Home · 2018 Chevrolet Cruze Limited · Complaints

What 109 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (109)Crash / fire / injury (19)Engine (27)Transmission & drivetrain (23)Electrical system (14)Brakes (13)Steering (9)Airbags (8)Fuel system (7)Lights (5)Speed control (5)Wheels (5)

Newest first · 109 complaints · page 4 of 5

Jan 28, 2020Engine

I WAS 3 FEET FROM TURNING LEFT AT INTERSECTION LEFT LANE TURN (LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED GREEN) THROUGH A INTERSECTION, WHEN I NOTICED MY ENGINE WAS OFF. I ROLLED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION; ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR - CAR DIDN'T START. THE ELECTRICITY IN CAR WAS STILL ON AND NORMAL. COOLANT WAS AT NORMAL TEMP. ONLY RADIO WAS ON LOW VOLUME. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS- NOR MESSAGES APPEARED. CAR WOULDN'T RESTART. WAS STUCK HALFWAY IN RIGHT (ONCOMING TRAFFIC) TURN LANE & HALF IN BUSINESS DRIVEWAY. PUT CAR IN PARK & TRIED TO TURN ON AGAIN. NOTHING. STEERING, BRAKES, LIGHTS AND DOORS WERE FUNCTIONAL. GOT HELP TO PUSH CAR IN A PARKING SPACE. TURNED OFF CAR COMPLETELY & ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON. CAR CRANKED & ALMOST STARTED. TRIED AGAIN - NOTHING. TURNED OFF & REMOVED KEYS TO GET OUT OF CAR TO LOOK UNDER HOOD. ALL LOOKED NORMAL. GOT BACK INSIDE CAR, ATTEMPTED TO START. IT CAME ON FOR 5 SECONDS THEN DIED. WAITED. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS NOR ERROR MESSAGES. FINALLY GOT CAR TO CRANK AND IT STAYED ON. NO ERROR MESSAGES. WENT TROUGH CAR SCREEN AND VOLTAGE WAS NORMAL 13 +/- VOLTS; IDLE WAS NORMAL - DID NOT MOVE AROUND. LEFT BUSINESS WHEN MESSAGE SAID ABOUT HAVING ANTILOCK BREAKS CHECKED BUT HAS NOT APPEARED ON CAR SCREEN SINCE (DIDN'T PRESS BREAKS BEFORE IT DIED. I PREFER ENGINE BREAKING). RECEIVED EMAIL FROM ONSTAR THAT "AN ISSUE WITH THE STABILITRAK STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM IN YOUR 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE HAS BEEN DETECTED. PLEASE SERVICE YOUR VEHICLE WITHIN 7 DAYS. & AN ISSUE WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IN YOUR 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE HAS BEEN DETECTED". I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A TRUCK WHILE STUCK HALF WAY IN STREET. CALLED AND COMPLAINED TO GM. GM REP SAID I AM PAST WARRANTY BY 9,000 MILES (CAR IS 1.5 YRS OLD). THEY CANT HELP. TOLD ME TO GO TO DEALERSHIP. CALLED 4 DEALERSHIPS, NO TECHS ON SATURDAYS AND NO LOANERS SINCE OUT OF WARRANTY. NO ERROR CODES STILL. NO LIGHTS LIT UP. CAR IS ACTING NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI 11302608

Jan 24, 2020Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I BACKED OUT OF MY ICY DRIVEWAY AND ONTO THE CLEAR, DRY ROAD. SET MY CRUISE CONTROL TO 48MPH AND AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, MY TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT SAID "SERVICE STABILITRAK" AND MY CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF. I CLOSED THE STABILITRAK MESSAGE, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURNED OFF AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF SHORTLY AFTER. BUT MY CRUISE CONTROL STILL WONT ENGAGE. I'VE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AND IT STILL ISNT WORKING. IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT GM VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED IT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS. I READ ON A FORUM THAT SOMEONE HAD THE ISSUE AND THE GM DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE AMOUNT OF ETHANOL IN THE GASOLINE. I HAPPENED TO HAVE FILLED UP MY TANK THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH REGULAR UNLEADED FROM MY LOCAL SPEEDWAY. NOT SURE OF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CONNECTED.

