Home · 2017 · Chevrolet

2017 Chevrolet Cruze

Solid pick — the complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

201 owner complaints · 2 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Engine problems dominate (36% of complaints, typically reported near 59k miles).

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)80
Severity (30%)72
Recall load (20%)90
Trend (10%)70

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20162026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miEngine~59k mi · 73 reportsTransmission & drivetrain~58k mi · 39 reportsElectrical system~23k mi · 33 reportsBrakes~28k mi · 18 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Body & structure (16) · Fuel system (15)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Engine

36%

73 complaints · typically near 59k mi · 13 in the last 2 years

THE ENGINE HAS EXCESSIVE BLOW BY FROM THE OIL FILLER CAP. HAVING A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER NUMBER 1 AND IDLING ROUGH. THERE ARE SEVERAL THREADS ONLINE CONCERNING THIS ISSU…

Transmission & drivetrain

19%

39 complaints · typically near 58k mi · 4 in the last 2 years

Apparently there is a TSB from GM regarding the end for updated/replacement of parts concerning the hydraulic piping, slave cylinder and accumulator. My clutch became …

Electrical system

16%

33 complaints · typically near 23k mi · 5 in the last 2 years

My head lights stopped working except the day time running lights. The high beams don’t work nor the actual head lights. They just went out.

Brakes

9%

18 complaints · typically near 28k mi · 1 in the last 2 years

I want to know if there is a recall on GM cars with standard transmissions that have the shared master cylinder. That is when the clutch master cylinder and the brake …

Recalls (2)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Fuel System, Gasoline · 18V304000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.

Seats · 17V057000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."

Risk: In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

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–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Chevrolet CRUZE beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2017? See how every Cruze model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze 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.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.