The Chevrolet Cruze is a compact car that took over from the Cobalt in Chevrolet's North American lineup for the 2011 model year. It was sold mainly as a four-door sedan, with a five-door hatchback added later. Most versions used small four-cylinder gasoline engines, and Chevrolet also offered turbodiesel versions. U.S. production ended in March 2019. Below, each Chevrolet Cruze model year from 2011 to 2019 sits on the same scale, which makes the noisy years and the quiet years easy to spot.
Chevrolet Cruze by model year
Complaints per 100,000 sold. Red: more than twice the model average. Green: the fewest, among years at least three years old.
| Year | Per 100k sold | Complaints | Recalls | Top system | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 316 | 733 | 7 | Engine | |
| 2012 | 364 | 865 | 7 | Engine | |
| 2013 | 236 | 587 | 5 | Engine | |
| 2014 | 257 | 703 | 10 | Engine | |
| 2015 | 112 | 253 | 4 | Engine | |
| 2016 | 132 | 250 | 4 | Engine | |
| 2017 | 109 | 201 | 2 | Engine | Fewest |
| 2018 | 76 | 109 | 3 | Engine | Fewest |
| 2019 | 48 | 23 | 2 | Transmission | Fewest |
Why these years stand out
2017, 2018 and 2019: fewest complaints. The 2017 drew 201 complaints, or 109 per 100,000 sold; The 2018 drew 109 complaints, or 76 per 100,000 sold; The 2019 drew 23 complaints, or 48 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.
What Chevrolet Cruze owners report most
Engine complaints lead for the Chevrolet Cruze, at 37% of all complaints for 2011-2019. Engine and transmission reports together make up 56%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.
When problems are reported: mileage
2,697 Chevrolet Cruze complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 47% were reported before 50,000 miles and 16% after 100,000. The reports are spread across the mileage range rather than bunched at one point.
Chevrolet Cruze compared with other small cars
In 8 of 9 model years the Chevrolet Cruze drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average small car we track for the same year. For 2019, the Chevrolet Cruze scored 48 against a class average of 153. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.
Chevrolet Cruze generations
- 2011-2016First generation
1.8L four; 1.4L turbo four; 2.0L turbodiesel four (2014-2015) · 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic
A refresh for 2015 updated the grille, and the 2016 carryover version was sold as the Cruze Limited.
- 2016-2019Second generation
1.4L turbo four; 1.6L turbodiesel four (2017 on) · 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic; 9-speed automatic (diesel)
The five-door hatchback went on sale in late 2016 as a 2017 model.
The 2016 model year includes both the older Cruze Limited and the new second-generation Cruze. The 2019 facelift removed the six-speed manual, so every 2019 Cruze has an automatic transmission. The last Cruze built at Lordstown, Ohio, came off the line on March 6, 2019.
Chevrolet Cruze fuel economy
The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze is rated at 31 to 37 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the version. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.
Crash test stars
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Chevrolet Cruze these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2011: 5, 2012: 5, 2013: 5, 2014: 5, 2015: 5, 2016: 4, 2017: 4-5, 2018: 5, 2019: 5. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.
Questions
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Cruze?
By complaints filed with NHTSA per 100,000 sold, 2017, 2018 and 2019 had the fewest among model years at least three years old. 2017 scored 109, against a model average of 209.
What years of the Chevrolet Cruze have the most complaints?
No Chevrolet Cruze model year passes our rule for "most complaints". By raw count, 2012 has the most: 865 complaints, led by engine reports.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Cruze owners report problems?
Across 2,697 complaints that list the odometer reading, 47% were filed before 50,000 miles and 16% after 100,000 miles. These are miles at the time of the reported problem, not how long the vehicle lasts.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Cruze have?
NHTSA lists 44 recall campaigns across model years 2011-2019 (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year). Check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaint counts are reports filed by owners with NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify them, and a complaint does not prove a defect. Scores are our calculation, explained on the Method page. Not affiliated with any automaker.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (complaints, recalls, investigations), data through October 2026; U.S. sales from manufacturer reports, compiled by motorwick; fuel economy: U.S. EPA estimates; crash tests: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.