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2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
240 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 26, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (41% of complaints, typically reported near 70k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#233 of 601Among the 2016 models with a matured record, the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited ranks #233, scoring higher than 58% of them. See the 2016 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 11%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Fuel system (34) · Airbags (21) · Steering (17)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Engine
41%98 complaints · typically near 70k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“The turbo has gone out twice, it was replaced under an extended warranty policy and it has gone out again and is out of warranty, also the plastic intake manifold has …”
Electrical system
24%57 complaints · typically near 61k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“My tire pressure sensor keeps coming on even after I had it worked on. 3 of them shows the pressure level but one shows 2 lines but no pressure level but there’s air i…”
Fuel system
14%34 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“I was driving the car, stopped at a light took my foot off the brake started to move and the car completely shut off. No warning lights went on. I had to start the car…”
Transmission & drivetrain
13%31 complaints · typically near 48k mi
“Power train system (po299) A turbocharger harnesses the flow of exhaust gases that spins an internal turbine. This turbine then forces or packs air into the engine fas…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 3 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 240 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 27 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Chevrolet before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 70k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 61k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Chevrolet CRUZE LIMITED beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Cruze Limited model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.