Home · 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Limited · Complaints

What 698 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 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 (698)Crash / fire / injury (86)Engine (216)Electrical system (184)Transmission & drivetrain (95)Steering (93)Airbags (75)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (69)Fuel system (60)Visibility & wipers (47)Speed control (39)Brakes (30)

Newest first · 698 complaints · page 1 of 28

Jun 17, 2026Engine

Engine replaced turbo charger. Purchased the vehicle on 5/16 and a week later the engine light came on. Took the vehicle to AutoZone and received a code of P0299. Call the dealership and got no response from the salesperson so I made an appointment for 5/27. Problem was dismissed as the engine light was no longer displayed. Told to return when the light reappeared. The car stalls and the acceleration was an issue, especially for a 19 year old inexperienced driver. This put her life and those around her in danger. Took the vehicle back on 6/5 and had to leave it. No vehicles available or offered while the car was in the shop. This time they scanned the vehicle and came up with the same P0299 code. Left the vehicle for a week and the cost for the engine replaced turbocharger and all single use parts related for the repair was $3010.38 Yes, the vehicle was presented as "as as." However, the vehicle was also presented as if the maintenance and repairs were all completed and the vehicle was road ready and safe and this was not the case at all.

NHTSA ODI 11744804

Jun 1, 2026Electrical system

The contact stated that the key-fob failed to lock and unlocking of the failed intermittenly. The key fob was the original manufactured key fob. The dealer had been contacted, and the key fob was reprogrammed. The failure persisted. The dealer was contacted again, and it was diagnosed that the circuit board would slip inside the key fob itself, causing the malfunction. The key fob was replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and due to the vehicle no longer being covered under warranty, they opened and then closed a case. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ODI 11741219

May 27, 2026Airbags

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V764000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11740319

May 26, 2026Electrical systemBody & structureEngineFire

On May 25, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m. Central Time, after the vehicle had been operated under normal conditions and subsequently parked, a fire originated within the vehicle’s engine compartment and/or under-hood area. Personnel from the Milwaukee Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. An official fire investigation report is pending and is expected to be available within the coming week. The incident has been documented through photographs and video recordings, all of which have been preserved. The vehicle itself remains in its post-fire condition and has been retained for inspection. At this time, the precise cause and origin of the fire have not been determined, of which no warning lamps nor other symptoms of a problem prior to incident.

NHTSA ODI 11740155

May 21, 2026Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle began jerking motions and misfiring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a cam shaft failure and diagnostic codes P0016, P0101. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000

NHTSA ODI 11739364

May 4, 2026Engine

Both catalytic converters and O2 Sensor's have been replaced and I’m still getting a check engine light. Along with a multitude of other parts that I’ve had to replace. Like the turbo, gaskets, sensors multiple times…

NHTSA ODI 11735547

Apr 29, 2026Electrical system

Service traction control and stabil has repeatedly came on it messes with the car by slowing it down

NHTSA ODI 11734625

Apr 14, 2026Electrical systemBrakes

I was driving my car and all of a sudden out of nowhere my car speed gage starts to bounce up and down my engine sounds like it’s stuck in first gear and won’t shift and I can’t go any faster then 35 mph and I tried to make it to a spot to pull over and it altogether stoped accelerating so I was stuck pulling over right there because it wouldn’t accelerate. I shut it off and let it sit for a bit and it started right back up like normal and drove fine till I got to a certain length of driving and it was doing it all over again like it was in limp mode and all my electrical stuff was on the Frits as well so I haven’t been able to drive it since because it keeps doing it and I haven’t spent hundreds of dollars putting it in a shop three times already only to have it go back and do it again and my brakes when I press on them make a squishing sound and then some clicking sound before it goes into limp mode i don’t know where to even begins to fix it at and it was all out of nowhere. It was driving fine then all of a sudden this crap starts

NHTSA ODI 11730993

Feb 7, 2026Engine

Constant overheating issues with coolant loss. I have changed so many parts in this engine to correct the issue and nothing is working. There are far too many complaints online with this specific model. Why hasn’t there been a recall on this issue? This is a safety concern especially when the engine loses power while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11716507

Jan 21, 2026Engine

Water pump failure with head gasket crack

NHTSA ODI 11712540

Dec 10, 2025Electrical systemFire

I remote started my car using the factory installed remote starter, and approximately 5 minutes later I heard my car alarm start going off, so I went to investigate and when I opened the drivers side door, my car was filled with smoke and flames were coming up from the front passenger footwell, underneath the dash where the HVAC blower motor is located. I closed the drivers door and rushed inside to grab a fire extinguisher, but within those 10 seconds I was away, the fire has more than tripled in size. So when I opened the passenger door to use the extinguisher, the fire had grown out of control. With the fire put out, I started looking around and noticed that the engine bay for the car still has rubber hoses and pieces of plastic that are fully intact and haven't been burned, yet the interior of the car is completely gone. I have reason to believe the blower motor was the source of the fire. After talking to a few others that own the same car as me, some have said they've been noticing a burning smell and minor traces of smoke coming from that same area

