2013 Chevrolet CRUZE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Chevrolet CRUZE has 931 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 11.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: best way to describe what happened was when i was sitting at the stop sign behind someone, with foot on the brake pedal, my car went forward about a foot or so, no gas acceleration from myself, i don't know if the gas was auto controlled, but i felt like i wasn't pushing on the brake enough even tho. ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.
931
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
11.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
233 complaints- • BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED WAS WHEN I WAS SITTING AT THE STOP SIGN BEHIND SOMEONE, WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR WENT FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT OR SO, NO GAS ACCELERATION FROM MYSELF, I DON'T KNOW IF THE GAS WAS AUTO CONTROLLED, BUT I FELT LIKE I WASN'T PUSHING ON THE BRAKE ENOUGH EVEN THO
- • I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION ON MAY 25. A FEW DAYS LATER, APPROXIMATELY JUNE 1, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STOP WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY (HAD TO PUSH DOWN VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES WHICH DID NOT SEEM TO GO TO THE FLOOR). I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHILE I WAS
- • TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR CAR WASH ,AFTER DOING COMPLIMENTARY MULTI POINT INSPECTION THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME MY WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING.THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP ON A CAR WITH ONLY 10801 MILES. *TR
“BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED WAS WHEN I WAS SITTING AT THE STOP SIGN BEHIND SOMEONE, WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR WENT FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT OR SO, NO GAS ACCELERATION FROM MYSELF, I DON'T KNOW IF THE GAS WAS AUTO CONTROLLED, BUT I FELT LIKE I WASN'T PUSHING ON THE BRAKE ENOUGH EVEN THO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
120 complaints- • AFTER CHANGING OIL FILTER, OIL SPRAYED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES INTO DRIVE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE SAFE, BUT THE DAMAGE IS EXPENSIVE. WIRING HARNESSES, AS WELL AS MASTER CYLINDER WERE MELTED. THE TOP MOUNTED FILTER IS A PLEATED CARTRIDGE
- • LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2013 CHEVY CRUZE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS VERY LITTLE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED, AND THE WINDOWS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD FOG UP. *JB UPDATED 04/28/14 *JB
- • INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. POWER STEERING SHUT OFF DURING TURN. LACK OF POWER STEERING LASTED APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS. *TR
“AFTER CHANGING OIL FILTER, OIL SPRAYED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES INTO DRIVE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE SAFE, BUT THE DAMAGE IS EXPENSIVE. WIRING HARNESSES, AS WELL AS MASTER CYLINDER WERE MELTED. THE TOP MOUNTED FILTER IS A PLEATED CARTRIDGE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
112 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE
- • ON APRIL 27, 2013, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY CAR I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JERKED IN THE REVERSE SO HARD THAT IF A CAR WAS DIRECTED BEHIND ME PARKED I WOULD HAVE HIT IT AND DAMAGED BOTH CARS. THEN, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD WHEN I SWITCH GEARS TO DRIVE FORWARD AND THE
- • WHILE AT A STOP, MY CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD, LIKE SOMEONE IS PUSHING IT FROM BEHIND. LUCKILY I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES THIS PAST MONTH SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. *TR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
80 complaints- • CAR WAS JERKING, THEN STALLED, THEN STABLITRACK AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
- • WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY STEREO SYSTEM WOULD LOSE ALL POWER. MY DISPLAY ON THE SPEED DISPLAY SHOWED "SERVICE STABILATRACK". MY ABS, BRAKE AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND CONTINUED TO BLINK. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE PLACE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID IT DIDN'T TRIGGER A CODE SO THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. I H
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A WARRANTY LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE BATTERY CONNECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE AIR CONDITIONING FAILED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
“CAR WAS JERKING, THEN STALLED, THEN STABLITRACK AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
74 complaints- • AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 90 MILES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECOMES "NOTCHY". MINOR STEERING CORRECTIONS BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL ONLY MOVE IN FINITE INCREMENTS SO DRIVING THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT, EVEN DANGEROUS SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO POSITION IT PROPER
- • AFTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR 660 MILES, I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE'S A GRINDING OR KNOCKING FEELING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHILE PULLING IT OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I FELT A KNOCKING ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT'S NOT WEATHER SENSITIVE AND GIVES THE SAME FEELING REGARDLESS OF SPEED. IT'S NO PRE
- • BACKING OUT OF DRIVE--SEAT BELT ON-CAR SPED UP AT RAPID ACCELERATION--NO CONTROL-RAN INTO TELEPHONE POLE--BRAKED NO RESULTS. CAR CIRCLED IN ROAD AND CROSSED ROAD--TRIED SHIFTING. NO RESULT TURNED OFF IGNITION JUST AS CAR WAS TO STRIKE A BIG TREE . CAR STOPPED. PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR BADLY DAMAGED W
“AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 90 MILES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECOMES "NOTCHY". MINOR STEERING CORRECTIONS BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL ONLY MOVE IN FINITE INCREMENTS SO DRIVING THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT, EVEN DANGEROUS SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO POSITION IT PROPER”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 931 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED WAS WHEN I WAS SITTING AT THE STOP SIGN BEHIND SOMEONE, WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR WENT FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT OR SO, NO GAS ACCELERATION FROM MYSELF, I DON'T KNOW IF THE GAS WAS AUTO CONTROLLED, BUT I FELT LIKE I WASN'T PUSHING ON THE BRAKE ENOUGH EVEN THO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: AFTER CHANGING OIL FILTER, OIL SPRAYED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES INTO DRIVE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE SAFE, BUT THE DAMAGE IS EXPENSIVE. WIRING HARNESSES, AS WELL AS MASTER CYLINDER WERE MELTED. THE TOP MOUNTED FILTER IS A PLEATED CARTRIDGE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: CAR WAS JERKING, THEN STALLED, THEN STABLITRACK AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet CRUZE — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 931
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 14
- Crash reports
- 68
- Injury reports
- 39
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Chevrolet CRUZE