2011 Chevrolet CRUZE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Chevrolet CRUZE has 1115 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 13.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. while attempting to accelerate, the contact stated that the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. she was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving normally. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was inspected and diagnosed with a faul. ⚠️ 26 fire reports filed.

26 fire reports 44 crash reports 30 injuries

1115

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

13.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

296 complaints

27%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED WITH A FAUL
• I WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND LOOKING TO CHANGE LANES. I BACKED OFF THE THROTTLE TO LET ONE CAR PASS. JUST WHEN THERE WAS AN OPENING IN TRAFFIC AND I WAS READY TO ACCELERATE, THE COMPUTER TOOK FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND RAPIDLY SLOWED TO 10 MPH. AT THIS POIN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 45-65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES WHEN DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A TEST DRIVE AND WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 17 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED WITH A FAUL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

193 complaints

17%

• I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE. I JUST PURCHASED IN NOV 2010. ONE MONTH AFTER I HAD THE CAR I HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER DUE TO STEERING NOISE WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT/RIGHT. THEY HAD TO LUBRICATE SOME PARTS BY THE WHEELS. STARTING IN FEB 2011 I NOTICE THE CAR STARTED TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN YOU TOOK
• I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2011 CHEVY CRUZE LS. AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THAT WHEN DRIVING IT IN MANUAL AND COMING TO A STOP THE CAR WOULD VIOLENTLY SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONTACTED GM. THEY ALSO TEST DROVE EVERY CHEVY CRUZE LS
• I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE FOR THE REASON THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS AN ISSUE THAT MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT THE TRANSMISSION COMES OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND SITS IN NEUTRAL THEN POPS BACK INTO DRIVE THIS IS VERY UNSAFE I HAVE CONTACTED GM ON THE ISSUE AS WELL AS MY LOCA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE. I JUST PURCHASED IN NOV 2010. ONE MONTH AFTER I HAD THE CAR I HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER DUE TO STEERING NOISE WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT/RIGHT. THEY HAD TO LUBRICATE SOME PARTS BY THE WHEELS. STARTING IN FEB 2011 I NOTICE THE CAR STARTED TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN YOU TOOK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

98 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE TOWED BEHIND A RV. HE READ THE MANUAL THAT STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE FUSE 22 WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE 12 VOLTS AND HE COULD NOT OPERATE THE AUXILIARY AFTERMARKET BRAKIN
• WHEN YOU BACK OFF THE THROTTLE AND SLOW TO 20 TO 25 MPH, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE CAR WILL DO. IT MAY COAST LIKE A NORMAL CAR. IT MAY DOWNSHIFT AND SLOW MODERATELY. OR IT MAY DOWNSHIFT TO FIRST GEAR AND SLOW RADICALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE COMPUTER TAKES FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. YOU STEP ON THE
• SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE SPEEDOMETER WENT UP TO OVER 60MPH AND SLOWLY FELL BACK DOWN TO ZERO. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER AND NEEDED TO ORDER A NEW ONE. I DECI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE TOWED BEHIND A RV. HE READ THE MANUAL THAT STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE FUSE 22 WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE 12 VOLTS AND HE COULD NOT OPERATE THE AUXILIARY AFTERMARKET BRAKIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

93 complaints

• I AM REPORTING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE 2011 CHEVY CRUISE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT DOES NOT STAY FASTENED TO THE PINS ON THE FLOOR AND BUNCHES UP BENEATH THE GAS PEDAL PREVENTING ACCELERATION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD RESULT IN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ACC
• NEW 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. 270 MILES ON ODOMETER. ENTERING MY GARAGE AND STEPPED ON BRAKES AND CARE WOULD NOT STOP. RELEASE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED AND CAR STOPPED. TOOK TO DEALER WHO TESTED AND FOUND NO PROBLEM BUT WHEN TECHNICIAN WAS TAKING CAR INTO BAY TO INSTALL MUDFLAPS PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. DEALERSH
• WHILE TEST DRIVING THE NEW 2011 CHEVY CRUZE I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS VERY SMALL AND THE REARVIEW MIRROR BLOCKS THE DRIVERS VIEW IM AND AVG 5'6 AND I COULD NOT SEE VERY WELL AT ALL . WHEN I TOLD THE DEALER ABOUT IT I WAS ENCOURAGED TO MOVE ON TOP ANOTHER VEHICLE IF I DIDN'T LIKE IT. I FEEL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I AM REPORTING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE 2011 CHEVY CRUISE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT DOES NOT STAY FASTENED TO THE PINS ON THE FLOOR AND BUNCHES UP BENEATH THE GAS PEDAL PREVENTING ACCELERATION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD RESULT IN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ACC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

76 complaints

• WE PURCHASED AND TOOK POSSESSION OF A NEW 2011, CHEVY CRUZE ON WED., MARCH 30TH. FIRST NEW CAR IN 11 YEARS AND WE WERE THRILLED. THRUS., MARCH 31TH, MY HUSBAND ALMOST RAMMED THRU THE STORE FRONT OF A SHOP.....STOPPING INCHES BEFORE THE MAIN ENTRANCE......FRI., APRIL 1ST, WE WENT THRU A STOP SIGN I
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME SPONGY UPON APPLICATION, FOLLOWED BY AN EXTENSIVE DELAYED RESPONSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THEY ST
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL DROPPED BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 13 crashes

“WE PURCHASED AND TOOK POSSESSION OF A NEW 2011, CHEVY CRUZE ON WED., MARCH 30TH. FIRST NEW CAR IN 11 YEARS AND WE WERE THRILLED. THRUS., MARCH 31TH, MY HUSBAND ALMOST RAMMED THRU THE STORE FRONT OF A SHOP.....STOPPING INCHES BEFORE THE MAIN ENTRANCE......FRI., APRIL 1ST, WE WENT THRU A STOP SIGN I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1115 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED WITH A FAUL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE. I JUST PURCHASED IN NOV 2010. ONE MONTH AFTER I HAD THE CAR I HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER DUE TO STEERING NOISE WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT/RIGHT. THEY HAD TO LUBRICATE SOME PARTS BY THE WHEELS. STARTING IN FEB 2011 I NOTICE THE CAR STARTED TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN YOU TOOK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE TOWED BEHIND A RV. HE READ THE MANUAL THAT STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE FUSE 22 WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE 12 VOLTS AND HE COULD NOT OPERATE THE AUXILIARY AFTERMARKET BRAKIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I AM REPORTING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE 2011 CHEVY CRUISE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT DOES NOT STAY FASTENED TO THE PINS ON THE FLOOR AND BUNCHES UP BENEATH THE GAS PEDAL PREVENTING ACCELERATION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD RESULT IN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ACC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)