What 585 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

There is a consistent plastic burning smell, usually when the AC or heater is on. I have replaced the AC unit, and this still happens. Smoke sometimes appears on the driver's side through the vents. I have taken the vehicle in a few times for this, and they can never find anything. The last repairs I had done replaced wires, pipes, and connectors.

NHTSA ODI 11431430

The whole head shot off while driving. Now the car is making a farting noise when I accelerate or if u sit idle for longer than 15 mins. No oil leak but I’m using an additional $200 in oil between oil changes

NHTSA ODI 11428069

IN REGARDS TO TSB # 16-NA-015 ENGINE STALL OR STUMBLE. IGNITION COIL WIRE FRETTING.THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING AND DTC CODES. (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) . WHEN THE CARS STALL YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES AND COULD AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF IT HAS`NT HAPPENED AS OF YET .RESULTING IN INJURY AND OR DEATH. WITH MINIMAL RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A KNOWN AND ONGOING GLOBAL ISSUE THAT G.M. HAS KNOWN ABOUT SINCE 1-21-2016.ALL THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED PRIOR TO ANYBODY LOSING THERE LIFE.

NHTSA ODI 11421944

When in reverse on brakes do not engage properly-no braking action.. This same issue was addressed by a recall of 2012 models but GM has not issued a recall for 2013 models even though online research shows this is a common problem.

NHTSA ODI 11417613

THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS WHEN I HAVE MY HEAT TURNED ON I WILL GET A SMELL OF LIKE BURNT OIL COMING THROUGH MY AIR VENTS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CRANKSHAFT BUT THE LAST TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE VALVE COVER GASKET. I CAN SMELL IT MORE ONCE I HAVE COME TO A STOP AFTER DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11415775

WHEN KEY LEFT IN IGNITION, CAR OFF, IT TRIES TO START ITSELF REPEATEDLY. SAW THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS FOR YEARS BUT NO RECALL. IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO STOP SHORTS. WHY NO RECALL? CAR WAS PARKED, TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11415312

MY VEHICLE STARTED LOSING PRESSURE UPON HAVING IT CHECKED I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TURBINE IN THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND BLOWING OUT THE OLD FROM MY INJUN MY CAR IS RENDERED USELESS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS TURBINE WAS PART OF CHEVY'S RECALL IN MY CAR HAVING BEEN AT CHEVY DEALERSHIPS IT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED. I NEED MY CAR FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA ODI 11407012

AT RANDOM TIMES, MY STEREO WILL GO BLANK, NO SOUND, NO BLINKER SOUNDS, NOTHING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABITRAX WILL START FLASHING ON AND OFF. MY POWER STEERING WILL CUT OFF AS WELL. THIS WILL HAPPEN A FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING THEN IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THEN RANDOMLY ON A DIFFERENT DAY, IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11406478

I HAVE A 2013 CHEVY CRUZE 1.4L TURBO. THE PAST MONTH OR SO WHEN I AM DRIVING ON AN INCLINE OR HILL IT LOSES POWER AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES. ABOUT A WEEK AGO I WAS COMING HOME FROM CLASS AND MY CAR LOST POWER AND ALMOST GOT SMASHED BY A SEMI AND TODAY IT LOST POWER AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND THEY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11406347

IT'S BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE NOW. I'VE REPLACED THE ENGINE, THE BATTERY, THE ALTERNATOR, THE STARTER, THE THERMOSTAT AND THE TENSIONER BELT. ALL BRAND NEW AND IT'S STILL NOT STARTING UP . IT ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO START OVER BUT DOESN'T, EVEN WITHOUT THE KEYS IN IGNITION, IF I HOOK UP SPARK PLUGS IT ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO START EVEN WITHOUT THE KEYS IN IGNITION

NHTSA ODI 11405268

I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND NOTICED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEAR AND WENT AND GOT A CHECK ENGINE DIAGNOSIS DONE AND POPPED AS A CODE P2076 WHICH IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TUNING VALVE POSITION SENSOR/ SWITCH CIRCUIT RANGE/PERFORMANCE. WHICH ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS CAME ON. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP IT HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE AND WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BUT NOW I'M SURPASSED THE WARRANTY AND JUST FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE ONCE AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11405169

HAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE AND COOLING PROBLEMS EXHAUST GAS ENTERING THE COOLING SYSTEM I BELIEVE HE KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND STILL SOLD ME THE CAR ANYWAY. I TOLD HIM THAT THE WATER IN THE TANK WAS BUBBLING AND HE SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. AND NOW THE ENGINE GASKET IS BLOWN AND THE CAR IS OVERHEATING

NHTSA ODI 11404334

CAR CONTINUALLY OVER HEATS AND NOW THE TURBO BAD

NHTSA ODI 11399359

MY 20 YR OLD DAUGHTER BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MAY 2020. SHE HAD IT 1 WEEK AND ENDED UP BROKEN DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE INTERSTATE, 3-1/2 HRS AWAY AT SCHOOL BECAUSE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT. 2 WEEKS AND A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER, I AM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T STAY AND WAIT FOR IT, AND WE WOULDN'T LET HER TAKE IT UNTIL WE KNEW IT WAS RIGHT. ANOTHER 4 WEEKS LATER, REPLACED THE MOTOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON WITHIN 2 WEEKS AND LEAVES ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY ONCE AGAIN! THIS TIME THE READING SHOWED ONLY AN O2 SENSOR SO MY HUSBAND CHANGED IT. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR A WHILE, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. NOT LONG AFTER THIS, THE STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND SO THERE ARE 13 ERROR CODES COMING UP! WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVROLET FAMILY, BUT NOT ANYMORE! THIS HAS RUINED US! AND WHEN/IF WE CAN GET IT RUNNING WELL ENOUGH TO GET RID OF IT, IT IS GONE! THE ERROR CODES ATTACHED ARE FROM JULY & SEPTEMBER 2020. I DIDN'T GET A PICTURE THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES THAT MY HUSBAND CHECKED IT. GENERAL MOTORS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. AND THAT'S JUST THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME TO HUNT THE NHTSA DOWN AND FILE A COMPLAINT. NOT EVERYONE WILL DO SO! I PERSONALLY KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON IN MY HOMETOWN (OF LESS THAN 20,000) THAT OWNS A 2013 CRUZE THAT IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS! I KNOW WE ARE JUST LITTLE PEOPLE TO YOU. BUT THESE ARE OUR LIVES! IF WE COULD AFFORD TO DRIVE A HIGH-PRICED, TOP-OF-THE-LINE VEHICLE, TRUST ME, WE WOULD!

NHTSA ODI 11398916

MY 20 YR OLD DAUGHTER BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MAY 2020. SHE HAD IT 1 WEEK AND ENDED UP BROKEN DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE INTERSTATE, 3-1/2 HRS AWAY AT SCHOOL BECAUSE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT. 2 WEEKS AND A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER, I AM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T STAY AND WAIT FOR IT, AND WE WOULDN'T LET HER TAKE IT UNTIL WE KNEW IT WAS RIGHT. ANOTHER 4 WEEKS LATER, REPLACED THE MOTOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON WITHIN 2 WEEKS AND LEAVES ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY ONCE AGAIN! THIS TIME THE READING SHOWED ONLY AN O2 SENSOR SO MY HUSBAND CHANGED IT. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR A WHILE, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. NOT LONG AFTER THIS, THE STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND SO THERE ARE 13 ERROR CODES COMING UP! WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVROLET FAMILY, BUT NOT ANYMORE! THIS HAS RUINED US! AND WHEN/IF WE CAN GET IT RUNNING WELL ENOUGH TO GET RID OF IT, IT IS GONE! THE ERROR CODES ATTACHED ARE FROM JULY & SEPTEMBER 2020. I DIDN'T GET A PICTURE THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES THAT MY HUSBAND CHECKED IT. GENERAL MOTORS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. AND THAT'S JUST THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME TO HUNT THE NHTSA DOWN AND FILE A COMPLAINT. NOT EVERYONE WILL DO SO! I PERSONALLY KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON IN MY HOMETOWN (OF LESS THAN 20,000) THAT OWNS A 2013 CRUZE THAT IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS! I KNOW WE ARE JUST LITTLE PEOPLE TO YOU. BUT THESE ARE OUR LIVES! IF WE COULD AFFORD TO DRIVE A HIGH-PRICED, TOP-OF-THE-LINE VEHICLE, TRUST ME, WE WOULD!

NHTSA ODI 11398919

CAR HAS LEAKED OIL AND COOLANT SINCE I GOT IT. CONSTANTLY OVER HEATS. LOSS OF POWER. ENGINE REVS AND JUMPS. CONSTANT REPLACEMENTS NOTHING WORKS.

