2013 Chevrolet Cruze
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 586 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 10 Cruze model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 54 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 32 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, ignitionJul 5, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Campaign 16V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electricalJul 2, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.
Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.
Campaign 14V417000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsJun 26, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's front air bag inflator may have been manufactured with an incorrect part.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike and potentially seriously injure the vehicle occupants. Additionally, if the air bag does not inflate, the driver is at an increased risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14305.
Campaign 14V372000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftMar 31, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with a 1.4L turbo engine, and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and March 7, 2014. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.
If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right half shaft, as needed, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. GM will send an interim letter to owners in May 2014. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's number for this recall is 14079. This is an expansion of recall 13V-452. NOTE: Some vehicles subject to this recall were subject to the recall campaign initiated in 2013. Some of those vehicles were repaired using defective parts. Those owners will be advised that they must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign and that having the earlier recall completed did not remedy their vehicles.
Campaign 14V151000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftSep 23, 2013
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) and manufactured January 24, 2013, through August 1, 2013. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.
If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
General Motors has notified owners. Dealers will replace the half shaft assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 15, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300. This is General Motors campaign number 13276.
Campaign 13V452000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
586 reports, newest first.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 29, 2026
I’d like to report this vehicle and its engine as I did not know I could before we have had this car since 2015 This engine has chronic repeated issues that Chevy would patch once under “special coverages” or “extended warranty” and it fails again and again but they only honor it 1 time even if it fails yet again due to bad engineering or design flaws. This car has had 3 water pumps 5 water outlets- I eventually had to buy an off market alternative to stop this from failing, 2 (about to be 3) valve covers because the PCV valve is a chronic failure on the system cause oil to bypass into the intake and feed back into the turbo but it’s built into the valve cover instead of a separate piece like other engines. This car with the 1.4 L turbo is not safe or reliable to be on the road. The cruise control will work 1 maybe 2 times in a drive cycle then refuse to work again with no rhyme or reason and they cannot find the issue. This car has left me stranded many of times and is not trust worthy to be sold to someone else and Chevy will not honor the fact it’s a failing engine. Could this be looked into I know I have had this car a long time it is just now at 120k miles all these problems started before 100k miles and are reoccurring.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jun 25, 2026
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Engine, Feb 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact felt ill and pulled over to the side of the road. The contact stated that a passerby stopped and found the contact unconscious inside the vehicle. The ambulance was called to the scene, and the contact was taken to the hospital. The doctor determined that the contact had 27% of carbon monoxide inside the body. The contact received oxygen to expel the carbon monoxide. The vehicle remained near the walking trail where the contact had pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. Prior to the issue, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal and went into LIMP Mode. The contact stopped by Auto Zone for a diagnostic test. The contact was unsure what code was found. The doctor believed that the carbon monoxide poisoning was related to the vehicle. The insurance company was notified, and a claim was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Nov 9, 2025
When I accelerate my rpm goes up but car dosent move as speed says and takes for me to let off the gas to speed up , and my steering when I turn it pulls away n it keep popping up service traction and going off
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 17, 2025
My car over heats at least over 300 degrees. Afraid that my vehicle is In danger of catching fire due to the high temperature causing tension belt and hose components to melt.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 30, 2025
I’ve had the thermostat housing fail twice now. And now it leaking again for the third time!! Now the service stabilitrak light is on, but it only happens when the car is idling. This happened to me before while driving and I replaced the spark plugs and the coil pack. I know on other models the valve cover failed as well but I don’t see a recall on that, or the thermostat housing issues…. I just don’t get whyyyyy if people are having all the same issues why not recall it!!???
Air bags, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 20, 2025
For the airbag the car was sold to me without a working airbag. It’s in the steering wheel (I have been told this by a Chevrolet dealership) and the part that is broken is the part that will make it inflate in case of crash. This is scary to me. I was just in my first (and hopefully only) accident a month before in a more steely car and while no airbags were deployed it still hurts. The second issue is with the fuel pump or sensor - the coding is very unsure but the dash (including the mechanical gauge) says the car will go from half tank to empty on an 8 mile drive. It has no leaks on the underside and I had it into the mechanic twice. The second time because it stumbled and stalled at a stop light. Before dying - half tank. August 6th they just scanned it with their computer I got no paperwork from them. On the 15th I didn’t get any paperwork either. I will include the shop’s number.
Electrical system, Aug 14, 2025
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 157,454. The contact later discovered that the title mileage was 189,000.
Engine, Aug 11, 2025
This is the second time that we have experienced over heating issues. Currently the car has been out of commission for over a year and half. Every since we purchased the car used it has over heated. The first time of course the head gasket was blown. We paid $1200 to have it fixed. Still ran hot we replaced the water pump. After a year same issues. Car has been parked as we do not have the money to repair it. I have read about 6 pages of the same complaint. I do believe that it is time for GM to issue a recall. We are currently making payments on a car that we are unable to drive. We have spent almost as much as we paid for the car. Again this is not good. Seems like this car was doomed from the start.