NHTSA ODI 11704174

Nov 25, 2025AirbagsCrash1 injury

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving approximately 46 MPH, a Chevrolet Impala rear-ended the vehicle, causing the vehicle to flip over and slide into the woods. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to exit the vehicle at first but was later able to exit through the rear window. The driver was able to walk out of the woods to the highway to obtain assistance. Upon research, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V372000 (Air Bags). The air bag warning light was turning on and off days prior to the failure. There was an abnormal odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that several air bags deployed, trapping the contact in the vehicle. The contact sustained an extremely deep gash on her leg from the air bag. Medical attention was provided at the hospital. There was no reported fire. A Police report was filed but was not provided to the contact. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11701409

Nov 11, 2025Engine

Catalytic converters melted do to extreme engine temperatures no heat warning was given temperature gage never went off . Water pump has been replaced 4 times. Exhaust is now affected by melted catalytic converters.

NHTSA ODI 11698775

Nov 6, 2025Electrical system

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 98,000. It was later discovered upon checking the Carfax report that the mileage was 107,000.

NHTSA ODI 11697870

Oct 29, 2025Electrical systemEngine

A engine always seems to run hot smells like it's burning constantly leaks coolant even after repairing electrical problems reoccurring smells like weird chemicals inside of the car when you turn on smells like gasoline and coolant this occurs every day

NHTSA ODI 11696240

Sep 15, 2025SteeringElectrical systemSpeed control

The steering wheel keeps locking up while driving fast/slow or turning. Everything shuts off, then back on and all codes flash. My car literally locks up, it’s really unsafe when I can’t control the vehicle. Almost hit another car, due to steering wheel locking up. Only thing I was told at the Chevy dealer house was there were no recalls. So they wouldn’t look unless they got to charge me. This issue started happening about five months ago. And I drive like a grandma.

NHTSA ODI 11687475

Sep 4, 2025

Turbo overboost unable to drive for safety or cause for more damage

NHTSA ODI 11684932

May 27, 2025Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the door locks were opening and closing independently. The contact stated that the instrument cluster was also flashing several unknown warning lights. The contact stated that the heater and the A/C were also functioning independently. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but became a constant failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission occasionally slipped out of gear, almost causing the vehicle to stall, making the steering wheel difficult to turn. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact replaced the 12-Volt battery and the fuse box; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.

NHTSA ODI 11663067

May 13, 2025Electrical systemEngineFuel system

My service lights keep popping on and start shaking etc.

NHTSA ODI 11660575

May 5, 2025Fuel system

According to my car being diagnosed the fuel pump needs replaced. The car is available for inspection. A warning signal is on my dash board, its the check engine light that is on.

NHTSA ODI 11659133

Apr 29, 2025Engine

I have this code p0324 and I replaced the whole knock sensor including the wiring with it and the code still pop up, my car is Chevy Cruze 2014 LTZ 1.4 L4 Turbo. Yesterday I went to dealer to program it and they did program the PCM and later in the evening, the check engine light pop up again with the same code but the car run fine. I seriously want to know what else can cause the issues!!

NHTSA ODI 11657412

Apr 14, 2025Transmission & drivetrainFuel system1 injury

My 2014 Chevy Cruze has been having some major safety issues as of late. The powertrain has been one of the major components in this system that has failed. The engine has overheated 3 times in the last 3 months causing many safety concerns to others on the road as well as myself due to having to randomly pull over on the side of the road on the busy highway. The car has jolted many times due to losing power and causing my neck to have a severe pinched nerve. These issues are related mainly to the fluid cooling/management systems and related hoses. It is available for inspection upon request. The problem has been confirmed by independent service center. The engine light repeatedly goes on and off causing many issues to the car daily.

NHTSA ODI 11654439

Apr 10, 2025Engine & coolingEngine

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started to emit smoke from the head gasket and from underneath the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact contacted the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that the smoke was coming from the turbocharger. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with cylinder head failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

NHTSA ODI 11653908

Mar 25, 2025Engine & cooling

The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the heater failed to function as intended. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed that the coolant level was abnormally low, and an unknown fluid was leaking. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the water pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 11650469

Feb 27, 2025Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlDriver assistance

Transmission won’t shift into gear while driving and the brakes won’t engage when this happens, this will cause a wreck and hurt someone, the codes are showing po700 tcm code

NHTSA ODI 11645360

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Working with the data? Download all 698 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 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Limited verdict →