repaired · 2018 Q1
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
2011 Chevrolet CruzeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 733 owner complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, most often about the engine. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 13V-360 the manufacturer reports only 92% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 27, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze has problems
733 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
257Engine20 crash/fire/injury
193Power train5 crash/fire/injury
96Electrical system8 crash/fire/injury
75Electronic stability control (ESC)7 crash/fire/injury
70Vehicle speed control4 crash/fire/injury
61Service brakes
48Steering
40Air bags
39Engine and engine cooling
16017 other systems24 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 257 | 20 |
| Power train | 193 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 96 | 8 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 75 | 7 |
| Vehicle speed control | 70 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 61 | 11 |
| Steering | 48 | 6 |
| Air bags | 40 | 15 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 39 | 5 |
| 17 other systems | 160 | 24 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
7 recalls
2011 Chevrolet Cruze recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2015 Q3
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist
Risk. A loss of braking assistance will require extra pedal force and/or distance to bring the vehicle to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
no report yet
Tank assembly: mounting
Risk. THE FUEL TANK COULD COME LOOSE IN A CRASH, POSSIBLY ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK.
Show 3 more recalls
no report yet
Gear box: shaft sector
Risk. THIS COULD ALLOW THE SHAFTS TO SEPARATE, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING.
no report yet
Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk. THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH…
no report yet
Steering
Risk. SHOULD THE STEERING WHEEL DETACH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
67kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 199 engine complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.
35under 30k miles151under 100k miles48100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
12 owners mentioned a cost$455median
Middle half: $219 – $612
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other Cruze year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cruze median. How we score
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 Chevrolet Cruze safety ratings
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, and the recalls they led to.
- Chapman Chevrolet / Cruze Engine RecallNo recall
- Engine compartment fireLed to recall 12V-288
In owners' words
What Cruze owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
i’m unsure if the person i bought this vehicle from had the codes wiped before selling to me, but there were NO lights on dash for 3 days after minimal driving only to work and back, then all of a sudden the check engine light came on, and in the info box it would pop up saying “service stability…
I purchased my car in 2020 and have had this issue recently come up. I have coolant that is vanishing from my car but not dripping to the floor. I've learned since then that there was a recall on my car for my water pump which causes this exact issue which has caused a related check engine light to…
The primary failure is a total loss of engine power and electrical systems while the vehicle is in motion. The dealership (Ray Skillman Southside Mitsubishi) has diagnosed this as a failed engine/body control computer system. The vehicle is currently located at the dealership's service center and…
Own a 2011 Cruze?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.