Chevrolet Cruze Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2011 draws 6.87 complaints per run and the 2016 2.85, a 2.4-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 69.5% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Engine, with 1,175 complaints, typically at 5.3 years.

Chevrolet Cruze years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Chevrolet Cruze — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2019	1.35	23	17	yes
2018	1.94	105	54	yes
2017	2.52	194	77	yes
2016	2.85	239	84	yes
2015	3.62	239	66	yes
2014	5.6	650	116	yes
2013	5.03	523	104	yes
2012	6.71	765	114	yes
2011	6.87	632	92	yes

ROWS 9·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2011 Cruze asks a median $3,999, against $3,999 for a 2012, the next model year: about the same, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 5 Chevrolet Cruze years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2011, 2012, 2014; the three worth hunting are 2016, 2013, 2014.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Chevrolet Cruze — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	321	9.6%	covered
1 year	324	19.3%	covered
2 years	375	30.5%	covered
3 years	397	42.4%	you pay
4 years	388	54%	you pay
5 years	397	65.9%	you pay
6 years	307	75.1%	you pay
7 years	270	83.2%	you pay
8 years	200	89.2%	you pay
9 years	125	92.9%	you pay
10 years	101	95.9%	you pay
11 years	63	97.8%	you pay
12 years	40	99%	you pay
13 years	14	99.4%	you pay
14 years	14	99.9%	you pay
15 years	5	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 30.5% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 69.5% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 53% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Chevrolet Cruze, the early trouble is Service Brakes and Steering — reported at around 3.7 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Engine at 5.3 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Chevrolet Cruze — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Engine	1175	5.3 yrs	32	51
Electrical System	681	4.5 yrs	26	21
Power Train	619	4.3 yrs	16	3
Unknown Or Other	439	5.3 yrs	17	8
Service Brakes	352	3.7 yrs	70	8
Electronic Stability Control (esc)	345	4.1 yrs	19	3
Steering	329	3.7 yrs	32	4
Air Bags	238	4.2 yrs	134	5

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Cruze's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 4.73 for the Cruze.

FIG.05·Chevrolet Cruze — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Cruze	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Camry	20,039	161	1983–2026
Honda Accord	24,369	415	1981–2026
Dodge Challenger	1,696	77	1981–2026
Toyota Prius	12,873	109	2001–2026
Hyundai Elantra	9,090	117	1992–2026
Nissan Altima	15,657	148	1993–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Chevrolet Cruze

Recalls47 campaigns Fuel economy37 mpg best Common problems3,723 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space19 cu ft Used prices3,904 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2010–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chevrolet Cruze reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 4.73 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Cruze years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2011, 2012, 2014. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2016, 2013, 2014. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Cruze problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Engine, typically at 5.3 years, followed by Electrical System.

Will the warranty cover Cruze problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 30.5% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 53% of the complaints here.

Is the Cruze more reliable than the Toyota Camry?

Yes: 4.73 complaints per production run for the Cruze against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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