Chevrolet Cruze

2,834 complaints across 9 scored model years and 26 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Chevrolet Cruze Full report

Grade 2011–2019

2012 vs model median 3.1×

Model median3× median

Engine 129

Electrical 124

Brakes 89

Avoid

2011 · 2012

Best

2018 · 2019

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Severity-weighted complaint volume and grade by model year for the Chevrolet Cruze
Year	vs median	Reports	Grade
2011	2.34×	553	F
2012	3.13×	698	F
2013	1.95×	422	F
2014	2.26×	472	F
2015	0.87×	191	C
2016	1.00×	215	C
2017	0.67×	160	B
2018	0.56×	106	B
2019	0.09×	17	A

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

EPA fuel economy and drivetrain
Combined MPG	33
City / Highway	30 / 38
Engine	1.4L, 4 cyl
Drive	Front-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost	$1,900

Recalls

26 campaigns on record.

Recall campaigns, largest first
Campaign	Component	Model years	Units affected
12V288000	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	2011, 2012	413,148
13V360000	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST	2011, 2012	292,879
18V576000	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER	2018, 2019	210,628
20V668000	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	2018, 2019	194,105
14V151000	POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT	2013, 2014	174,046
11V270000	STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR	2011	128,911
18V304000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	2016–2018	111,966
11V273000	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)	2011	100,308

+ 18 further campaigns

Others in Compact Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Other models in the same segment
Model	Years to avoid	Grade
Acura ILX	20142016	C
Audi A3	20152017	C
BMW 1 Series	none flagged	C
BMW I3	none flagged	C
Buick Verano	none flagged	C
Chevrolet Bolt EV	2017	C
Chevrolet Cobalt	none flagged	C
Chevrolet HHR	none flagged	C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2012 Cruze

Complaints in window: 698
Severity-weighted: 1,154.5
Model median (weighted): 369
vs model median: 3.13×
Recall campaigns (weighted): 7
Open investigations: 0

Score 10 F