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: engine
232 reports, newest first. Show all
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Apr 2, 2014
WHEN MY HUSBAND AND DRIVE THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF THE CAR TRIES TO RE-CRANK ON ITS OWN. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. ALSO, MY COUSIN WITNESS IT ONE DAY AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE IGNITION OR WHAT. WE WANTED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM SOONER BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO UNTIL I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET. IT'S SCARY TO SEE SUCH VEHICLE TRYING TO RE-START ITSELF. *TR
Air bags, Engine, Mar 14, 2014, crash, fire
I PURCHASED A 2013 CHEVY CRUZE IN JUNE, 2013. IN NOVEMBER OF THE SAME YEAR, I STRUCK A DEER ON A RURAL STRETCH OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED (70MPH). AT THIS POINT THERE WERE ROUGHLY 9,000 MILES ON IT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT I WAS UNHARMED. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DO A 180 DEGREE ROLL ONTO THE SHOULDER, AT WHICH POINT I EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SEE THE AREA NEAR THE BATTERY SMOKING WITH A SMALL FLAME COMING OUT OF IT. WITHIN MINUTES, AND BEFORE EMERGENCY VEHICLES COULD ARRIVE THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 14, 2014
IN APRIL OF 2013 MY 2013 CHEVY CRUZE SHUT OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OFF FROM A RED LIGHT THAT JUST TURNED GREEN, AS SOON AS I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND ME SO I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TURNING THE CAR ON BUT I HAD TO PUT IT PARK THEN START IT AGAIN AND CONTINUED EN ROUTE AND DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF IT. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE FOURTH INCIDENT I HAD A CAR FULL OF FAMILY MEMBER AND WE WERE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY ON RAMP SLOWING TO COME TO A STOP WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN SO AS SOON AS I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND I HAD NO CONTROL AND WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE LANE OVER SO THE TRUCK BEHIND ME SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE AND I ONCE AGAIN PUT THE CAR IN PARK STARTED AGAIN AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT A FEW WEEKS LATER THAT THEY FIGURED THE PROBLEM WAS A LOW OCTANE GAS AND I JUST NEEDED TO START USING CHEVRON ONLY AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME $250 IN CHEVRON GAS CARDS. I REFUSED TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE I ALREADY ONLY USED CHEVRON GAS IN THE VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN DECEMBER 2012 WITH ONLY 3 MILES. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF ARGUING BACK IN FORTH ABOUT THEM NOT HAVING A FIX FOR THE CAR I RETURNED THE RENTAL AND PURCHASED A DIFFERENT VEHICLE ELSEWHERE AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM WHICH ALSO GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT THE VEHICLE BEING FIXED WHEN IT WASN'T EVER WORKED ON TO THIS DAY THEY HAVE THE CAR AND I AM NOW IN COLLECTIONS AND CONTINUING THIS HEADACHE WITH GM. THEY SAID ITS NOT A RECALL BUT I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE INCLUDING THE RENTAL COMPANY THAT HAS HAD THE CHEVY CRUZE SHUT OFF ON THEM AS WELL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 6, 2014
NOTICED A COOLANT (ANTIFREEZE) ODOR WHEN THE HEAT IS ON. I DON'T NOTICE IT ALL THE TIME, SOME DAYS THERE'S A STRONGER ODOR THAN OTHERS. PLENTY OF INFO ON OTHER WEBSITES WITH SAME ISSUE. (CRUZETALK.COM) *TR
Engine, Jan 10, 2014
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
Service brakes, Engine, Jul 8, 2013, crash
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 STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS OR BEHIND OTHER VEHICLES THE CAR WOULD LUNGE FORWARD--NOT ENOUGH TO HIT SOMEONE BECAUSE I NOTICED IT AS SOON AS IT HAPPENED. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, JEFF WYLER CHEVROLET EASTGATE, AND ADVISED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. SOMEONE TEST DROVE THE CAR WITH ME IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND HE INFORMED ME THAT HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I DO NOT KNOW IF HE CHECKED ANYTHING ELSE WHILE I WAS IN THE WAITING ROOM. AT MY REQUEST, HE PROVIDED ME WITH A PRINTOUT DOCUMENTING THE VISIT. ON JULY 7, 2013, WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO OUR GARAGE, THE BRAKES FAILED AND SHE HIT MY GRANDDAUGHTER BICYCLE WHICH, IN TURN, WENT THROUGH THE DRYWALL AT THE END OF THE GARAGE. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN LIVING AT THE HOUSE INCLUDING AN 8 AND 10 YEAR OLD. THERE IS ALSO A SIGN ON OUR STREET INDICATING A DEAF CHILD LIVES ON THE STREET (WE HAVE ONLY LIVED THERE SINCE NOV. 2012). WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT A CHILD HAS NOT BEEN INJURED. THERE IS NO WAY TO ALERT THE DEAF CHILD THAT THE CAR IS COMING THEIR WAY SINCE THEY CANNOT HEAR THE HORN. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Jun 4, 2013
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 THOUGH I WAS, I DID SOME INVESTIGATING AND I READ ONLINE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THEIR 2013 CHEVY CRUZE. *TR