOOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE EXTERIOR BODY DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED. SOME TIME LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V273000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION-PRNDL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10491995

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

NHTSA ODI 10487208

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A STRANGE ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SAFELY MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. UPON EXITING, A BALL OF FIRE FORMED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR BURNS TO THE FACE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NOT TOO LONG AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. AFTER THE FIRE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 12V288000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,017....UPDATED 02-13-13 *BF UPDATED 02/19/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10468034

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT HE HAD YET TO RECEIVE THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,700.

NHTSA ODI 10456338

THE 2011 CHEVY CRUZE WAS DRIVEN BY OUR DAUGHTER, SHE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, WHEN SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. SHE PULLED OVER AND IN A MATTER OF MINUTES THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10454786

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AFTER SHE EXIT THE VEHICLE IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED HIM TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA ODI 10453754

WHILE DRIVING A 2011 CRUZE ECO WITH APPROXIMATELY 11,000 MILES THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAR WAS LAST SERVICED BY THE DEAL APPROXIMATELY 4,000 MILES AGO (3 MONTHS). THE CAR WAS 30 MILES INTO A 43 MILE TRIP WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE, AND PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS SLIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY, AND THEN AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS STOPPED A FLAME CAME OUT BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE COWL AREA. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF STOPPING, AND IT WAS ONLY AFTER THE FIRST SIGN OF FIRE WAS VISIBLE THAT THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH BOAR ILLUMINATED. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS, AND CHEVROLET HAS STATED THEY WILL HAVE SOMEONE CONTACT ME IN 7 TO 10 DAYS TO DISCUSS THE INCIDENT. FROM RESEARCH ONLINE IT APPEARS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, AND I AM CONCERNED AS I WAS NEVER WARNED VIA A TECHNICAL BULLETIN OR RECALL OF ANY POTENTIAL ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. CHEVROLET HAS NOT SEEMED TO BE VERY CONCERNED OVER THIS ISSUE THUS FAR, BUT I AM PUSHING FOR ACTION FROM CHEVROLET. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10450556

I JUST GOT OIL CHANGE A WEEK BEFORE THIS HAPPENED THROUGH THE DEALER. AT NORTHSHORE CHEVROLET IN SMITHTOWN NY. MY SON WAS WAITING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AT INTERSECTION OF POND PATH AND NICOLLS ROAD IN SETUKET NY. WHEN A WOMAN IN NEXT LANE WAS YELLING YOUR.CARS IS ON FIRE. JUST AS HE WAS EXITING CAR HE SAW A FLAME POP OUT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN 2 MINS THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED AND FLAMES WERE AT 15FT HIGH. MY CAR IS FULLY STOCK NO AFTERMARKET ITEMS INSTALLED. DEALER MAINTAINED. UPON SOME RESEARCH I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO FINDOUT AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT. THE CHEVY CRUZE IS A GREAT CAR THAT WE LOVED DRIVING AND OWNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10446718

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

NHTSA ODI 10433924

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, WHEN SHE BEGAN TO FEEL A LOT OF HEAT NEAR HER FEET. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEATER FELL APART AND RELEASED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF EXTREMELY HOT WATER INTO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON HER FEET AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 10/31/12 *BF UPDATED 11/1/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10430179

MY COMPLAINT IS THE SIDE AIRBAG. MY 12 YEAR DAUGHTER AND MYSELF WERE IN A T-BONE TYPE ACCIDENT WHEN ANOTHER CAR RAN A STOP SIGN. $9000.00 DAMAGE TO MY 2011 CRUZE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON THE SIDE.SHE WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT I FEEL DUE TO THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. I HAVE CALLED GM AND THE WILL INVESTIGATE BUT ACT AS IF ITS NO BIG DEAL...IT IS A BIG DEAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10421229

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.

NHTSA ODI 10402733

TL* THE DRIVER OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STEER INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE CONTACT TO TRAVEL OFF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE REPORTED INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE FAILURE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10399974

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND WENT INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY COULD SMELL THE POWDER FROM THE AIR BAGS ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. AN ONSTAR REPRESENTATIVE CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY RECEIVED A MESSAGE STATING THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WOULD BE INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,000.

NHTSA ODI 10383991