What 240 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

On [XXX], the right front passenger side control arm/ball joint broke as my daughters were driving home. The car was in motion on a major street in Kansas City, KS when the control arm/ball joint broke. My daughter was in the right-hand lane when it broke as the car was in motion. The front of the car forcefully propelled in the air, landed, and jerked my daughter into the side walk. Afterwards, she fought the car over to the left-hand turn lane to stop in a somewhat safer spot on a major street. My oldest daughter driving suffered neck injuries from the seatbelt and my youngest daughter bumped her head. Both were hurt. An independent mechanic diagnosed the issue as well as Hendrick Chevrolet in Shawnee Mission Kansas. The parts are available for inspection. Hendrick Chevrolet failed to properly diagnose this issue when my car was in their care and service department on 06/14/24. I paid for an inspection but Hendrick Chevrolet's technician failed to record play in the broken wheel and if the car was in need of an alignment. This is unacceptable behavior considering the technician had both front tires off to inspect the brakes and was paid to perform a complete inspection on my car as described in Chevy's inspection literature provided by the dealership. He also provided an incorrect brake pad measurement. Through several Chevrolet/Chevy Cruze online forums, Cruze owners have asked several questions and recorded several comments regarding having a broken control arm and having to replace the ball joint bolt. Also, recalls were previously issued with other GM vehicles having a right-front passenger side defective control arm, which potentially could be a GM fabrication issue with control arms. No warning lamps, noises, or messages alerted to this issue. This would have been a fatal incident involving my daughters and other drivers if it occurred on the highway at a higher rate of speed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11600176

Hit a buck on highway. When airbags went off I felt sudden sharp pain in my left arm. I was later advised that it most likely was shrapnel from the airbag. It was obvious from the injury something hit my arm with a lot of force. The car was a total loss and in possession of insurance company. Concerned that it could have been my eye.

NHTSA ODI 11553696

I was driving down the road when my son said he smelled something and made pull over. There were what I thought were small flames on the floor so i dumped my water on them, then i realized the seat itself was melting and dripping stuff on the floor. then the seat went up. Very shortly after that the car was completely engulfed and is now a total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11549008

At first, and only on cold/rainy/snowy weather, while driving the radio would randomly turn off and turn itself back on (i have videos of this). Sometimes it would last a few seconds, sometimes a few minutes. While this was happening, the blinker sounds wouldn't work. I brought it to Chevy in Geneva, NY for diagnostics. No check engine codes ever. They told me that the radio computer needed to be updated. I had them fix it, only to find out that the problem would still happen. Over a few months, it developed more symptoms. It started to not shut off when I pushed the button, and it also started stalling when it went into auto off, but would turn back on if I put it in park and re started. At first it would stall in auto off at random times. This caused an accident in the summer of 2019. I was at a stop sign, waiting to make a right hand turn, took my foot off the brake and car stalled. The car behind me thought I was going and rear ended me. I had to drive around in the summer with the heat on, as it was the only way to prevent the car from going into auto off. I had the car looked at a few more times after that (paying $100 diagnostic fees every time). Brought it back to chevy and the told me it was because of the damage to my trunk allowing water to get to the battery (it wasn't). Issues then turned into stalling at auto off, but not turning back on once in park. I brought it to the dealership I bought it from and they looked at the alternator and had them clean all battery terminals and replace the battery. This worked for 2 weeks before continuing. It got to the point that I had to jump start my car everytime I wanted to drive it or it stalled. Finally it just wouldnt start, So i had it towed to chevy again in 2021. They determined the issue was the starter and replaced. It worked but as of now (9/13/23) my car has began stalling at auto off. It is very dangerous, car gives no warning!! There is too much to say with limited space

NHTSA ODI 11544286

When I start my car it will sputter then die, also cuts off while driving. It cuts off but will crank up and die again after so many tries it will drive a while and do it again. The check engine was on and I have fixed the O2 sensor, the mass air flow sensor, Ive replaced the turbo hose it had a big chunk ripped out of it which we have no clue how that happened, I just changed the PCV valves a few weeks ago and the car started but would not go in drive nor reverse put it back in shop and cleaned the throttle body and it ran good the whole day today I started cutting off again.

NHTSA ODI 11533949

My 21 yr old daughter was in serious accident May 3. 2022 on the way to her college. The accident was horrific. Her left hand middle finger was impaled by a piece of metal L shaped. The hospital said it was an airbag pin. She was covered in cuts and injuries but her finger/ hand were the worst by far. She has had a surgery and will need additional surgeries. I would like it looked into please. I was very grateful it wasn’t her eye or neck.

NHTSA ODI 11522958

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze D2. The contact stated that while driving 20-25 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. As a result, the contact had whiplash to the neck and the front seat passenger head hit the windshield and whiplash to the neck. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 11494862

I WAS DRIVING, 55 MILES AND HOUR ON HIGHWAY. I WAS WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER FRONT SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. UPON DEPLOYMENT THE EXTREME FORCE OF THE CARS BAGS KNOCKED ME OUT THEREBY CAUSING ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. .

