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What 731 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze

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)

4 of 731 complaints match · Speed control · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Nov 10, 2018Speed controlCrash2 deaths

ON OCTOBER 19,2018 MY IN LAWS WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON ROUTE 61 IN PENNSYLVANIA. THEY CAN TO A RED LIGHT AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF A MINIVAN AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THEN WE DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WENT THE LENGTH OF A FOOTBALL FIELD AND THEY HIT A POLE AND MY MOTHER IN LAW DIED INSTANTLY AND MY FATHER IN LAW DIED AT 5:10 AM.MY CONCERN IS WHY ISN'T IT AN INDUSTRY STANDARD THAT ONCE THE AIRBAGS ARE DEPLOYED THE THROTTLE DOESN'T SHUT DOWN. IF THE THROTTLE WOULD HAVE NOT WORKED THEY WAY STILL BE ALIVE.IF YOU CANT HELP ME COULD YOU SEND ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

NHTSA ODI 11150727

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

Jul 1, 2013AirbagsSpeed controlCrash

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

Jan 28, 2013Speed controlCrash

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

Working with the data? Download all 731 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 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 verdict →