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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)

121 of 585 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 3 of 5

Jul 20, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

"TAKATA RECALL"- THE DASH LIGHTS CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE STREERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE THE CAR IN DRIVING AT 70MPH. MESSASGE ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL STABILITY CONTROL POPS UP.

NHTSA ODI 11112755

Jun 15, 2018BrakesElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BUD CHEVROLET BUICK IN ST MARYS, OHIO, 419-954-0649) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER ASSIST MODULES IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WERE FAULTY AND CAUSED THE BLACKOUT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FELT VERY STIFF. THE SAME DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURES WERE BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11102186

Jun 9, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemSpeed control

CAR LOOSES SPEED CAN'T GIVE IT GAS HAS NO PULL! ONCE YOU TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR AND PUT BACK IN DRIVE, WORKS FINE. LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, ON RADIO. BOUGHT CAR IN FEBRUARY WITH 49.000 MILES ON IT DROVE TO STORE CAME BACK OUT OF STORE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD! MADE NO SOUND, CHECKED BATTERY EVERYTHING, 5 MIN LATER STARTED RITE UP. THIS CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO ME, I WISH I COULD RETURN IT.

NHTSA ODI 11100714

Apr 10, 2018SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY.AFTER 10 MINUTES WILL RESTART.STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVNG.STABLI CONTROL COMES ON.LOSS OF ALMOST AL L POWER.HAPPEN IN DRIVEWAY.WHILE DRIVING TURNING .LOSS OF POWER SO THAT CAR WONT MOVE.

NHTSA ODI 11084414

Mar 14, 2018Electrical systemBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, IT LOST POWER AND THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PARADISE CHEVROLET (6350 LELAND ST, VENTURA, CA 93003). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY FOR FOUR YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 11079167

Feb 27, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO TURN OFF. IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE THE GEAR SHIFTER OUT OF THE PARK POSITION THREE TIMES AND THEN PLACE IT BACK IN PARK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ODI 11075328

Feb 1, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

HELLO, THIS SUNDAY MY 2013 CHEVY CRUZE WHILE DRIVING AN ALERT CAME UP SAYING THAT ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND OTHER NOTICES. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE CAR LOST POWER. THANKFULLY I WAS ON A SIDE STREET AT THE TIME AT A SLOW SPEED. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH DID OCCUR TO SOME PEOPLE WHO POSTED ON CHEVY FORUMS IT COULD BE FATAL. GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND WOULD NOT COVER THE COST TO REPAIR IT. THERE ARE MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AT THIS GOOGLE SEARCH HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?Q=CHEVY+CRUZE+THROTTLE+BODY+REDUCED+POWER&OQ=CHEVY+CRUZE+THROTTLE+BODY&AQS=CHROME.1.69I57J69I59J0L4.5323J0J7&SOURCEID=CHROME&IE=UTF-8 I FEEL LIKE GM SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED SO THAT THIS DOES NOT CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS FOR OTHERS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ODI 11066477

Jan 25, 2018Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH ALL ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR QUIT WORKING. NO SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, ETC. ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASH. RADIO AND HEAT QUIT WORKING. STEERING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT. TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AND THEY HAVE REPLACED 2 MODULES AND ARE NOW GETTING INTO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. COST IS CURRENTLY AT $1500 AND ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI 11064812

Jan 18, 2018Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 65-70MPH ALL GAUGES WENT DEAD. RADIO CUT OFF, HEAT SHUT OFF. NO SPEEDOMETER. ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. CAR WAS DRIVABLE BUT HAD NO TURN SIGNALS, ETC. HEAT AND RADIO WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN CUT OFF AGAIN. ONCE PARKED, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11063529

Jan 4, 2018Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT REMOVED AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

