What 585 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

Car caught on fire under hood

NHTSA ODI 11588307

Hi, I have had my car for a total of 8 years so far. It was bought used, in perfect condition in the beginning. Years passed and I have gained many problems down the road. First, the valve had to be replaced, spent a little under $1K, car worked well, until it started leaking coolant. Second, the car started to jerk back if you were passing at least 60mph. You go above 65-70, the car would jerk back to where it felt as if the whole bottom of the car fell off. You could press the gas pedal and it would barely go, it felt as if you were pushing the car with your own hands from the back, as if it lost power to move forward. Third, why does my coolant leak? Why is it that I have to put coolant in it at least every other week? The fan is EXTREMELY loud as well, as if it's overheating.

NHTSA ODI 11472763

"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

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

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND HIT AN 8 POINT BUCK THAT WEIGHED ABOUT 180LBS HEAD ON THAT CAUSED DAMAGE FROM THE MIDDLE FRONT CENTER OF THE CAR EXTENDING TO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR AND SMASHING UP INTO THE MOTOR. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IMMEDIATELY ILLUMINATED TO SERVICE AIRBAG BUT THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. I WAS TOLD IF I WAS GOING SLOWER, THE DEER WOULD HAVE WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT SINCE THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 17 MILES ON IT. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR 2 YEARS AND NOW HAVE TO WONDER IF MY FAMILY AND I WERE PUT AT RISK FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHILE TRAVELING TO OHIO, FROM IOWA AND OUT TO BOISE 3 TIMES. OF COURSE I WILL BE TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THE CAR WILL BE REPAIRED, AND I WILL BE FORCED TO CONTINUE DRIVING A CAR THAT I WON'T REALLY FEEL SAFE IN BECAUSE I WON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS FIXED, AND WILL WORK RIGHT IF THIS UNFORTUNATELY WILL EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. SOMEHOW THIS WILL BE PUSHED UNDER THE RUG AND THERE WILL BE NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671537

AFTER CHANGING OIL FILTER, OIL SPRAYED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES INTO DRIVE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE SAFE, BUT THE DAMAGE IS EXPENSIVE. WIRING HARNESSES, AS WELL AS MASTER CYLINDER WERE MELTED. THE TOP MOUNTED FILTER IS A PLEATED CARTRIDGE THAT SNAPS INTO A THREADED PLASTIC OIL FILTER CAP. A BLUE O-RING, INCLUDED WITH THE FILTER, SLIPS OVER THE PLASTIC OIL FILTER CAP, PAST THE THREADS. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO THAT TWO "GROOVES" EXIST AFTER THE THREADS TOWARDS THE END BY THE FLANGE. IF THE O-RING IS PLACED IN THE WRONG LOCATION (I.E. ALL THE WAY TO THE END) THIS PROVIDES AN INADEQUATE SEAL, POSING A FIRE HAZARD AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. CORRECT PROCEDURE IS TO APPLY THE BLUE O-RING ON THE SECOND TO LAST GROOVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE THREADS. BASICALLY, IF AFTER TIGHTENING THE OIL FILTER ASSEMBLY THE BLUE O-RING IS VISIBLE, IT'S IN THE WRONG LOCATION. SOURCE: LOCAL DEALER. THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THE PLASTIC SHIELD MODIFICATION ADVISED IN A PREVIOUS SERVICE BULLETIN FROM GM REGARDING THE 2011-12 MODEL YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10554773