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)

33 of 585 complaints match · Visibility & wipers · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Jul 4, 2024Visibility & wipers

Broken mode select gear. Unable to change the heat to defrost and the windshield will not clear in cold weather.

NHTSA ODI 11598815

Jul 3, 2024Visibility & wipers

Broken blend door in hvac box. No heat to defrost windows.

NHTSA ODI 11598714

Sep 5, 2023Transmission & drivetrainBrakesVisibility & wipers

ABS system is failure. Stability, traction control. Catalytic converter failure, mileage reading failure.

NHTSA ODI 11542801

Aug 15, 2022Visibility & wipers

HVAC blend door lever, which controls the function of properly moving the air from floor to vent to defrost, broken, resulting in inability to properly switch to defrost mode for safe operation of vehicle and driver visibility. Included are pictures of manufacturer original part, and newly designed aftermarket part. While the part has been redesigned to correct the original manufacturing design (new part is GM 13263335), no recall has been issued for this matter. This poses consequences to consumers, and replacing the part requires a complete removal of the dash, at an estimated cost to consumer of $1,000, as quoted by GM dealership in Mankato, MN.

NHTSA ODI 11479467

Mar 10, 2022Visibility & wipers

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the defroster became inoperable while driving in inclement weather. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,775. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11456069

Dec 6, 2021Visibility & wipersCrash

It began raining and turned wipers on and driver side quit working and it was coming a downpour almost. I ended up bumping guard rail causing a few hundred dollars worth of damage to my car

NHTSA ODI 11442882

Nov 25, 2020Visibility & wipers

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

Dec 1, 2019Visibility & wipers

THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST DOES NOT WORK LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TOO. WHEN I PUT IT ON DEFROST AND THE HEAT ON FULL BLAST, IT WILL ONLY HEAT THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THERE IS COLD AIR COMING OUT OF THE VENTS WHICH PREVENTS THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO NOT DEFROST. WHEN I DRIVE, IT ONLY SEEMS TO GET WORST SO I PULL OVER AND TRY TO SCRAPE THE ICE OFF AS BEST AS I CAN SO I CAN PROPERLY SEE. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO UPSTATE NEW YORK WINTERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE ICE STORMS WHICH IS WHEN I FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE ISSUE. IT FAILS TO DEFROST THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IMPAIRS VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11283162

Oct 15, 2019Visibility & wipers

WHEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IS PLACED IN DEFROST MODE THE AIR DOES NOT BLOW OUT THE DEFROSTER VENTS AND THE WINDSHIELD DOES NOT CLEAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY IN MICHIGAN WITH ALL THE WEATHER CHANGES. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ON LINE WITH VIDEOS OF A GEAR ON THE DEFROST DOOR STRIPPED/BROKEN, THESE REPORTS GO BACK YEARS TO CURRENT. SEEMS GM DOES NOT PLAN TO AUTHORIZE A RECALL FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I CHECKED WITH LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11268437

Oct 4, 2019Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

I AM WRITING TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO CHEVROLET CRUZE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURES. THE ISSUE IS A SMALL PLASTIC GEAR THAT STRIPS OUT AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE BLEND DOOR TO CYCLE FROM WINDSHIELD DEFROST / DASH VENTS / AND FLOOR VENTS. THIS IS A HIGH SAFETY CONCERN IN COLD / RAINY WEATHER DRIVING DUE TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR IS UNABLE TO ADJUST THE BLED DOOR TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IN TURN ALLOWS THE WINDSHIELD TO BECOME FOGGED, (OR FROSTY IN EXTREME COLD) WHICH LEADS TO VERY POOR VISIBILITY. I HAVE A PROFESSIONAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL THAT SHOWS THE ISSUE IN DETAIL THE LINK IS HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/I5PDAIA0P-8 QUOTES TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE RANGE FROM $800.00 TO $1500.00. BEING THIS FAILURE CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT CAUSED FROM POOR VISIBILITY FROM AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW, TO CUT CORNERS AND SAVE MONEY, THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. MY VIDEO HAS NEARLY 11,000 VIEWS FROM PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. ALSO ALMOST EVERY FORUM ONLINE HAVE PEOPLE DISCUSSING THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS N BAD TASTE FOR CHEVROLET TO NOT YET ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11266072

Mar 21, 2019Visibility & wipers

DEFROST SWITCH/DOOR MOTOR GEARS ARE BROKEN CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO NOT BE ABLE TO DEFROST. DRIVING VISIBILITY IS SLIM TO NONE AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11190495

Mar 4, 2019Visibility & wipers

EXCESSIVE CONDENSATION INSIDE THE CAR. WHILE RUNNING THE AC, LOTS OF WATER COMING OUT OF VENTS AND VERY OFTEN IT QUICKLY COVERS THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD TO A STATE WHERE THERE IS 0 VISIBILITY. RECURRING ISSUE. MAJOR ISSUE. LIFE THREATENING CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI 11183977

Feb 22, 2019Visibility & wipers

THE PASSENGER WIPER BLADE MOTOR BROKE RIGHT AFTER TURNING THE WIPERS ON, AND WILL NOT MOVE THE WIPER. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE STOPPED WORKING. THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER RANDOMLY STOPS WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AT RANDOM TIMES, ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS, ECT.