NHTSA ODI 11058604

Oct 17, 2017Electrical system

AFTER DRIVING I PARK AND REMOVED THE KEY, THE ENGINE TURN ON AND 2 SECONDS TURNS OFF, I MENTION TO MY BOSS, AND MY 12YRS OLD SON WE GOT SCARED I THOUGH SOME SPELL OR SOMETHING.STILL DOES THAT 3 TIMES OF MONTH

NHTSA ODI 11034176

Jul 18, 2017SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 18 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE WRENCH WARNING SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL. IN ADDITION, OTHER ERROR WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMIANTED AS THE WINDOW ROLLED UP AND DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11006085

Jul 10, 2017Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

SINCE PURCHASING MY CAR IT HAS DONE STRANGE THINGS WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE BREAKS. WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT ETC.. THE CAR WILL JUMP FORWARD.. SOMETIMES ONLY ONCE AND OTHERS IT DOES IT OVER AND OVER UNTIL I ACCELERATE AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. DAVID MAUS IN SANDFORD FL. THE SERVICE TECH TOOK A RIDE WITH ME.. HE STATED THAT HE'S HEARD THIS FROM OTHER CHEVY CRUZE OWNERS AND IT'S JUST WHAT THESE CARS DO. IT DID DEMONSTRATE THE JUMPING, THRUSTING FORWARD WHILE THE SERVICE TECH WAS DRIVING. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS ANSWER BUT BELIEVED HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. YESTERDAY I GET IN MY CAR AND IT WILL HARDLY GO. THE SERVICE STABILTACK LIGHT WAS ON. THEN EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON. OBVIOUSLY I UNDERSTAND THINGS GO BAD ON CARS AS IT'S 4 YEARS OLD. BUT AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS. AND IT'S UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL AFTER ALL THE REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS. WHEN IT JUMPS HOPS THRUST FORWARD YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE OR A LOT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING WITH NO HELP FROM THE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. I PUT THE DATE AS 2013 BECAUSE AS I SAID IT'S BEEN ON GOING AND NOW IT'S COMPLETELY BROKEN. WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD THE MECHANICS HELPED ME IN 2013

NHTSA ODI 11003990

Jun 16, 2017SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING LOCKED UP, CAR TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE RADIO TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND CLOSE DRIVER WINDOW LIT UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS NOW. STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE ON I-95. RADIO ON AND OFF WHILE TURNING ONTO HIGHWAY AND WINDOW MESSAGE WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 10995650

May 21, 2017SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY MY RADIO WILL TURN OFF AND ON MULTIPLE TIMES AND MY STABILITY CONTROL WILL TURN OFF AND IT WILL BE HARD TO TURN THE VEHICAL. A WARNING COMES ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN SAYING CHECK STABILITY CONTROL AND ALSO CHECK POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IT HAVE HAPPENED TODAY AS WELL AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FEEDER

NHTSA ODI 10990769

May 16, 2017Electrical system

RADIO CONSOLE GETS REAL HOT TO TOUCH. GOES AWAY THEN GETS HOT AGAIN. YEARLY PROBLEM. DONT WANT FIRE HAZARD. IS THIS NORMAL? VEHICLE REQUIRED EXTENSIVE RECALLS SINCE PURCHASE IN 2013.

NHTSA ODI 10986086

May 4, 2017Electrical systemSpeed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ODI 10983570