NHTSA ODI 11396986

THE CAR AT RANDOM WILL HAVE A MESSAGE COME UP THAT SAYS AIRBAG SENSOR. THE CAR SHUTS DOWN ON YOU AND WILL NOT START UNTIL CAR IS PUT IN PARK, RAISE HOOD, THEN ROLL DOWN DRIVER WINDOW IN TRAFFIC. THIS SOMETIMES WORK FIRST TRY BUT NOT ALWAYS. THIS CAUSE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS I COULD POTENTIALLY BE LEFT PARALYZED. SINCE I'VE HAD A CERVICAL FUSION

NHTSA ODI 11390500

I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDING TO BE REPLACE DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. I WILL START NOTICING BURT OIL SMELL ONLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THERE HAVNT BEEN ANY LEAKAGE ON THE GROUND AS FAR AS I SEE. THIS CAN'T POSSIBLY BE NORMAL. I CURRENTLY HAVE TO PUT MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11388119

THE CAR HAS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND I TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND GET PROBLEMS FIXED, AND WITHIN A MONTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, AND THERE ARE NEW PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. WHEN THOSE PROBLEMS GET FIXED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN WITHIN A MONTH. THIS IS A CYCLE THAT KEEPS GOING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES, USUALLY WHILE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS CAUSING CASCADING FAILURES IN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11385527

VEHICLE LEAKS COOLANT FROM WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT

NHTSA ODI 11383775

STARTING SMELLING A VERY STRONG SMELL EVERYTIME I WOULD TURN ON THE HEATER AND AIR. HAD THIS SMELL ONE TIME BEFORE AND COST ME RIGHT AT $700.00 DOLLARS TO FIX. NOW THIS IS GOING TO COST ME RIGHT AT $1500.00 DOLLARS TO FIX. THE SMELL IS MAKING ME SICK TO MY STOMACH. CAN'T BELEIVE THIS IS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI 11383546

[XXX]. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS OVERHEATING. I CHANGED THE HOSES, THERMOSTAT, THERM. HOUSING, 3 SENSORS, WATER PUMP, SPARK PLUGS, COOLANT. NOW MY CAR WILL NOT EVEN START. IT CRANKS BUT WILL NOT FIRE. WHAT CAN I DO. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11382717

WHILE DRIVING TODAY, IT BEGAN TO RAIN, MY DRIVER SIDE WIPER WAS WORKING, THEN 3 MINS INTO IT BEING ON, IT STOPPED. CAR HAS ~87500K MILES. I ACCESSED THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE, AND IT HAD THE DRIVER ARM BUSHING HAD WORN OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11376384

JUNE 2020 - CAR BEGAN POPPING UP WITH THE ALERT "A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMP" - UPON CHECKING THE CAR HAD COOLANT SO REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. JULY 2020 THE ISSUE KEPT OCCURRING AND I BEGAN HAVING TO PUT COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE EVERY FEW DAYS. TOOK TO ANOTHER SHOP WHO SAID IT WAS LEAKING FROM A HOSE - REPLACED HOSES. AUG 2020 - ISSUE CONTINUED AND THEN STOPPED HOLDING WATER ALL TOGETHER - HAD TO REPLACE WATER PUMP, REZ, THERMOSTAT, AND VARIOUS BELTS/HOSES - DROVE THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS WHEN THE MESSAGE POPPED UP AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT (DESPITE IT BEING 1 OWNER CAR) "SOMEONE" HAD PUT STOP LEAK IN IT AND IT MADE THE THERMOSTAT STICK. THEY FLUSHED THE ENGINE AND REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AGAIN AND THE CAR DROVE FOR 1 WEEK BEFORE THE ISSUE KEPT OCCURRING. THIS TIME IT STARTED HAVING TROUBLE CRANKING AND CAUSED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SO NOW AFTER 8 MONTHS AND $3,500 I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY MAKE IT OVERHEAT/HAVE A COOLANT ISSUE AND HAD THE ENTIRE ENGINE REBUILT - HOPEFULLY THIS TIME IT FIXES THE ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 11375277

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SIDE-CURTAIN AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AMERICAN CHEVROLET (4742 MCHENRY AVE, MODESTO, CA 95356, 209-575-1606) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO MERIT FOR A CLAIM FOR RESTITUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY EMAIL HOWEVER, NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11375065