What 109 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

Shortly after I merge onto a highway and pickup speed my cruze apears to be slipping gears. It does not do it every time but it appears to be happening increasingly often. It starts to shake violently, becomes hard to stear and refuses to excelerate even though the rpm's are rising significantly higher then they should be, leaving me going 35 - 40mph on a 65mph highway, it does not fully decelerate either. It happened the other day and the road speed was 65mph to start which my car wouldn't do then immediately became congested which is when I realized it wouldn't properly decelerate either, at least before I thought I coupd just pull over if it lasted to long. My car only has 22,000 miles on it and was certified pre-owned. It is regularly maintenanced as well. I have not taken it to be inspected just yet but that is my next step as I don't feel at all safe driving it in this condition.

NHTSA ODI 11577291

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while making a turn, the vehicle went in another direction. While her son was driving at 2–3 MPH, making a turn, the vehicle went in another direction. The frame was rusted and secured with chicken wire. While her son was driving at 20 MPH and driving up the parking garage, the steering wheel was straight, but the wheel went towards the left, and he crashed into a pole. The vehicle was drivable. The air bags deployed and went to the floorboard. The ABS and stability track control. There were no reported injuries, police reports, or fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 105, 000.

NHTSA ODI 11572925

The vehicle first prompted that it had a recorded a misfire in cylinder 1. Changed the spark plugs and coil packs. Vehicle noted a misfire in cylinder 1gain and said service stabilitrak. Changed the pcv valves and other vacuum pieces on the valve cover along with the MAF sensor. Engine ran fine on test drive, then dumped oil on the ground as I was pulling back into the drive way. Gasket comes on the oil pan so that’s getting replaced next. Then I have to check the fuel pressure sensors and fuel pump to see if they’re failing because apparently GM has a points bulletin out about them not being so good. Plus hope the engine isn’t ruined when it lost all its oil.

NHTSA ODI 11547409

The clutch peddle is low without pressure. Mine and my kids was in danger when the clutch was not working when I had a green light. I could not get my car to go into gear. My husband thought that maybe there was air in the lines but he is unsure. After pumping the clutch several times,probably 100 times my husband was able to get me to safety. Problem was reproduced with my husband 2 days later when he was stuck in Atlanta traffic. I did have a warning that said something about trac suspension. I am unable to remember what popped up. This incident has happened 3 times. I think there should be a recall out.

NHTSA ODI 11536403

We have had this car for little over a 1.5yrs without any issues. Within the past 2 months, the vehicle has been malfunctioning, primarily the auto stop feature. On four separate occasions, when braking is engaged and bringing the vehicle to full stop, the engine cuts off, leaving all other components running, and the check engine light comes on. After approximately 1.5 hours of waiting, the engine turns on, the check engine light is gone and once it reaches the service center, diagnostics are unable to detect any issues. There are 3 calls on our account for our vehicle issue. The problem is that in every incident, the vehicle could not be recovered to have it at the service center within less than 2 hours to be properly diagnosed. When connected to the diagnostics, there isn't an indication of the malfunction. The first incident occurred May13,2023, at a stop light within 3 miles of the dealership, on our way to a family birthday party, 2 hours away. Service center was within an hour of closing, and asked we tow it there, they will investigate on May 15,2023, when they are open. After waiting in 90degree+ weather for AAA for almost 2 hours, (they said we would have to wait for 3 hours), I attempted to start the vehicle, and it turned over. We drove home and brought it to the service center, nothing on diagnostics. Frustrated, we left. Second incident occurred on July 5,2023, morning of my knee surgery. I was stranded on an off ramp at a light. We towed it to the dealership, again, and they were too busy to look at right away. By the next morning, it resolved itself. Again. Third incident occurred July 11, 2023, in Greensboro, after an appointment consulting on oral surgery and scheduling for my wife, in the parking lot of the office. We called the dealership, and for approximately 45 min. they tried to assist, no avail. 1.5hrs pass, it starts. AGAIN, doesn't register. Fourth incident on July 15, 2023, in my driveway. It started this morning. BEYOND frustrated.

NHTSA ODI 11532596

The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle collided with a deer and a guardrail. The vehicle was impacted on the front and rear passenger side and the front of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The passenger seat occupant sustained a knee injury but did not receive medical treatment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a lot where it was deemed totaled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11526657

Car has been having issues with the powertrain since purchased with 0 miles. The car will start flashing warning sensors but when taken into the dealer/mechanic everything is ok.. Car stopped today in the middle of a busy street and started shaking. Car will shake hard when it is stopped at times. It was taken to 2 different chevrolet dealers who said they forgot to check it

NHTSA ODI 11520387

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the clutch pedal remained on the floorboard and failed to disengage. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pumped the clutch pedal and veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring intermittently. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided since the powertrain warranty had expired. The manufacturer referred the contact the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 64,900.