NHTSA ODI 11181988

Jan 25, 2019Visibility & wipers

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED VIA A BALL JOINT FAILURE IN THE WIPER MECHANISM. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER TO BECOME FREE MOVING, STAYING ATTACHED TO THE CAR. WHEN IT FAILED, IT WOUND UP GETTING PINNED AGAINST THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, FORCING ME TO EXIT THE VEHICLE VIA THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THROUGH WESTERN MD ON INTERSTATE 68 NEAR GRANTSVILLE, MD, DURING A LIGHT SNOW AND SALTING OPERATIONS WERE UNDERWAY. I WAS USING THE WIPERS AND WASHER FLUID TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR OF SALT. AFTER THIS FAILURE, I USED CABLE TIES TO TIE THE LOOSE WIPER ARM TO THE ATTACHED WIPER ARM, THEREFORE DISABLING MY WIPERS UNTIL WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION, TWO HOURS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD TO STOP EVERY 10-15 MINUTES TO CLEAR THE SALT OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD. I REPLACED THE PART, BUT HAVE THE OEM PART AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, IF REQUESTED. I NOTICED THIS SPECIFIC PART WAS RECALLED ON THE 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX.

NHTSA ODI 11172127

Nov 10, 2018Visibility & wipers

WIPER ASSEMBLY BROKE AND DEALER REPLACED ASSEMBLY AND MOTOR, 1 MONTH LATER NEW ASSEMBLY HAS BROKEN AGAIN, CAUSING WIPER ARMS TO FREEZE

NHTSA ODI 11150670

Aug 30, 2018Visibility & wipers

MODE DOOR ACTUATOR WILL NOT DIRECT AIR TO WINDSHIELD. THEREFORE WILL NOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI 11123529

Jun 27, 2018Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFF WYLER EASTGATE AUTO MALL (1117 OH-32, BATAVIA, OH 45103, (513) 752-3447) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ODI 11104232

Mar 14, 2018Visibility & wipers

DURING THE WINTER THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT CLEAR ANY OF THE WINDOWS, FRONT AND SIDE. HAPPENS WHEN TEMPERATURE IS AT 34 DEGREES AND BELOW. PUT SYSTEM IN DEFROST + HEAT FEET FRONT WINDSHIELD AND ALL SIDE WINDOWS FOG UP. PLACE IN DEFROST ONLY CLEARS WINDSHIELD NOT SIDE TOTAL, NO CLEAR IN BACK SIDE WINDOWS. HAVE TO RUN FAN ON ALMOST FULL WHEN IN DEFROST ONLY. HAPPENS IN MOTION AND STATIC. FIRST DEALER WOULD NOT FIX, SECOND DEALER HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR 4 YEARS

NHTSA ODI 11079135

Feb 6, 2018Visibility & wipers

DEFROST IS NOT WORKING. I BELIEVE THE MODE VALVE LEVER IS BROKEN.

NHTSA ODI 11067176

Dec 31, 2017Visibility & wipers

THE DEFROST DOESN'T WORK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN I TURN THE SETTINGS TO DEFROST, THE FACE VENTS TURN ON FULL POWER. IVE TRIED ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SETTINGS (FACE, FEET, FACE AND FEET, DEFROST AND FEET, ETC) AND THE DEFROST WONT WORK ON ANY OF THEM. THIS CAUSES MY WINDOW TO FOG UP AND ICE OVER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. WHILE IM DRIVING! ITS NOT ONLY ANNOYING , IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE WHEN DRIVIG DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE VENTS. I CHECKED. I TRIED TO TAKE PICTURES TO SHOW HOW I HAVE NO VISIBILITY. IT'S ALOT WORSE IN PERSON.

NHTSA ODI 11057795

Sep 4, 2017Visibility & wipers

DRIVER WINDSHIELD WIPER JUST STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11021320

Apr 26, 2017Visibility & wipersEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING AT THE WATER PUMP. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE ISSUE PERSISTED AND THE HEATER AND DEFOGGER WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DIAGNOSED WITH NO COOLANT AND THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE A LEAK WAS FOUND AT THE WATER PUMP. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND A P0411 CODE WAS FOUND. THIS TIME, THE AIR CHECK VALVE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE COOLANT AND FOUND NO COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,592.

NHTSA ODI 10980936

Jan 6, 2016Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE WINDOWS STARTED TO FOG UP AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 10818497

Dec 4, 2015SteeringEngineFuel systemVisibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WATER PUMP HOUSING WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE AND FUEL EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 10808389

Aug 14, 2015Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE GLASS SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,686.

NHTSA ODI 10748699

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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 →