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: power train
112 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 3, 2019, crash
MY CAR IS A DANGER THE ENGINE POWER SLOWS DOWN WHEN DRIVING CAUSING ANOTHER TO HIT IN THE BACK POWER STEERING LIGHT DISPLAYS, STABILIZE TRACT AND ENGINE POWER, I HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT.I TOOK CAR TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP HARBISON RD COLUMBIA SC THEY JUST HALF REPAIR IT SOMEONE MAY DIE IF CAR CONTINUE TO POWER DOWN.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 17, 2019
MY CHECK ENGINE KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF AND WHEN COMES ON GIVE OUT POWER LITTLE BY LITTLE TILL MY ENGINE REDUCE POWER COMES UP AND GIVES OUT AND ALMOST CRASHED ON FREEWAY SERVAL TIMES
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Mar 5, 2019
TAKATA RECALL A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN IT GOES OFF THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT'S BACK ON AND MAKES A NOISE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS ON.
Power train, Engine, Jan 16, 2019
COULD PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT WON'T ACCELERATE. PRESSING THE GAS WITH NORMAL PRESSURE MAKES THE RPM'S INCREASE VERY QUICKLY AND THE CAR EITHER WON'T ACCELERATE OR WILL ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON PREVIOUSLY FOR TWO DAYS AND THEN SHUT OFF AND HASN'T COME BACK ON YET. I THINK IT IS THE TURBO. UNKNOWN CAUSE.
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jan 10, 2019
MARCH 2016. PROBLEM: CAR NOT ACCELERATING CORRECTLY, DIAGNOSIS: ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR BROKEN MARCH 2018. PROBLEM: CAR OVERHEATING AND LOSING POWER OVER 40MPH, DIAGNOSIS: COOLANT HOSE BREAK MAY 2018. CAR OVERHEATING AND LOSING POWER OVER 40MPH, DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE BREAK JUNE 2018: PROBLEM: SPEDOMETER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AND CAR BEGAN SPUTTERING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION COMPUTER (INPUT AND OUTPUT SENSOR) FRIED JANUARY 2019. PROBLEM: COOLING DRAINING EXTREMELY FAST AND CAR MAKING GURGLING NOISE (AT ALL SPEEDS), DIAGNOSIS: WATER PUMP BREAK, THERMOSTAT BREAK, SERPENTINE BELT AND 5. JANUARY 2019: PROBLEM: OIL LEAK, DIAGNOSIS: TIMING COVER GASKET NEED REPLACEMENT
Steering, Power train, Other or unspecified, Jan 7, 2019
FOR SOME REASON WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR IT STARTS SHAKING SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN I START DRIVING OR WHEN I BRAKE I TRIED TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND IT LOOKS THAT IT IS THE DRIVE SHAFT. I THOUGH THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT ONLY HAPPENED TO ME BUT I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MORE CARS INVOLVED IN THAT BUT MY CHEVY CRUZE 2013 LOOKS LIKE IT IS NOT NOT ONE OF THOSE. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT ?
Power train, Dec 10, 2018
CAR IS HAVING TURBO PROBLEMS. NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT IT SHOWS A TURBO UNDERBOOST DEFECT. SAYS ONLINE IT IS COMMON AMONGST CHEVY CRUZES
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 3, 2018
WOW THIS IS THE BAD CAR EVER I HAVE A LOT FIRST AIR FLOW SENSOR BAD PVC VALVE 2 TIMES NEW
Steering, Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 29, 2018
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LOSING COMPLETE POWER AND STEERING! SO DANGEROUS AND DEADLY! TAKING THE CAR IN TODAY, CAR ALSO RIDING ROUGH AND MISFIRING. ALL MAINTENANCE DONE EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AND THIS LAST ONE COULD HAVE KILLED MY TEENAGER DAUGHTER! IT STOPPED ON HER 5 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY!
