2018 Chevrolet Cruze

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 109 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 10 Cruze model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 109

Of the 2018 reports, 17 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 7 people were injured and 1 person died.

Primary concernEngine27 reports · 25% of complaints
Owner complaints109Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship3 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine27
  2. Other or unspecified24
  3. Power train23
  4. Electrical system14
  5. Service brakes13
  6. Steering9
  7. Air bags8
  8. Fuel/propulsion system6

Recalls and investigations

  1. Power train, automatic transmissionOct 29, 2020

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

    Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

    GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

    Campaign 20V668000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperAug 30, 2018

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

    A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

    GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

    Campaign 18V576000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Fuel system, gasolineMay 10, 2018

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

    A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

    GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.

    Campaign 18V304000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: engine

29 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Mar 9, 2019

    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 TRAVELING 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING DASH WENT DARK AND CAR SHUT OFF. SAME PROCEDURE TO START. (NO WARNING OR SERVICE CODES) UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED MASSIVE FAILURE. NO INDICATORS.

  2. Engine, Jan 22, 2019

    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 WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FAST ON THE HIGHWAY TO CLEAR THE FILTER, WHICH WOULD TURN OFF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 94989017128. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,900.

  3. Engine, Dec 7, 2018

    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 THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. THE GM CERTIFIED MECHANIC CALLED US HALF AN HOUR AFTER THEY OPENED SATURDAY MORNING AND SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED AND THE ONLY WAY HE FOUND THAT OUT WAS JUST STARTING THE VEHICLE UP WITHOUT LOOKING @ THE VEHICLE FIRST. MY HUSBAND AND I WENT UP THERE SATURDAY AFTERNOON JUST TO ASK IF WE COULD TAKE A PEEK AT IT NONE OF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN APART AND HE WAS WRONG ON THREE DIFFERENT THINGS HE TOLD ME AND I WAS ABLE TO PROVE HIM WRONG ON THE SPOT HE JUST CHANGED TOPIC AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY I JUST THINK THERE'S SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON HERE. I BELIEVE IF THE PROPER DIAGNOSTICS WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE HE JUST STARTED UP THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN FIXED BUT WITH GM CERTIFIED MACANIC JUST STARTING UP MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE FORCED EVEN MORE WATER INTO THE ENGINE AND PRETTY MUCH MADE IT DO WHAT IT DID. WE MADE A CLAIM ON DECEMBER 1ST WITH FARM BUREAU & MADE A CLAIM WITH THE GM SENIOR ADVISOR ON THE SAME DATE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER JUST PRETTY MUCH WENT OUT THERE AND TOLD HIM TO JUST TEAR THE VEHICLE APART AND FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT DIDN'T ASK IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IT DONE OR NOT AND NOW ALL THE SUDDEN IT'S ALL TAKEN APART AND TOTALED OUT WE'RE STUCK WITH THE DEPRECIATION VALUE AND DEDUCTABLE AND NO VEHICLE. SENIOR ADVISOR FROM GM JUST GOT BACK TO US TODAY ON THE DEC. 4TH, DALEESA WAS SUPPOSED TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP (CRAIN) AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON WITH MY VEHICLE, INSTEAD DALEESA NEGLECTED TO CONTACT ME OR MY HUSBAND. THERE WAS DIFFERENTLY SOME NEGLIGENT ACTION ON CRAIN'S SIDE AND GM.

  4. Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 17, 2018, fire

    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.