Home · 2013 Chevrolet Cruze Limited · Complaints

What 585 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 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 (585)Crash / fire / injury (59)Engine (210)Electrical system (121)Transmission & drivetrain (112)Steering (74)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (62)Brakes (50)Airbags (49)Speed control (38)Visibility & wipers (33)Fuel system (32)

38 of 585 complaints match · Speed control · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Aug 7, 2015Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineCrashFire

MY VEHICLE LOOSES POWER, ENGINE LEAKS, HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY IN THE SWITCH....THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE THAN LOOSES POWER ALL THE TIME. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE I TRAVEL WITH MY FAMILY I HAVE THREE CHILDREN.

NHTSA ODI 10747079

Apr 8, 2015Speed controlEquipment Adaptive/mobilityEngine

THE VEHICLE SURGES WHEN FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE & IT IS BECOMING A STRUGGLE TO KEEP IN BRAKE MODE. FEELS AS IF CAR IS GOING TO TAKE OFF. ALSO, WHEN DEFROST IS ON, IT WILL TURN ITSELF OFF WITH WARNING FLASHING 'A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMP' AIR CONDITIONING IS NOT EVEN ON...THE HEAT IS. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT GM CANNOT SEEM TO FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10704429

Mar 18, 2015Electrical systemSpeed control

2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF MOMENTARILY, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET. *SMD

NHTSA ODI 10683334

Jan 19, 2015Speed controlEngine

WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS: STABILITRAC LIGHT, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER WARNING. EVEN THOUGH THE WARNING STATED REDUCE ENGINE POWER, I COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR. I TURNED THE CAR OFF TWICE, STILL NO POWER WHEN I APPLIED MY FOOT TO THE GAS PEDAL. I CALLED ON-STAR AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED ON MY CAR, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I NOTICED FROM SEVERAL COMPLAINT SITES THAT THE INCIDENT WITH SUDDEN LOSS OR REDUCED ENGINE POWER IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CRUZE. I'M A LITTLE AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW FOR FEAR THAT THE INCIDENT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. I HOPE THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR IS RESOLVED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676539

Dec 3, 2014Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPEED REDUCED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO RESET THE COMPUTER AND WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,300.

NHTSA ODI 10661870

Aug 26, 2014Speed control

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY, VEHICLE PAUSES AND DOES NOT WANT TO GO AND THEN DECIDES TO JOLT VEHICLE AND ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHO STATED NO COMPUTER ISSUE WAS FOUND HOWEVER THEY DID NOT TEST DRIVE IT AS REQUESTED EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10628409

Jun 10, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

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

NHTSA ODI 10597466

Jun 6, 2014SuspensionSpeed controlEngine

MY SISTER AND I RENTAL A CAR IT STOP ON THE INTERSTATE,WE WAS STUCK FROM 830PM UNTIL 530AM,NO HELP FROM BUDGET. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10596565

May 21, 2014Body & structureSpeed controlCrash

I WAS PARALLEL PARKING MY CAR AND WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR MADE A REVVING SOUND AND WENT IN REVERSE. I THEN HIT THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND MADE THE SAME NOISE. IT WENT INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME, AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. FINALLY AFTER THAT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK OUT OF PARK TO GO REVERSE SO THAT I CAN GET MY CAR AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT (THAT I HIT) AND THEN I PARKED IT SUCCESSFULLY. PROBABLY THE SCARIEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED BECAUSE I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE. WHEN I TELL MY FAMILY/FRIENDS ABOUT THE INCIDENT THEY THINK I'M A CRAZY PERSON BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT IS BY SAYING IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING (SUCH AS A GHOST LOL) TOOK CONTROL OF MY CAR. I'M NOT SURE IF I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE WHEN MY LEASE IS UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10593240

Mar 14, 2014SteeringSpeed controlEngine

IN APRIL OF 2013 MY 2013 CHEVY CRUZE SHUT OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OFF FROM A RED LIGHT THAT JUST TURNED GREEN, AS SOON AS I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND ME SO I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TURNING THE CAR ON BUT I HAD TO PUT IT PARK THEN START IT AGAIN AND CONTINUED EN ROUTE AND DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF IT. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE FOURTH INCIDENT I HAD A CAR FULL OF FAMILY MEMBER AND WE WERE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY ON RAMP SLOWING TO COME TO A STOP WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN SO AS SOON AS I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND I HAD NO CONTROL AND WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE LANE OVER SO THE TRUCK BEHIND ME SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE AND I ONCE AGAIN PUT THE CAR IN PARK STARTED AGAIN AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT A FEW WEEKS LATER THAT THEY FIGURED THE PROBLEM WAS A LOW OCTANE GAS AND I JUST NEEDED TO START USING CHEVRON ONLY AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME $250 IN CHEVRON GAS CARDS. I REFUSED TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE I ALREADY ONLY USED CHEVRON GAS IN THE VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN DECEMBER 2012 WITH ONLY 3 MILES. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF ARGUING BACK IN FORTH ABOUT THEM NOT HAVING A FIX FOR THE CAR I RETURNED THE RENTAL AND PURCHASED A DIFFERENT VEHICLE ELSEWHERE AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM WHICH ALSO GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT THE VEHICLE BEING FIXED WHEN IT WASN'T EVER WORKED ON TO THIS DAY THEY HAVE THE CAR AND I AM NOW IN COLLECTIONS AND CONTINUING THIS HEADACHE WITH GM. THEY SAID ITS NOT A RECALL BUT I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE INCLUDING THE RENTAL COMPANY THAT HAS HAD THE CHEVY CRUZE SHUT OFF ON THEM AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10569350

Sep 12, 2013Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE GEAR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT MANUAL FORCE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ODI 10543281

Sep 4, 2013Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A PARKING SIGN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 10/17/13*LJ

NHTSA ODI 10541862

May 2, 2013SteeringSpeed controlWheelsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

AFTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR 660 MILES, I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE'S A GRINDING OR KNOCKING FEELING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHILE PULLING IT OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I FELT A KNOCKING ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT'S NOT WEATHER SENSITIVE AND GIVES THE SAME FEELING REGARDLESS OF SPEED. IT'S NO PREDICTABLE FOR THE KNOCKING FEELING I GET ON THE ACCELERATOR. I DRIVE ON HIGHWAY FOR MUCH OF MY TIME AND NOTICE THE FEELING SIMILAR TO MY OLD CAR WHEN THE BEARINGS STARTED TO GO BAD. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT'S COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY DEALER AND THEY QUICKLY HAVE LOOKED AT IT AS WELL AS TAKING IT FOR A DRIVE. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR OVER NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE WRONG. IT IS NOW DOCUMENTED WITH THE DEALER. CURRENTLY I HAVE OVER 1K MILES ON IT AND SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10510355

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Working with the data? Download all 585 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 2013 Chevrolet Cruze Limited verdict →