2011 Chevrolet CruzeProblems: Top Complaints, Recalls & Failures (NHTSA)

Every owner complaint and safety recall the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has on file for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, ranked by the component that failed most.

Complaints on file

731

Recalls issued

Crashes reported

Fires reported

What breaks most

Engine257 complaints · 35.2%
Power Train193 complaints · 26.4%
Electrical System96 complaints · 13.1%
Service Brakes76 complaints · 10.4%
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)75 complaints · 10.3%

Recalls on this model year

Electrical System › Ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 201
Campaign 16V502000 · reported 05/07/2016 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 6, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 27, 2011 AND EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, 'TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INT
Campaign 11V273000 · reported 06/05/2011 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 14, 2012. ATTACHMENT WELDS FOR THE FUEL TANK STRAP SECONDARY BRACKETS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED.
Campaign 12V289000 · reported 22/06/2012 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
Steering
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES. DURING MANUFACTURING THE STEERING WHEEL COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FASTENED AND MAY DETACH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN.
Campaign 11V221000 · reported 06/04/2011 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 ENGINE OR EXHAUST SYSTEM SURFACES. AS A RES
Campaign 12V288000 · reported 22/06/2012 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 21, 2011. THE BOLT ATTACHING THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED.
Campaign 11V270000 · reported 06/05/2011 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with 1.4L DOHC gasoline turbo engines and 6T40 front wheel drive automatic transmissions and equipped with an electric vacuum pump to provide supplemental vacuum for brake assist, when needed. In the aff
Campaign 13V360000 · reported 15/08/2013 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

What owners report

Engine

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 sud
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 c
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The

Power Train

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 sud
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
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving 25-35 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear and then stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the

Electrical System

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 sud
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private in April 12th 2026. At the time of purchase, the vehicl
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

Service Brakes

I bought my car used. I have replaced the Brake Pedal Position Sensor 3 times on my own and 1 time by Anderson General Tire. Sometimes when I go to brake, there is no brake and I have to push real ha
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, extra effort was needed to depress the brake pedal while stopping the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated.
Last month the car started ti show me this errors Stabili Trak Control and Traction Service Control, I keep getting them driving on the highway, every road I drive, the steering wheal just becomes sti

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

THE TRANSMISSION LEAKS SO MUCH WE PUT NEW FLUIDS IN ALMOST ON THE DAILY AND THERE'S ALWAYS SENSOR LIGHTS ON ON THE DASHBOARD
THE 2011 CHEVY CRUZE ECO HAS BEEN HAVING A COUPLE ISSUES FROM THERE BEING A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE IT DRIPS MORE AFTER DRIVING AND ALSO ANOTHER LITTLE LEAK TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR TH
TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN, THIS VEHICLE HAS ISSUES WITH STABILTRAK/TRACTION CONTROL. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ROUTINELY THROUGHOUT THE TIME I HAVE HAD IT. THIS VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN AT THE DEALE

Excerpts are anonymized owner complaints as filed with NHTSA, trimmed to 200 characters.

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