Apr 12, 2017Electrical system

"SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM" ERROR MESSAGES - 2 BODY MODULES BAD AND ALREADY REPLACED ONCE. MODULE FAILURE CAUSES ADDITIONAL CASCADING FAILURES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SYSTEM AND AFFECTS DASH CONTROLS/TURN-SIGNALS, MPG, FUEL CALCULATIONS & NOW "MY LINK" SCREEN BLANK WITH "SERVICE PARKING ASST MESSAGE ON DASH. SINCE MYLINK SCREEN DEAD, RADIO DIALS/CONTROLS DO NOT WORK AND CANNOT SEE/CONTROL HEATING CONTROLS AND NAVIGATION SCREEN DEAD AS WELL. THESE SAME TWO SIDE MODULES WERE ALREADY REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SINCE VEHICLE IS NOW OVER ON MILEAGE, I AM LEFT ON MY OWN TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. MODULES GET BASICALLY ONE WINTER SEASON HERE IN THE NORTHEAST AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. MALFUNCTIONS CAUSE CASCADING FAILURES THROUGHOUT REST OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND MAKE CERTAIN VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND SAFETY FUNCTIONS INOPERABLE. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER CARE AND BASICALLY THEY SAID THERE IS NO ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT IS "NOT A KNOWN CONCERN" ON THIS VEHICLE. MODULE LOCATION IS BEHIND REAR WHEELS IN BUMPER COVER AREA, AND ARE OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS AND POORLY SEALED. WATER/SALT WATER SEEMINGLY EASILY PENETRATES THESE MODULES AND CAUSES THEM TO FAIL. BECAUSE THEY ARE DIRECTLY TIED INTO THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHEN THEY DO FAIL IT CAUSES CASCADING FAILURES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SYSTEM SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM. (SOME OF THE SYSTEMS ARE CRITICAL TO VEHICLE SAFETY AND OPERATION.

NHTSA ODI 10972062

Mar 20, 2017Electrical system

WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN MY COMMUNITY THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. THIS LOCKED MY STEERING WHEEL ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10967312

Feb 19, 2017Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING RADIO CUTS IN AND OUT FOR 5-10 SECONDS, THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN GOES BLANK, THE SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT FLASHES, OTHER WARNING LIGHTS FLASH, AND YOU HAVE TO RAISE THE DRIVER'S WINDOW DOWN AND BACK UP FOR THE INFORMATION SCREEN TO SHOW YOUR SPEED AND MILEAGE WHEN STARTING THE CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ITS ASHAMED THAT GM HAS NOT RECALLED THIS VEHICLE TO FIX THESE ISSUES. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL SOON BEFORE SOMETHING AWFUL HAPPENS TO INNOCENT PEOPLE. BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP AT A GOOD DEAL, GUESS I KNOW WHY NOW.

NHTSA ODI 10955500

Jan 13, 2017Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200. ...UPDATED 03/08/17 *BF *CN

NHTSA ODI 10945183

Dec 29, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

AT RANDOM CAR WILL IDLE UP AND DOWN AND RPMS WILL JUMP. THIS HAPPENS WHEN JUST CRANKED AND AFTER DRIVEN AND SITTING STILL IN IDLE. ALSO, AT RANDOM WHEN TRYING TO CRANK THE CAR IT SEEMS TO GET STUCK AND I WILL HAVE TO RETURN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO GET THE MOTOR TO FULLY TURN OVER.

NHTSA ODI 10938461

Nov 30, 2016SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED, THE RADIO SHORTED, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED EACH TIME THE FAILURES OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 10928715

Sep 22, 2016SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ROUGHLY 6 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, I STARTED HAVING INCIDENTS WHERE THE RADIO WOULD CUT OUT FOR 2-3 SECONDS AND THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WOULD GO BLANK. AT THE SAME TIME, THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" MESSAGE MOMENTARILY APPEARS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE ISN'T A TREND TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SOMETIMES IT WON'T HAPPEN FOR A WEEK, OTHER TIMES IT WILL HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES IN A SINGLE DRIVE. LAST WEEK, THIS HAPPENED AND I ALSO LOST POWER STEERING AND COULD NOT STEER FOR WHAT FELT LIKE A COUPLE SECONDS. BASED ON THE CHEVROLET CRUZE CUSTOMER FORUM, THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AND OTHER'S HAVE ALSO LOST POWER STEERING PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE OR A PERMANENT CORRECTIVE ACTION THAT I'VE FOUND. IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN AND GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES BEFORE POWER STEERING IS LOST AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI 10908669

Sep 15, 2016SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE POWER STABILITY FLASHES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESETS AND IF DRIVING YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10906825

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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 →