NHTSA ODI 11512880

About 10 days ago, my check engine light came on. I stopped at O’Reilly Auto Parts to have it diagnosed with a code. It threw a code for the turbo in my 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. It went off later that day. Today, it came back on and sent a message, “Engine power decreased”. I noticed no change in power or anything. Could this just be a sensor?

NHTSA ODI 11506812

2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ISSUE WITH THE PROJECTOR HEADLIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11502744

put car in PARK ,got out to check mail box 20 feet away [car door left open]. When retuning to car it began to slowly move backward.I ran around the back and tried to get in but was knocked down by the open door.I rolled away from the approaching wheel with minor scrapes. The car continued backing across the street,hit a pole then toward a group of people.I was able to alert them and all got out of the way. I have been working with GM to find out if this model,this transmission,or only this car has this slip from Park to Reverse problem.

NHTSA ODI 11491731

I was at a stop light and when I hit the gas pedal to go on green light the car stalled and died. I tried turning off and restarting but nothing happened. I was in a busy intersection and could have been hit. A kind stranger helped me push it out of the intersection. Car has to be towed and I am waiting for service department to let me know what the problem is. I have canceled 1 1/2 days of work and will probably have to be out another day. I will also probably have rent a car until problem is fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11481177

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the vehicle shifted from park into reverse without warning. While the vehicle was idling, the driver exited the vehicle and the vehicle rolled and crashed into a telephone pole. The driver's side door was ajar and was ripped off during the crash. The contact sustained cuts and bruises but no medical attention was provided. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire or air bag deployment. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 11479496

The Auto Start and Stop feature has malfunctioned multiple times. Safety was put at risk due to car stalling at multiple red lights and shutting off while driving down the road. Problem has been reproduced by dealership. No warnings at all prior to the failure.

NHTSA ODI 11473711

I noticed oil drips on ground and was having to add oil. Took to dealership for diagnosis and it was found that my lower oil pan was Croated and leaking. Replaced under warranty but still should not happen on a 3 1/2 year old vehicle with 62300 miles on it that is well taken care of. I used 3 quarts in a matter of 3 weeks driving less that 500 miles. 1 quart was used just waiting for repair.

NHTSA ODI 11465315

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle felt imbalanced and was shuddering. Additionally, the engine emitted abnormal knocking sounds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact then parked the vehicle a block away from his residence. The contact who is a certified independent mechanic, diagnosed that the fuel injectors had failed. The contact also diagnosed that the fuel injector had melted and fused into the number one cylinder, causing the engine to misfire. The contact replaced the fuel injectors, the spark plugs, the fuel line, the fuel harness, and the vehicle software were flushed. However, the failure reoccurred. Upon further investigation, the contact became aware that the engine inside the vehicle was not the appropriate engine as it was 1.5 liter and its specifications indicated that it was an engine specifically designed for a Chevrolet Malibu while the vehicle was a Chevrolet Cruze. However, the original owner of the vehicle, who was the contact's neighbor, had never replaced the engine. The contact then determined that the failure was associated to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V642000 (Electrical System, Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine). The contact notified the dealer where the vehicle was originally purchased and informed them that the engine installed was not the appropriate engine. The dealer disregarded the information and informed the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 11464098

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, his brake warning light had illuminated. The contact stated that he attempted to depress the brake pedal however, the brakes failed to engage, causing him to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that he was able to pull off the road into a parking lot to evaluate the vehicle. The contact stated that after exiting the vehicle, he saw brake fluid leaking from the driver’s side rear brake caliber. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed back and remained at the residence. The contact stated that he then contacted the dealer, and manufacturer who advised him that the vehicle would not be covered for the repair. The failure mileage was 51,200.

NHTSA ODI 11463894

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving various speeds at night, the headlights failed to provide adequate illumination to drive safely. The contact stated that the failure was more evident on dimly lit streets. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the headlight bulbs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure was still evident with the side illumination. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

NHTSA ODI 11462754

This Cruze is equipped with a manual 6 speed transmission. The initial incident involved complete loss of the clutch with the clutch pedal sticking to the floor. This and the driver could not get the vehicle into gear. The driver then reached down and pulled the clutch up from the flor and was able to resume some clutch function. No Malfunction indicator or engine light was visible. Dealer serviced the vehicle indicating a P08A8 code set after incident. Vehicle repair order/invoice 382676 Ewald Chevrolet Buick. 36833 E Wisconsin Avenue, Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-567-5555. When I picked the vehicle up, I couldn't leave with it because when I depressed the clutch pedal the clutch engaged/disengaged all the way depressed or at the floor. The dealer replaced Part #55505687 PIPE, and 19353126 Fluid. After driving the vehicle a few miles I called the dealer and asked them to open a case with Chevrolet because the clutch system did not feel the same. Inconsistent engage/disengage point of the clutch. While awaiting their return call I experienced a complete loss of clutch function again, similar to the original case pedal stuck to floor, and manually had to lift clutch pedal to regain some clutch function. This happened while driving/shifting in traffic, after pulling up the clutch the engine light lit. Returned it to dealer