Power train, Engine, Oct 4, 2018
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AIR LEAK CAME FROM VALVE COVER. APPARENTLY THE COVER AND MANIFOLD WENT BAD. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND PERMANENT FIX ON THIS IMMEDIATELY. TOO MANY OF THESE CARS ARE BEING SOLD, TOO MUCH MONEY IS BEING MADE NOT TO HAVE A FIX FOR THIS. MY CAR IS 16,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. RIDICULOUS!
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jul 28, 2018
TURNED ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND A CODE CAME ON AND THEN IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE, MADE SOME WEIRD CLANKING NOISE, THE NOISE COMES AND GOES BUT IS LOUD, RPMS WERE HIGH. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND PROBLEM WAS UNIDENTIFIED. CALLING DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING.
Power train, Engine, Jul 7, 2018
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, SO I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THE VALVE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. THE COST WAS $280.00 TO REPLACE IT. WHEN STARTING THE CAR THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN STARTING THE CAR. WE THOUGHT REPLACING THE VALVE COVER WOULD CORRECT THIS ISSUE, BUT IT DID NOT. THE CAR STILL HAS A REALLY LOUD CLANKING NOISE. ONCE THE CAR IS MOVING IT DRIVES FINE. (MANUAL SHIFT CAR) HOWEVER OUR FEARS ARE THAT IF SOMETHING BREAKS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, THAT IT COULD CAUSE ENGINE LOSS OR WORSE FREEZE IN THE MIDDLE OF CARS DRIVING 75MPH AND CAUSE A SEVER ACCIDENT. CAN Y'ALL PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS WITH THIS ISSUE?
Power train, Jun 13, 2018
TAKATA RECALL VERY HARD SHIFTING AND CLUNKING NOSE WHEN SHIFTING
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jun 9, 2018
CAR LOOSES SPEED CAN'T GIVE IT GAS HAS NO PULL! ONCE YOU TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR AND PUT BACK IN DRIVE, WORKS FINE. LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, ON RADIO. BOUGHT CAR IN FEBRUARY WITH 49.000 MILES ON IT DROVE TO STORE CAME BACK OUT OF STORE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD! MADE NO SOUND, CHECKED BATTERY EVERYTHING, 5 MIN LATER STARTED RITE UP. THIS CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO ME, I WISH I COULD RETURN IT.
Power train, Engine, Apr 11, 2018
MY 2013 CHEVY CRUZE THAT HAD 80000 MILES ON IT HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN OUT ALONG WITH THE BOLTS AND COOLING SYSTEM. UPON REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SPEAKING TO OTHERS THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD REGULAR TUNE-UPS AND OIL CHANGES ALONG WITH A ENGINE FLUSH. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE GASKETS. THE SHOP ALSO INFORMED ME THAT IF I WANTED THE COOLANT SYSTEM FIXED AND IT IS ON RECALL THAT THEY WOULD FIX AROUND THE COOLANT SYSTEM ...SEND THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR THE RECALL AND SEND THE CAR BACK TO THEM TO FINISH REPAIRS. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 4 YEARS AND WHEN I PURCHASED IT THE CAR ONLY HAD 10000 MILES AND FOR THIS TO HAPPEN THIS EARLY IN A CAR IS A PROBLEM.
Power train, Electrical system, Feb 27, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO TURN OFF. IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE THE GEAR SHIFTER OUT OF THE PARK POSITION THREE TIMES AND THEN PLACE IT BACK IN PARK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 1, 2018
HELLO, THIS SUNDAY MY 2013 CHEVY CRUZE WHILE DRIVING AN ALERT CAME UP SAYING THAT ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND OTHER NOTICES. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE CAR LOST POWER. THANKFULLY I WAS ON A SIDE STREET AT THE TIME AT A SLOW SPEED. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH DID OCCUR TO SOME PEOPLE WHO POSTED ON CHEVY FORUMS IT COULD BE FATAL. GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND WOULD NOT COVER THE COST TO REPAIR IT. THERE ARE MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AT THIS GOOGLE SEARCH HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?Q=CHEVY+CRUZE+THROTTLE+BODY+REDUCED+POWER&OQ=CHEVY+CRUZE+THROTTLE+BODY&AQS=CHROME.1.69I57J69I59J0L4.5323J0J7&SOURCEID=CHROME&IE=UTF-8 I FEEL LIKE GM SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED SO THAT THIS DOES NOT CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS FOR OTHERS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
Steering, Power train, Jan 28, 2018
THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE RIGHT CV JOINT IS LEAKING. ALSO MY STEERING WHEEL HAS A SMALL CATCH IN IT WHEN WE ARE DRIVING, WONDERING IF THESE ARE RELATED?