NHTSA ODI 11416503

SECOND REPORT I'M MAKING ABOUT THIS CARS ENGINE PROBLEMS THE STABILITY TRACK AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER CAUSED MY CAR TO STOP ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND I ALMOST HIT SOMEONE ! PLEASE INVESTIGATE INTO THIS ISSUE THEIR ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE UNDER THIS POST FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD SAYING THE SAME THING

NHTSA ODI 11396071

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FEEL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THE WHEEL AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS ENGAGED BUT THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HENDRICK CHEVROLET SHAWNEE MISSION 8300 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY, MERRIAM, KS 66202 (913) 225-7967 AND THEY ALONG WITH THE INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA ODI 11361111

I WAS IN A CRASH ON JULY 27,2020,PM HOURS.I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON INTERSTATE,IT BEGAN RAINING,I SLOWED DOWN & ADJUSTED TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITY CONTROL SETTING.THE CAR VEERED TO THE RIGHT FOR SOME REASON,I GOT CAR BACK IN STRAIGHT MOTION,THEN IN A SPLIT SECOND,IT SHOT TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD WAY.I TRIED GAINING CONTROL,TO GET BACK IN THE CORRECT LANE,AND THE CAR RAN INTO THE GUARDRAIL IN TRYING TO GET CONTROL OF IT. I DO NOT THINK THAT THE RATE OF SPEED,NOR WEATHER,WERE THE ONLY REASONS FOR THIS ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THIS CRASH,MONTHS BEFORE,AT VARIOUS TIMES,AND AND FOR NO REASON, THE SERVICE POWER STEERING,AT TIMES THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL,AND AT TIMES THE SERVICE STABILITY MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR,ONLY FOR A SPLIT COUPLE OF SECONDS,AT RANDOM TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON,AND A PRIOR CERTIFIED MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS BANK 1 CATALYCT CONCERTER CLOGGED. WE,WERE TRYING TO GET THE VEHICHLE RE-DIAGNOSED BY A DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOP,AT THE TIME FRAME THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED,BUT,COVID 19,MADE THINGS TO DIFFICULT TO ARRANGE AND PLANS WERE IN PROGRESS TO HAVE IT CHECKED ASAP.I BELEIVE THE VEHICHLE HAD A MALFUNCTION AND HOPE TO GET THE SENSORS,COMPUTERS,RELAYS OR ANY OTHER CHECKED OUT BY YOU,NOT ONLY GM. EVERY AIRBAG ALONG DOORS OF CAR DEPLOYED.BUT, THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT. MY HEAD HIT EITHER THE STEERING WHEEL OR WINDSHEILD. I HAD A BLOW TO MY HEAD. IF ALL OTHER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED,THEN I FEEL STEERING WHEEL BAG SHOULD HAVE ALSO. THIS IS SERIOUS MALFUNCTIONS. THERE WERE PROBLEMS FROM THIS CAR FROM DAY 1. THINGS WENT WRONG WAY BEFORE EXPECTED TIME FOR. SUCH AS HEATERCORE, IGNITION COIL,COOLANT LEAKS, THERMOSTAT HOUSING OUTLET, DRIVER DOOR WINDOW & MOTOR,ALL OF MOST WENT BAD BEFORE 80,000 MILES.EVEN ELECTRICAL SUCH AS DOOR CHIME,LIGHTS NOT WORKING AT CORRECT TIME. AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LED TO MY HEAD BEING HURT.THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11351042

CAR ACCIDENT. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 11323063

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. MY WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED AND MY VEHICLE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE.

NHTSA ODI 11289205

[XXX] OF EBARA FLUID HANDLING DIVISION WITH THE SHOP FLOOR'S PERMISSION AND WITHOUT MINE PLACE PLAY EQUIPMENT IN VEHICLE AND PASSED OUT PIECES TO SPY ON ME. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE COPS HAVE RECOVERED SOME OF THE PIECES. BUT, THE FOLLOWING INDIVUALS OF EBARA INTL CORPORATION STILL HAVE SOME OF THE PIECES THEY REFUSE TO GIVE BACK. [XXX]- HUMAN RESOURCES, [XXX]- HUMAN RESOURCES, AND [XXX] - MARKETING HAVE USED THIS EQUIPMENT TO SPY ON ME AND HARASS ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY BY MAKING THERE VOICES POP UP IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF MY VEHICLE. YOU MAY CONTACT THEM AT [XXX] AND ASK FOR [XXX] FOR FURTHER DETAILS. YOU MAY FIND MY VEHICLE BY THE LICENSE PLATE [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11244761

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND WENT TO TURN INTO MY LANE AND SOMEONE CUT OVER AT THE LAST MINUTE CAUSING ME TO JERK MY WHEEL OUT OF REACTION AND THE FRONT END OF MY CAR SLAMMED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. MY AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF AND MY HEAD BOUNCED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL TWICE CAUSING SOME DAMAGE TO MY FACE.

