Chevrolet Cruze Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. 1,393 of the 3,731 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010–2019 Chevrolet Cruze (37.3%) name the engine, 1.9× the median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2012, 2011 and 2014.
Engine complaints
1,393
Filed with NHTSA, 2010–2019 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
37.3%
of 3,731 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Chevrolet Cruze engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 79 |
| 2011WORST | 295 | 40.2% | 25 | 12V288000 | 368 |
| 2012WORST | 308 | 35.6% | 28 | 12V288000 | 380 |
| 2013 | 233 | 39.7% | 12 | — | 382 |
| 2014WORST | 235 | 33.3% | 16 | — | 468 |
| 2015 | 104 | 40.9% | 4 | — | 342 |
| 2016 | 108 | 43.2% | 6 | — | 335 |
| 2017 | 76 | 37.4% | 5 | — | 333 |
| 2018 | 29 | 26.6% | 3 | — | 303 |
| 2019 | 5 | 21.7% | 0 | — | 219 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Chevrolet Cruze engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 1,393 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Chevrolet Cruze years to avoid for the engine
2012 Chevrolet Cruze
308 engine complaints (35.6% of the year's 865). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss. Covered by engine recall 12V288000.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze
295 engine complaints (40.2% of the year's 733). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss. Covered by engine recall 12V288000.
2014 Chevrolet Cruze
235 engine complaints (33.3% of the year's 705). Most often described: misfire or check-engine light.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Chevrolet Cruze years to avoid.
Chevrolet Cruze engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Chevrolet Cruze model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 12V288000 · 2012-06-22 · 2011–2012 models
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 31, 2012. SPILLED OR DRIPPING OIL (SUCH AS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE) MAY COLLECT IN THE ENGINE SHIELD (BELLYPAN) NEAR HOT…
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 308 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, 35.6% of all 865 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (110 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 12V288000. 28 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 295 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 40.2% of all 733 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (88 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 12V288000. 25 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 235 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze, 33.3% of all 705 complaints for that year. The most common description is "misfire or check-engine light" (69 complaints). 16 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Chevrolet Cruze years have the most engine complaints?
2012 (308), 2011 (295) and 2014 (235), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Chevrolet Cruze engine problems?
In the 1,393 engine complaints, owners most often describe overheating or coolant loss (31.6%), misfire or check-engine light (26.1%) and stalling or shutting off while driving (14.9%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Chevrolet Cruze model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration