2018 Chevrolet CRUZE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Chevrolet CRUZE has 166 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: while driving my 2018 chevy cruze the oil light came on, the engine locked up, and the vehicle caught fire. the dealership said that it was due to a fuel line spraying fuel on the engine.. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 21 crash reports 10 injuries

166

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

29 complaints

17%

• WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY CRUZE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FUEL LINE SPRAYING FUEL ON THE ENGINE.
• I WAS LEAVING WORK ON 11-30-18 @ 5P.M. STARTED DRIVING DOWN LA HARPE BLVD, LIKE I DO EVERYDAY AFTER WORK. IT WAS RAINING THAT AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK. I WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. I HAD IT TOWED TO CRAIN CHEVROLET WHERE TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO QUIRK CHEVROLET OF PORTLAND (LOCATED AT 1000 BRIGHTON AVE, PORTLAND, ME 04102, (207) 420-8968) AND THE CONTACT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY CRUZE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FUEL LINE SPRAYING FUEL ON THE ENGINE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

24 complaints

14%

• THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR HAS SEVERAL AREAS WITH CHROME TYPE OF MATERIAL FOR DECORATIONS. DURING DAYTIME DRIVING, THE SUN HITS IT AND BLINDS ME, SO IT PREVENTS ME FROM DRIVING SAFELY UNTIL SUNDOWN.
• WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY CRUZE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FUEL LINE SPRAYING FUEL ON THE ENGINE.
• THE COMPUTER SCREEN IN THE DASH STAYS AT FULL BRIGHTNESS AT NIGHT. THIS MAKES FOR A BLIND SPOT DRIVING AND VERY HARD TO PARK THE CAR ON THE STREET AS IT BLOCKS VIEW TO THE MIRROR ON RIGHT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR HAS SEVERAL AREAS WITH CHROME TYPE OF MATERIAL FOR DECORATIONS. DURING DAYTIME DRIVING, THE SUN HITS IT AND BLINDS ME, SO IT PREVENTS ME FROM DRIVING SAFELY UNTIL SUNDOWN.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

23 complaints

14%

• MY CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT TIMES CAUSING ME TO GIVE IT MORE GAS WHICH THEN CAUSE THE CAR TO REV UP TO A HIGH RPM (4000-5000) AND THEN LURCH FORWARD. ALSO, AT TIMES WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN SPEED, MY CAR WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH UNTIL I GIVE IT MORE GAS SO IT UP SHIFTS. MY CAR IS UNDER FACTORY W
• WHEN DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY CRUZE I HAD MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR AND NOT RELEASE, AND THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO GEAR. GENERAL MOTORS HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) ON THE ISSUE STATING THAT CONTAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID CAUSES THE
• AT 15,000 MILES MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION BEGAN MAKING NOISES AT HIGHER RPMS UNDER LOADS. VIBRATIONS WERE FELT AT THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHEN SHIFTING. VIBRATIONS FELT THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGHER ENGINE LOADS. THIS WAS AT BOTH HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED AND F

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

“MY CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT TIMES CAUSING ME TO GIVE IT MORE GAS WHICH THEN CAUSE THE CAR TO REV UP TO A HIGH RPM (4000-5000) AND THEN LURCH FORWARD. ALSO, AT TIMES WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN SPEED, MY CAR WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH UNTIL I GIVE IT MORE GAS SO IT UP SHIFTS. MY CAR IS UNDER FACTORY W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

14 complaints

• AS I WAS BACKING OUT I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE GAS AS I GOT READY TO BREAK I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THAT'S WHEN MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE PEDAL AND BACKED INTO THE PERSON BEHIND ME.
• 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 REPOR
• TAMAKA RECALL SQUEAKY NOISE COMING FROM FRONT LEFT AXLE WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY OR CITY STREET. FRONT BREAKS LEAKING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“AS I WAS BACKING OUT I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE GAS AS I GOT READY TO BREAK I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THAT'S WHEN MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE PEDAL AND BACKED INTO THE PERSON BEHIND ME.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

14 complaints

• 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 TRAV
• 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 MANUFACTU
• MY SON BOUGHT HIS CAR NOT EVEN HAPPEN IN A MONTH HE HIT A DEER HE SAID IT FELT WEIRD LIKE THE BRAKING SYSTEM WENT WEIRD NOT EVEN THINKING IT WENT TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND MY FATHER TOLD ME TO LOOK UP RECALLS AND IT WILL NOT LET ME LOOK IT UP IT'S IN THE VIN ISN'T RECOGNIZED BY GMC SO I'M CURIOUS ON

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 TRAV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 166 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY CRUZE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FUEL LINE SPRAYING FUEL ON THE ENGINE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR HAS SEVERAL AREAS WITH CHROME TYPE OF MATERIAL FOR DECORATIONS. DURING DAYTIME DRIVING, THE SUN HITS IT AND BLINDS ME, SO IT PREVENTS ME FROM DRIVING SAFELY UNTIL SUNDOWN.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: MY CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT TIMES CAUSING ME TO GIVE IT MORE GAS WHICH THEN CAUSE THE CAR TO REV UP TO A HIGH RPM (4000-5000) AND THEN LURCH FORWARD. ALSO, AT TIMES WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN SPEED, MY CAR WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH UNTIL I GIVE IT MORE GAS SO IT UP SHIFTS. MY CAR IS UNDER FACTORY W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: AS I WAS BACKING OUT I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE GAS AS I GOT READY TO BREAK I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THAT'S WHEN MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE PEDAL AND BACKED INTO THE PERSON BEHIND ME.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)