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Jun 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle also lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic control unit module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,212. The VIN was not available.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 31, 2025
Unknown
Engine, Apr 24, 2025
for some strange reason the engine has 150K miles on it and has been extremely well maintained however there is oil blowby coming from the oil filler cap which coats the entire engine belts will slip and cause drivability issues this oil vapor can also coat the front wheel brake discs and soak the pads causing braking failure to occur GM said they are aware of this problem however they do not have a recall to replace the engine or causing issue with the vehicle and i would be better off buying a new GM vehicle rather then worry about this insignificant issue since no accidents have occurred I Maintain my vehicles to the gills something like this is very concerning since this is my wifes car and out child travels in this car what can the NHTSA do to make GM correct this issue on this chevy cruze?
Engine, Apr 14, 2025
Check engine light is on and the low fuel efficiency which will cause the system to fail and the vehicle to shut down while driving.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Feb 26, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the Engine Control Module (ECM) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 20, 2024
I am writing to express my concern regarding a serious issue with my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. Recently, I noticed that my car's engine was overheating, which I initially thought was due to a problem with the coolant or radiator. However, on [XXX], my vehicle suddenly broke down while I was driving on the highway. I had my car towed to a mechanic, who informed me that this particular model of the Chevrolet Cruze, specifically from the years 2011-2015, is known to have severe engine overheating problems. The mechanic also mentioned that in cases like mine, the engine is often seized and sent to the junkyard. After researching further and reading through numerous online reviews from other Cruze owners, I discovered that engine overheating is a common and recurring issue for many of them. This leads me to believe that this problem may be more widespread and could potentially be a defect in the design or manufacturing of the engine. Given the severity of this issue and the impact it has on vehicle safety, I kindly request that you consider issuing a recall for the engines in the 2011-2015 Chevrolet Cruze models, similar to the actions taken for other vehicle recalls, such as the Hyundai Sonata. I hope that Chevrolet will take steps to address this issue and ensure that owners like myself do not have to face costly repairs or the loss of their vehicle due to an engine failure that appears to be inherent in these models. I would greatly appreciate your attention to this matter and hope for a positive resolution, such as a recall or another form of support for owners dealing with this serious engine problem. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely [XXX] , [XXX] 2013 Chevrolet Cruze LT Plate - [XXX] Vin - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Nov 7, 2024
Transmission messed up only own the car for 7 months
Electrical system, Nov 7, 2024
Vehicle randomly powers up and tries to start with the key in the ignition. Service theft deterrent message displayed at times while trying to start.
Engine, Oct 24, 2024
The engine in my 2013 chevy cruze failed due to the head gasket, and it causes the car to overheat. Chevrolet issued a recall on some 2013 and 2014 Cruze models for head gasket problems. The gasket in these models is known to fail and that can completely destroy the motor. When a head gasket fails that allows the oil and the coolant to mix; and that will destroy the lubrication in your engine and cause the engine to fail. Pepboys repair shop-- has the repair invoice.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 4, 2024
Broken mode select gear. Unable to change the heat to defrost and the windshield will not clear in cold weather.
Other or unspecified, Jul 4, 2024
Have been told it’s the catalytic converter but when driving it loses power and stalls. It has almost caused wrecks. Ever since I got this vehicle it’s been one thing after another and the more I look online about the issues with my vehicle, the more I realize that thousands and thousands of Chevy Cruze owners are having the same issues. I’ve had to put two oxygen sensors on it since having it, replaced the turbo, spark plugs, all kinds of parts on this vehicle. They clearly did not make this vehicle safe or reliable
Visibility/wiper, Jul 3, 2024
Broken blend door in hvac box. No heat to defrost windows.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 2, 2024
I have a powerstop b992l brake shoe and hardware kit. The mfg date is 2023/12/04. The issue is that the drum adjusters are made in a way they do not turn freely, thereby the drums will not adjust. In the diagram pat b will not turn on part a. There are clear witness marks on the inside where the end fits on the ratchet pawl. I have the parts available for inspection as needed and can mail then as well as the box side with their information.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 7, 2024
I own 3 Chevy Cruze, a 2012, 2013 and 2016. They all partial power down or decelerate while driving. The local Chevy dealers has no recalls for this issue or any other for that matter. Please advise
Engine, May 20, 2024
Coolant loss and overheating requiring additional coolant. Warning of possible power loss due to overheating.
Seats, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 17, 2024
I'm looking into purchasing a Chevy Cruze 2013 Lt from a friend. I am researching and noticing some issues and recalls. I was wondering if this statement is true. Could you let me know more information about this? Thank you for your time. The issues I'm seeing are the turbocharge and coolant at the moment.