NHTSA ODI 11301537

Jan 22, 2020SuspensionWheels

AT 13,500 MILES THE VEHICLE HAD THIS PROBLEM, THE TIRES WEAR IN A BIZARRE WAY THAT WE HAD TO BY NEW TIRES, WAS SO HARD TO DRIVE AND THE WORST OF IT THE PROBLEM APPEAR WITHOUT WARNING .

NHTSA ODI 11301274

Jan 6, 2020SteeringAirbagsWheelsCrash2 injuries

ON I35 SOUTH BOUND JUST NORTH OF OSEOLA IA. AT 73 MILES AN HOUR SOMETHING CAME LOOSE ON LEFT FRONT CAR TOOK A HARD LEFT NO CONTROL CRASHING INTO CABLE BARRIER IN MEDIAN. 3 PEOPLE ON BOARD 2 FRONT 1 REAR. NONE CAN EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED IT HAPPENED SO FAST. LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND AXLE WERE NOT FOUND AT THE SEEN OF THE ACCIDENT LEFT FRONT WAS COMPLETELY GONE. ONLY 4 AIRBAGS OF THE 10 ON BOARD DEPLOYED. RECEIVED ONSTAR NOTIFICATIONS ON STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM (STABILITRAK}, ANTILOCK BRAKING, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, AND FLAT DRIVERS SIDE REAR ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11297324

Dec 20, 2019Electrical systemLatches & locks

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCK THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS STILL ABLE TO LIFT THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SAPAUGH MOTORS (LOCATED AT 1435 MCNUTT ST, HERCULANEUM, MO 63048, 636-334-9048), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11290365

Nov 6, 2019BrakesCrashFire

I WAS TRAVELLING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES IN PLENTY OF TIME, BUT I REAR-ENDED THE VAN IN FRONT OF ME. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE SKIDDED INTO THE VAN, BUT LOOKING AT THE COLLISION SITE LATER, THERE WERE NO TIRE MARKS.

NHTSA ODI 11278566

Oct 29, 2019BrakesCrash

I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. RATE OF SPEED WAS 40 MPH, AND WHEN BRAKES WERE FIRMLY/HEAVILY APPLIED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, WHICH CAUSED ME TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI 11271745

Aug 30, 2019

CAR HAS A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. CURRENTLY AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP, BUT NOISE HAS TEMPORARILY GONE AWAY. SEEMS THAT THEY CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE AT THE MOMENT BUT IT SEEMS THAT OTHER OLDER AND NEWER VEHICLES OF THEY SAME KIND AS MINE (CHEVY CRUZE 2018) 1.4L AUTOMATIC HAS HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY AREA. THIS TICKING NOISE LASTED A WHOLE DAY BUT WENT AWAY THIS MORNING ONCE DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11252427

Aug 30, 2019Steering

IT STARTED AROUND THE 18TH OF THIS MONTH. WHEN I GO TO TURN MY CAR MAKING A POPPING SOUND... I TAKE IT INTO MY CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY STATE ITS THE STEERING RACK.. THEY REPLACE MY STEERING GEAR AT N/C BECAUSE AT THAT TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET IT IN WARRANTY, WE ARE NOT ON MY THIRD VISIT NO LONGER UNDER GM WARRANTY DUE TO MILES AND I STILL HEAR POPPING WHEN TURNING..

NHTSA ODI 11252432

Aug 21, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED, AND LOST POWER WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED OR WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET OF PALATINE (151 E LAKE COOK RD, PALATINE, IL 60074, (847) 359-7700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TURBO LAG. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS RESET AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, THE PROBLEM NEVER STOPPED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,148. *TT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOW BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AS OF 8-21-19. I WAS ADVISED BY LU (A WOMAN), THAT A SENIOR ADVISER WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH WITHIN 2 BUSINESS DAYS, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE AS OF YET. FYI I ENCOUNTERED SOMEONE AT A GAS STATION THAT ADVISED ME THAT HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS CAR (SAME MAKE & MODEL), WHEN HIS AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. HE GAVE ME HIS CONTACT INFO: FERNANDO GARCIA - PH#: (773)949-0922.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11245474

Aug 12, 2019

WENT TO STOP AND PEDAL GOT HARD TO PUSH DOWN THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD AMECHANIC FIX IT THE 3RD TIME I TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE 15 MONTHS OLD

NHTSA ODI 11243403

Jul 31, 2019

THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM IS MESSING UP ALL THE TIME. I WAS HEADED TO MY SISTER IN LAWS IN MARYLAND AND I WAS 2 HRS AWAY FROM HER HOUSE N 3 HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AND THE TIRE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR SAID THAT MY TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOW. I WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND I FREAKED OUT BC I COULDN'T GET OVER TO FIX MY TIRE. I ENDED UP GETTING OVER AND FINDING OUT THAT MY TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FINE AND IT WAS JUST THE SYSTEM MESSING UP. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR STARTED READING THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS SLOWLY GOING BACK UP TO WERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. EVER SINCE THEN THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR GOES OFF AND THEN GOES AWAY AFTER AWHILE.