Power train, Jan 12, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED WHEN IT SHIFTED GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SYMDOM CHEVROLET, 369 N UNION RD, EVANSVILLE, WI 53536, (608) 882-4803) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TT *TR
Power train, Engine, Nov 2, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET OF SPARTANBURG (1051 ASHEVILLE HWY, SPARTANBURG, SC 29303) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE RELEASE VALVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 30, 2017
IN PARK AT RANDOM TIMES THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT WILL COME ON. THE CAR IS REAL SLUGGISH AT TAKE OF, I CAN NOT LEAVE A STOP SIGN WITH A CAR ANY LESS THAN 40-50 CAR LINKS AWAY WITHOUT FEAR OF GETTING HIT. WHEN THE SPEED FINALLY STARTS TO PICK UP IT SHIFTS ROUGH AT TIMES. THE CAR ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS JUMPING WHEN IN DRIVE AND HOLDING THE BRAKE.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Aug 10, 2017
I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO A OIL CAP. I CALLED AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SINCE THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF AND NOW THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON AND THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH.
Power train, May 9, 2017
AT FIRST, I STARTED THE CAR ONE DAY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP AND AS I TRIED TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN D THE "D" LIGHT STARTED FLASHING (NOT STEADY AS NORMAL) AND THERE WAS SOME NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I PUT IT BACK TO "P" AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN. THEN IT ACTED NORMALLY. LATER ON, IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING (THE TRANSMISSION SNAPPED AND THE "D" LIGHT STARTED FLASHING). I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS, AND THEY FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) WAS DEFECTIVE. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY RECALLS ON THE TCM FOR 2012 & 2013 CHEVY CRUZE, BUT MINE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED IN THOSE RECALLS AS PER THE DEALER. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT GM WILL INVESTIGATE THE CASE AND FEED ME BACK, BUT I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THEY DO NOT DO INVESTIGATIONS UNLESS IT COMES FROM THE NHTSA.
Power train, Electrical system, Dec 29, 2016
AT RANDOM CAR WILL IDLE UP AND DOWN AND RPMS WILL JUMP. THIS HAPPENS WHEN JUST CRANKED AND AFTER DRIVEN AND SITTING STILL IN IDLE. ALSO, AT RANDOM WHEN TRYING TO CRANK THE CAR IT SEEMS TO GET STUCK AND I WILL HAVE TO RETURN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO GET THE MOTOR TO FULLY TURN OVER.
Power train, Nov 14, 2016
MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THE CAR GAVE ME 2 WARNINGS, ONE FOR THE TRACTION CONTROL NEEDING SERVICED AND ONE FOR THE TRANSMISSION NEEDING SERVICED. I DROVE THE CAR TO MY DEALER EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER AND STATED THAT I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT TO THEM. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER LET THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW HOURS AND THEN CHECKED FOR CODES AND MYSTERIOUSLY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM ALWAYS STARTS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING UP HILL, THE TRANSMISSION LIGHTS STARTS BLINKING, THE CAR STARTS SPUTTERING AND I LOSE SPEED VERY UNSAFE IN TRAFFIC! WHEN SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL MASHED TO THE FLOOR THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY CRUZE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND GM REFUSES TO HELP THERE DOES SEEM TO BE AN ASSOCIATED RECALL BUT IT DOESN'T STATE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN THE DISCRIPTION. (NHTSA 16V502000) POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM). THE SERVICE CENTERS CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT SHOWING ANY CODES WHEN THEY CHECK AND I'M ALWAYS SENT HOME.