What 698 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

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

My car caught fire driving down the road

NHTSA ODI 11637979

At [XXX] am on [XXX] the alarm sounded on my car that was parked beside my front porch. I was confused ; as I never locked my car and did not understand why my alarm would be going off. I opened the front door and the front of the car and underneath the engine was in flames. It was burning under the hood and burning and sparking behind the passenger side front tire It was very close to my home so I woke my son and we grabbed a few belongings and went out the back door. I was sure the fire would consume my car and our home. I immediately called 911 and the local fire department arrived and put it out but not before the windshield and all the tires exploded. This could have been deadly. There is absolutely no reason for my car to catch on fire. The police dept was notified and they reached out to me asking if I had full coverage insurance on my car that had burned. Unfortunately I did not. The car was paid for and I had liability insurance so I totally lost my car for an unknown reason. I looked for recalls , I called the Chevrolet company and asked if they could do an investigation but no they did not. There are recalls on earlier models of this car for combustion fires but not this model year. I wanted to sue the company as this was very traumatic and if this car had been in the garage it would have been a terrible disaster. I did not have time or money to spend on a lawsuit at the time I am writing this now because this needs to be on a public forum for other owners of this make and model car. I have lost trust in the Chevrolet company and will never ever buy another GM product. Two years later I still have no answers and nobody seemed to care that my car caught on fire for no reason in the early morning hours while we were sleeping during a rainy cold February morning and had not been driven since 9 pm the night before. Thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11570307

Air bags did not deploy in a serious wreck, also with the seat belts not properly securing. First week I bought it. It shut off on the interstate because it was overheating. Ac compressor was broke so it got replace. The fan motor does not spin right. When my air/heater is on my engine make a LOUD noise (since the day I bought it). Cooling system has been replaced 4 times. Overall terrible car and everything needs to be recalled on it. Not safe to drive.

NHTSA ODI 11506889

I financed my car through drivetime in june 2019 and from the time i got the car i have been having electrical issues. My car has also been in a really bad accident prior to me purchasing it and when i tried to return it. They just kept telling me to go to pep boys because I had a 60 day warranty to fix any issues. I should not have had to take my car to any mechanic if I got it from a dealership. I now have really mad transmissin issues and I havent even had the car for 3 years. I believe this company sold me a lemon and i dont know how to prove it. I dont have the money to fix all the issues.

NHTSA ODI 11494041

The contact owned a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving 62 mph when the contact noticed other drivers flashing their lights, therefore, they decided to pull over to the side of the road. When they pulled over they noticed that there was smoke coming through the vents of the vehicle. The vehicle's touchscreen on the dashboard that controls the radio as well as a few other functions went blank and the actual physical rubber parts of the screen began to melt. The contact turned off the vehicle and got out of the vehicle when the vehicle suddenly caught on actual fire. The fire department extinguished what was left of the fire after the contact's efforts. A police report was filed. The contact had received a burn to their arm. There was no medical attention needed. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The contact had not spoken to the dealership. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.

NHTSA ODI 11430478

THERE'S A COOLANT PUMP MADE OF PLASTIC THAT HAS CAUSE SERVAL LEAKS AFTER GETTING THIS LEAKED FIX 2X IT CONTINUED TO LEAK AND CAUSED A FAILED HEAD GASKET AND CRACKED HEAD

NHTSA ODI 11300475

*ENGINE FIRE* 4/10/19... (XXXXX) WAS IN THE CAR AND IT WAS IDLING AT THE SANDY, UTAH MCDONALDS PARKING LOT WHEN SMOKE AND SMELL CAME FROM ENGINE. SHE PUT OUT FIRE WITH WATER. I ARRIVED 15-20 MINUTES LATER TO HELP. I INSPECTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DID A VISUAL CHECK ONLY TO FIND BURNT WIRING. THERE WAS NO OTHER KNOWN ISSUES AND VERIFIED NO FLUIDS SPILLED. I CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY HAD TOWED TO RIVERTON CHEVROLET TO WORK WITH CHEVROLET AND HAVE KNOWN ENGINE FIRE RISKS. 2014 CHEVROLET CRUISE CASE# 95243938936 (GM) VIN: (XXXXXX) 4/11/19 INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED TO RIVERTON MOTORS. RIVERTON MOTORS INVOICE# 6209533 / 6206861/1 4/11/19 THE DAY AFTER THE ENGINE FIRE, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM FRED URIBE (SERVICE REP.) FROM THE RIVERTON MOTORS SERVICE CENTER. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER AND IT NEEDED REPAIR. I TOLD HIM THAT THE CAR WAS IN FOR AN ENGINE FIRE AND I NEVER HAD AN OIL OR ANY CAR LEAKS. HE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ~$600 TO REPAIR THE OIL COOLER LEAK AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE THE ENGINE FIRE ISSUE. A FEW DAYS LATER FRED CALLED AND SAID IT WAS ACTUALLY A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. THEY DIAGNOSED THE FIRE AS BEING STARTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK? THE INVOICE WRONGLY STATED THAT I REPORTED A LEAK NEEDING REPAIR AND NOT THE FIRE I REPORTED!!! I INFORMED RIVERTON MOTORS THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE AND NOT ANY LEAKS. INVOICE INCORRECTLY STATED: CUSTOMER STATED VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK, LATER STATED THE CUSTOMER STATED VEHICLE HAS AN OIL LEAK. AND THEN VEHICLE FOUND THE RADIATOR LEAKING. THE INVOICE DID NOT STATE THE ACTUAL REASON FOR THE SERVICE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE!!!! STATE FARM INSURANCE CLAIM: 44-8388-Q93 AMOUNT:  $148.78 COMPREHENSIVE - FIRE 5/20/19 REPORTED TO GM/MACHELLA ENGINE FIRE 2014 CHEVROLET CRUISE CASE# 95243938936 6/10/19 REPORTED TO NHTSA PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11218883

EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING AIR VENTS. TAKEN IN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN SICK AND WE KEEP EXPLAINING TO THE THAT FUMES HAVE CAUSED HER TO HAVE PNEUMONIA, SINUS ISSUES, DRY EYES, SORE THROAT, MIGRAINE HEADACHES, SLEEPY DRIVING AND HOURS AFTER DRIVING, CONFUSION, ANXIETY, NAUSEA. THE DEALERS MECHANIC SOLUTION IS NOT TO USE AC OR HEAT AND KEEP WINDOWS OPEN. MY HUSBAND DROVE IT 20 MINUTES IN TRAFFIC AND GOT SICK WHEN HE REACH THE DEALER FOR 3RD REPAIR REQUEST IN 2 MONTHS. ENGINEER FROM GM IS LOOKING AT CAR MAY 2018. MY DAUGHTERS HEALTH IS CONTINUING TO IMPROVE NOT DRIVING THE CRUZE. NOT ONE PERSON SHOULD BE SICK OR DIE FROM A CAR THAT HAS A DEFECT THAT CANT BE RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI 11092224

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE AIR CONDITIONER SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONER BACK ON, SMOKE ENTERED INTO THE CABIN. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE HOOD, BUT THERE WAS NO SMOKE. UPON CLOSING THE HOOD, THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A FLAME THAT IGNITED UNDER THE DASHBOARD TO THE RIGHT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE AND FILED A POLICE REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. XCHANGE LEASING, AN UBER COMPANY, WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FIRE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO HER INSURANCE COMPANY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE INSPECTED BY A THIRD PARTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,500.

NHTSA ODI 11014153

I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN JULY OF 2015 FROM THE CHEVROLET SCHUMACHER DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA I CURRENTLY HAVE 61,939MI. MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS IN 12/2016 AND IS DUE AT 64,000MI. TO DATE I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM INSTALLING NEW SPARK PLUGS, BRAKES THAT SOUND LIKE AN AMTRAK TRAIN, AND NOW MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY IS ALREADY EXPIRED AT LIKE 33,000MI. SO NOW I FALL UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY WHICH COVERS YOUR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING MY ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO PAY $160.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THEN HAVE TO PAY ON TOP OF THAT $800 FOR AN ISSUE WITH MY ENGINE. I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WILL MARK MY 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY HAVING THIS VEHICLE IN JULY 2017.I AM VERY DISPLEASED RIGHT NOW AND WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE TO BE INVESTIGATED AND THAT SOMEONE FROM THIS GOVERNMENT AGENCY CONTACT THE DEALER LOCATED IN NORTH PALM BEACH SO THEY CAN FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG WITH MY CAR. SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD HAPPEN TO CARS THAT ARE 5 YEARS OLD NOT 1 1/2 YEARS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10948895

FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FIRE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN APRIL 2014. AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE POWER LOSS THREE MONTHS PRIOR, I STARTED SMELLING A FUEL ODOR THE WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING, I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED THE CHEVROLET DEALER ABOUT THE ODOR, THE DEALER DID INFORM ME THAT A TSB WAS ON GM DEALER WORLD IN REGARDS TO THE FUEL RAILS POSSIBLY COMING LOOSE CAUSING A FUEL ODOR / HESITATION. AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FUEL LIQUID PRESENT ON THE ENGINE OR GROUND BELOW THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SAT PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR MAJORITY OF THE DAY, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT TO THE DEALER THREE MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, USING A GARDEN HOSE WHILE CALLING 911 THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY INVOLVED IN THE ENGINE BAY SPREADING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ONCE WATER CONTACTED THE ENGINE BAY THE FIRE FURTHER SPREAD INDICATING THE FIRE WAS CHEMICALLY BASED. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE VEHICLE USING A FOAM WATER MIXTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE, I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SUPPORT ONLY TO BE STONEWALLED BY THE AGENT. I HAD OVER 10000 DOLLARS IN PAYMENTS INVESTED IN THIS VEHICLE. GM SHOULD HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE NOT THE INSURANCE. NOT A SURPRISE AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH DISCRETIONS AND DEATHS. GOOGLE CHEVY CRUZE ENGINE FIRES THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 10817297

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10762484

DRIVING DOWN A ROAD ON THE FRIDAY MORNING. WHEN A DEER POPPED UP IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE DEER ON CRUISE CONTROL GOING 70 MPH; BUT WAS HARD BRAKING TO AVOID THE DEER. THE VEHICLE CLIPPED THE DEER ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR BY THE HOOD. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, MEANING IT WASN'T EVEN A BIG IMPACT. SO I PULLED OVER TO CALL AUTHORITIES WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE. SHORTLY AFTER, ESTIMATED TWO MINUTES, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE BEGIN ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF WHERE THE BATTERY WAS LOCATED. IT COMPLETELY BURNED DOWN THE CAR. NOT SURE HOW HITTING A DEER, WOULD NOT SET OFF THE AIR BAGS AND ALSO START A FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT WITH NO INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI 10735849

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A SIDE RAILING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIGNAL INDICATORS WERE INOPERABLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10705270

MOVING WITH TRAFFIC, SNEEZED AND WHEN I OPENED MY YES I COULDN'T STOP IN TIME AND REAR ENDED A STOPPED OR SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT,SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, WONDERED WHY THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. WENT TO HOSPITAL. BRUISED FROM RIGHT SIDE OF NECK DOWN MY CHEST. FAINT BLACK YES FROM HITTING STEERING WHEEL. BRUISES ON BOTH KNEES. I AM CONCERNED THE AIR BAGS FAILED. YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. ALSO HAVE PICTURES OF BRUISING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10617483