NHTSA ODI 11240848

Jul 23, 2019EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, A POP NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND BLACK SMOKE SHOT OUT FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY FLAMES THAT QUICKLY COVERED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. BOTH POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A ROADRUNNER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE GERRY LANE CHEVROLET DEALER (225-366-7962, LOCATED AT 6505 FLORIDA BLVD, BATON ROUGE, LA 70806) WHERE THE DEALER DENIED RESPONSIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND LEFT THE MATTER UP TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,600.

NHTSA ODI 11234215

Jun 11, 2019

THIS IS A DIESEL CRUZ. OF NO FAULT OF MY OWN, THE CAR MUST BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A MANUAL REGENERATION OF THE EXHAUST PARTICULATE FILTER PERFORMED WITH 16K MILES ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11219316

Jun 5, 2019Engine

CAR HAD GREATLY REDUCED FUEL ECONOMY AND POWER. SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN. CHEVY DID NOT RESPOND TO MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GET RENTAL. THEY FORCED ME TO DRIVE A CAR THAT WAS NOT OPERATING AS DESIGNED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND THEY AGREED THE CAR HAD ISSUES. 2 WEEKS AFTER DRIVING IT THEY FIGURED OUT TURBO HAS A LEAK THAT THEY FIXED. 2 WEEKS I DROVE A CAR THAT SOUNDED LIKE A JET UPON ACCELERATING AND CHEVY DID NOTHING. DIDN'T EVEN OFFER A RENTAL.

NHTSA ODI 11218191

May 21, 2019AirbagsBody & structureBrakesCrash

MY CRUZE WAS EVOLVED IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT THAT THE BRAKES OPERATION IS IN QUESTION

NHTSA ODI 11208966

Apr 24, 2019Wheels

OWN A 2018 CHEVY CRUZE, PURCHASED OFF SHOWROOM FLOOR IN JULY 2018. SINCE THEN THE TIRES HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO BLOW OUTS OR BULDGING. THAT IS 12 BRAND NEW TIRES IN LESS THAN A YEAR! WHEN RECEIVED A BLOW OUT THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE TYPE OF TIRES ARE HANKOOK VENTUS V2 205/50/R/17. THE DATE SPAN IS APPROXIMATELY JANUARY TO THE PRESENT.

NHTSA ODI 11203431

Apr 1, 2019Visibility & wipersCrash

RADIO/INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM DISPLAY GOES FULL BRIGHT EVEN DURING NIGHT AND CANNOT BE DIMMED AND DESTROYS THE DRIVERS NIGHT VISION AND CAN ONLY BE RESET BY STOPPING THE CAR AND CYCLING THROUGH REVERSE, TO ACTIVATE REVERSE CAMERA. ALSO, REVERSE CAMERA OPERATION PUTS SCREEN IN FULL BRIGHT, WHICH AT NIGHT MAKES THE DISPLAY TOO BRIGHT TO USE, AND DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER TRYING TO SAFELY OPERATE THE CAR IN REVERSE AT NIGHT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALL 2016-2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE WITH THE 7' MYLINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE ACTIVE ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSION OF THIS ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.CRUZETALK.COM/FORUM/393-GEN2-AUDIO-ELECTRONICS/223897-HOW-DIM-7-MYLINK-DISPLAY.HTML GENERAL MOTORS FIX IS TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE FOR 13 SECONDS AFTER STOPPING AND BACK INTO DRIVE. THIS IS AFTER SIX MONTHS OF DEALING WITH THIS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ODI 11193176

Mar 30, 2019Visibility & wipers

CAR FOGS THEN FROSTS UP . ALSS WHEN IT RAINS THE OUTER PART OF WINDOWS HAVE AN ADD FILM AND MAKE IT VERY HARD TO SEE AFTER THE WINDSHIELD WIPES THE RAIN OFF. VERY DANGEROUS CAR. I HAVE LOOKED AROUND AND ALL SEEM TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS?

NHTSA ODI 11192601

Mar 23, 2019Visibility & wipers

RADIO/INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM DISPLAY GOES FULL BRIGHT EVEN DURING NIGHT AND CANNOT BE DIMMED AND DESTROYS THE DRIVERS NIGHT VISION AND CAN ONLY BE RESET BY STOPPING THE CAR AND CYCLING THROUGH REVERSE, TO ACTIVATE REVERSE CAMERA. ALSO, REVERSE CAMERA OPERATION PUTS SCREEN IN FULL BRIGHT, WHICH AT NIGHT MAKES THE DISPLAY TOO BRIGHT TO USE, AND DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER TRYING TO SAFELY OPERATE THE CAR IN REVERSE AT NIGHT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALL 2016-2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE WITH THE 7' MYLINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE ACTIVE ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSION OF THIS ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.CRUZETALK.COM/FORUM/393-GEN2-AUDIO-ELECTRONICS/223897-HOW-DIM-7-MYLINK-DISPLAY.HTML

NHTSA ODI 11191084

Mar 23, 2019Visibility & wipers

RADIO/INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM DISPLAY GOES FULL BRIGHT EVEN DURING NIGHT AND CANNOT BE DIMMED AND DESTROYS THE DRIVERS NIGHT VISION AND CAN ONLY BE RESET BY STOPPING THE CAR AND CYCLING THROUGH REVERSE, TO ACTIVATE REVERSE CAMERA. ALSO, REVERSE CAMERA OPERATION PUTS SCREEN IN FULL BRIGHT, WHICH AT NIGHT MAKES THE DISPLAY TOO BRIGHT TO USE, AND DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER TRYING TO SAFELY OPERATE THE CAR IN REVERSE AT NIGHT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALL 2016-2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE WITH THE 7' MYLINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE ACTIVE ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSION OF THIS ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.CRUZETALK.COM/FORUM/393-GEN2-AUDIO-ELECTRONICS/223897-HOW-DIM-7-MYLINK-DISPLAY.HTML

NHTSA ODI 11191086

Mar 15, 2019WheelsBrakes

TAMAKA RECALL SQUEAKY NOISE COMING FROM FRONT LEFT AXLE WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY OR CITY STREET. FRONT BREAKS LEAKING.

NHTSA ODI 11187169

Mar 9, 2019SteeringElectrical systemEngine

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 60MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE DASH WENT COMPLETELY DARK. NO POWER, NO STEERING. DRIFTED TO SHOULDER. PUT IN PARK, TURNED KEY TO OFF THEN ON. VEHICLE STARTED. (NO WARNING OR SERVICE CODES) REPLICATED AGAIN ABOUT 10 MINS LATER. ON CITY STREET TRAVELING 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING DASH WENT DARK AND CAR SHUT OFF. SAME PROCEDURE TO START. (NO WARNING OR SERVICE CODES) UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED MASSIVE FAILURE. NO INDICATORS.

NHTSA ODI 11185508

Feb 20, 2019BrakesCrash

I HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICE FOR THE 30,000 MILES FLUSH ON JANUARY 21,2019. ON JANUARY 29TH I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN MORNING TRAFFIC HEADING NORTH ON THE 110 WHEN AT 25 MILES I MADE A SUDDEN STOP DUE TO THE CAR IMFRONT OF ME. MY CAR DIDN'T STOP AND SLAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR WAS REPORTED TO BE TWO DAYS LATER AS A TOTAL LOSS. I'M GRATEFUL MY KIDS, SISTER AND I WEREN'T INJURED. JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AFTER JUST PAYING ALMOST $500 A WEEK BEFORE FOR SERVICING.

NHTSA ODI 11181271

Feb 13, 2019Lights

WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK. IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED ON 1/12/2019. I HAD TO RETURN ON 1/21/2019 BECAUSE WATER WAS STILL LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK. THEN AFTER APPARENTLY BEING FIXED AGAIN, I WAS FORCED TO RETURN ON 1/30/2019 WITH WATER STILL LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK, NOTHING WAS DONE (I HAVE PICTURES AND VIDEO OF SAID LEAK).

NHTSA ODI 11179730

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Working with the data? Download all 109 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2018 Chevrolet Cruze Limited verdict →