NHTSA ODI 11129644

RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS REAR ENDED. WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, LIGHT HAD JUST CHANGED, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE WHEN I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A MESSAGE ON MY DASH NOW THAT STATES AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND ALSO THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE REAR END, BUMPER AND DECK LID.

NHTSA ODI 11090457

I PARKED MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY WORK AND I HAD THE BRAKE UP BUT THE CAR ROLLED BACK AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THANKFULLY, NOT A LOT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE CAR BUT I COULDN'T RELAX ABOUT MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAD THE CAR ONLY 1 1/2 YEARS AND THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 4 HOURS. WHEN I CALLED THEM, I FELT LIKE THEY WERE TALKING DOWN TO ME BECAUSE I'M A GIRL AND THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS WORKING THE WAY THAT THE MANUFACTURER DESIGNED IT. I HAVE DRIVEN A STICK SHIFT FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULDN'T BE DESIGNING CARS SO THAT THE BRAKES DON'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11083145

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. UPON REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,400.

NHTSA ODI 11024207

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT AND OTHERS BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR OUTSIDE THE CHURCH BUILDING. WHEN THEY EXITED THE CHURCH, THE SMELL INTENSIFIED. FLAMES EMERGED FROM THE REAR SEAT AND THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, WHICH HAD ALREADY SPREAD TO THE NEXT VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11013367

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT REMOVED THEMSELVES FROM THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED LIQUID COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A ROLLING STOP AT WHICH POINT THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED A FIRE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT RECEIVED A DIAGNOSING FOR THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED TO CONTACT THEIR INSURANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 10986039

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING A 2016 CHEVY CRUZE. AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED AS THEY HIT ANOTHER CAR SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. THE VEHICLE MY SON WAS IN WAS TURNING LEFT CAUSING MOST OF THE IMPACT TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. HE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND WAS THE ONLY ONE INJURED. A LARGE, DEEP, CLEAN CUT ON HIS FOREHEAD WAS HIS BIGGEST INJURY. DOCTOR EXPLAINED THAT IT SEEMS A PIECE OF METAL OR HARD PLASTIC MADE THE CUT. IT WAS CLEAN AND DOWN TO HIS CRANIUM. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE OBJECT THAT CAUSED THIS INJURY AND WE'RE LEAD TO INQUIRE ABOUT COMPONENTS IN THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA ODI 10981547

APPROACHED A CURVE IN ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH, TOOK FOOT OFF THE GAS AND ACCELERATOR DID NOT DISENGAGE AND CONTINUED AT FULL SPEED SO FAST COULD NOT NEGOTIATE THE CURVE AND WENT OFF THE CURVE AND CRASHED INTO RAVINE BELOW. THIS OCCURED ONE DAY AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED BY A GM GARAGE ON 1/31/17 ABOUT A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE GAS PEDAL.

NHTSA ODI 10950295

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GROUND WAS DRY. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAD HIP SURGERY AND LACERATIONS TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,135.

NHTSA ODI 10926924

AS I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 ON A CITY STREET, EVERYTHING SEEMED LIKE JUST ANY OTHER DAY. BUT IT WAS FAR FROM IT. I STARTED TO SMELL A FUNNY PLASTIC/RUBBER LIKE SMELL COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR. SO IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO CHECK WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT IS KEY TO NOTE THAT I ALSO CHECKED MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE, SPECULATING THAT MAYBE I FORGOT TO TOP OFF THE COOLANT OR SOMETHING, BUT THE TEMPERATURE WAS PERFECT. I STOPPED THE CAR, POPPED THE HOOD, AND SAW WHAT WAS TO MY SHOCK JUST INSANE... A 3 FOOT FLAME THAT WAS BURNING UP MY WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DID NOT EVEN TRY TO PUT THE FLAME OUT WITH ANY MEANS BECAUSE THE FLAME WAS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE FUEL INJECTORS AND I WAS NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO RISK IT AND TRY TO PUT OUT THE FLAME. I CALLED 911 AND IN SEVERAL MINUTES, TO MY LUCK, THEY WERE THERE AND PUT THE FLAME OUT BEFORE THE CAR BLEW UP. HOWEVER, THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR AND SOME OF FRONT INTERIOR IS BASICALLY MELTED AND THE CAR IS NOT USEFUL FOR ANYTHING ANYMORE. THIS WAS A SPONTANEOUS FLAME THAT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY AT ABOUT 35 MPH ON A 70 DEGREE DAY. WHAT HAPPENED? I DO NOT KNOW... BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT CARS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO PUT THEIR DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AT RISK OF DYING JUST BECAUSE A PERSON WANTS TO PEACEFULLY DRIVE DOWN TO POINT B FROM POINT A. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, WHOEVER WILL BE DOING SO. THIS KIND OF CAR MANUFACTURING IS UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10917708

VEHICLE PROVED TO BE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTIVE THUS THE CAR BURNED UP IN A FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL HARNESS CATCHING FIRE AS STATED FIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE INSPECTOR. NO SIGNS SHOWED ANY IMMINENT DANGER, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BARELY ESCAPED BEFORE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION BEING DRIVEN ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI 10917216