NHTSA ODI 11456548

I got my vehicle through a local dealership in town, in July of 2020 and only a couple months later my problems started. The vehicle started to vibrate violently and almost jerk back and forth on its own whenever I would drive it. And whenever I did come to a complete stop and accelerate the vehicle would hesitate a bit, it felt like I would have to really force it in order to keep driving. That same feeling would occur whenever I would have to drive on the highway it felt like I was pushing really hard on the gas in order to move. Which lead to my stability track message to appear on the dash as well as the check engine light. Then finally one day while I was driving and making a right turn to exit a shopping center my vehicle just stopped out of nowhere. I was unable to drive I tried putting it in neutral and reversing but nothing worked. I couldn't even take my keys out the ignition or turn off the vehicle I was completely stuck casing traffic on a busy street until what felt like five minutes later, I was able to turn it on and off and drive home. I then took my vehicle to the local Chevy dealership where they kept my car for a week even though no work was done to it. They wanted me to let them take apart my engine to determine what the problem was, and I was advised by multiple sources including my vehicle warranty to not let them do a tear down. The service consultant said they couldn't find a reason why my vehicle just stopped on me and blew it off as nothing. I then took it to a local mechanic in town where they replaced my air filter, spark plugs, and did a mass air flow clean. However only days later my check engine light appeared again along with the message to service the stability track. The jerking, vibrating feeling is still present when I drive also now whenever I turn on my vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11454890

I made a prior complaint with tracking number 11360154. This same problem has occurred again, approximately 22,000 miles after the car was repaired the first time. The clutch is broken again and it broke at highway speed almost causing me to have a severe accident. THE CONSUMER STATED A LEAK OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID CONTAMINATED THE CLUTCH. THE FRICTION DISC AND PRESSURE PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11449460

Engine performance dropped noticeably, tire pressure system alert lighted, and stability track turned off. Then within a short period of time, some 30 minutes, the engine warning light activity (steady). All of this happened shortly after the 3-year warranty expired although I was having some engine roughness a few days before three years. Made an appointment at the Chevy dealership and the issue was diagnosed to a misfire on cylinder #1. Apparently, the insulator around the center electrode of the spark plug separated and slipped down. After a bit of research and asking the dealer for Chevy TSB #PIP5657D, NHTSA TSB #10201263, I was startled to find this is a somewhat frequent-enough problem affecting a number of GM models using 1.4L engine as used in my Cruze. I had a forthright conversation with Chevy dealer that this was a warranty issue as my OnStar alerted me to an emissions system malfunction. I also called GM and ACDelco, the spark plug manufacturer, and they claimed nothing or no issues. This is a safety concern to me. Paid almost $400 to have four spark plugs replaced at 3-years and only 7,000 miles; ACDelco warrants the spark plugs for 7-years or 100,000 miles!. Unacceptable.

NHTSA ODI 11448403

The radio stays on full bright after dimming the lights. Then when I stop at a red light and the car shuts off when I release the break my car jumps makes engine makes a it rev up like the switching of the gears or something. And when I am driving the speed limt and press the gas to speed up to pass a car the car does not go faster the RPM' only go up like I am going to blow the motor u.i do not know anything about the

NHTSA ODI 11443027

The tires installed August 2020 were 205/55R16 from GoodYear. They were the All Season Assurance Tires. They had travelled about 10,000 miles since install. On November 26, on I 95 SB near mile marker 3 (near GA state line), tread flew past wife’s window and the TPMS system indicated pressure in the right front tire at 1. This sudden issue could have caused a crash or injury. The vehicle is currently at the shop that installed the tires and is being investigated.

NHTSA ODI 11441792

The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving approximately 68 mph when the contact crashed into a deer, the brake pedal was depressed however the vehicle continued to move forward. The contact stated that he had placed the vehicle in park but the vehicle continued to drive, the contact had to continuedly press the ignition button for the vehicle to turn off. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The contact mentioned that the cruise control was activated at the time of the failure. The contact sustained scrapes on the arms but did not seek medical attention. A police report was taken and the vehicle was towed to a local tow yard where it was diagnosed as destroyed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11440672