What 240 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. AFTER COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BLACK SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE WINDOW VENTS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY UNLOCK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND WITNESSED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. UPDATED 10/19/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10888542