What's Wrong with the 1st Generation Cruze?

The Worst 2011-2015 Cruze Problems

Engine Power is Reduced

Defects with Chevy's accelerator pedal sensor and electronic throttle control system are triggering a sudden and dangerous 'Engine Power is Reduced' warning message which can lead to the car suddenly losing power and having limited accelera…

Delayed Acceleration Problems

Many Chevrolet generations suffer from delayed acceleration due to a slow response in the drive-by-wire electronic throttle system. The throttle lag can be frustrating at best, but can also leave drivers in dangerous situations. Unfortunate…

Cruze Coolant Leaks

After years of Chevy Cruze owners complaining about antifreeze leaks along with an overwhelming smell in the cars, a class-action lawsuit was filed against General Motors in New York federal court.

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

2011 Cruze anti freeze smell in the car 42 (100%)
2011 Cruze transmission not shifting properly 35 (83%)
2011 Cruze transmission failure 31 (74%)
2012 Cruze transmission failure 21 (50%)
2011 Cruze coolant loss 16 (38%)

Worst Topics

Transmission 175 (100%)
Engine 171 (98%)
HVAC 109 (62%)
Cooling System 96 (55%)
Electrical 81 (46%)

Worst Years

2011 371 (100%)
2012 249 (67%)
2014 153 (41%)
2013 128 (35%)
2015 39 (11%)

Timeline of 1st Generation Cruze News

Have you heard about the lawsuit that says the side blind zone alert system in the 2013-2018 Chevy Cruze is defective? The lawsuit claims that the system fails because the sensors are poorly sealed and over-exposed to elements like debris and road spray.
Posted on
September 8, 2018
Tagged
#lawsuit
Source
carcomplaints.com
Chevy started offering an optional "blind zone alert" safety upgrade with the 2013 Cruze. However, they placed the system's sensors on the rear bumper which, according to a new lawsuit leaves the system suceptible to spray from the rear wheel wells. The sensors and wiring are allegedly sealed poorly and allow water and debris to affect the systems, leaving owners with non-working systems they paid for.
Posted on
May 24, 2018
Tagged
#lawsuit
Source
carcomplaints.com
Your steering wheel could get stuck while driving and GM doesn't think that's enough of a safety hazard to warrant a recall. Owners have complained that if they drive with their steering wheel in one position for a long enough, it can suddenly stick and become impossible to turn. The problem eventually remedies itself but not before making the driver sweat it out like Richard Simmons:
Posted on
April 11, 2015
Tagged
#news
Source
carcomplaints.com

What Cruze Owners Say About This Generation

A/C Condenser Leaking
Very irritating, nauseating smell when using heat setting. First time I took it in the service tech said "oh, that's BAD, smells like antifreeze" and also noted the film on the windshield. Said it needed a new heater core. We couldn't get the part, had to pull it off an assembly line and it took about 2 weeks. They changed it and didn't help at all.
2011 Cruze Owner

By the Numbers

5 model years
Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.
940 complaints
Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.
80th in reliability
Overall reliability rank out of 80 eligible generations.

The Worst 2011-2015 Cruze Problems

What Owners Complain About

Worst Issues

Worst Topics

Worst Years

Timeline of 1st Generation Cruze News

What Cruze Owners Say About This Generation

A/C Condenser Leaking

By the Numbers

5 model years

940 complaints

80th in reliability