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2011 Chevrolet Cruze brakes problems

75 complaints (10% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 43,163. 13 crashes reported.

owner complaints
75
of this car's complaints
10%
typical mileage
43,163
crashes
13
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Pedals and linkages
    2
  • Power assist: vacuum
    1
  • Foundation components: disc: rotor
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Chevrolet Cruze brakes problems in other years

201120122013201420152016201720182019

Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze brakes

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Brake failure 14ABS 7Grinding brakes 7Spongy pedal 7

Related recalls

Service brakes, hydraulic: power assistReported August 15, 2013 · 292,879 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 affected vehicles, the pump may not activate, resulting in an intermittent reduction or loss of brake 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.
Remedy
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace a microswitch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's recall number is 12213.

Recall number 13V360000 · Recall details

What 2011 Chevrolet Cruze owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Brakes · 150,000 miles · CT

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 - 60 MPH and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brake pedal became stiff and pushed back, requiring three to four attempts to respond and causing an extended stopping distance. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on several occasions. In addition, the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the microswitch inside the power brake vacuum pipe assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 13V360000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed May 8, 2024 · Brakes · AZ

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 hard with my foot and finally the car will brake. It feels as if my brakes go out and sometimes I have to pump the brake pedal. It happens also when I start my car after it's been sitting and I brake to shift into drive. My car says it doesn't have any recalls but I have been having this problem. My car has been serviced numerous times by Chevrolet immediately after buying it. I only had to stop taking it there because my warranty ran out and then they wouldn't cover the costs anymore. Codes that come up are P057D and U0140-71: Brake Pedal Position Sensor Circuit High and Brake Pedal Position Sensor Circuit High Voltage and Anti-lock Brake System (although this does not show on the dash).

Filed Nov 23, 2022 · Brakes · 210,000 miles · PA

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. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic stated that the microswitch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 13V360000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was 210,000.

Filed Jul 28, 2022 · Brakes, Electrical · GA

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 stiff and its hard to maneuver , the Air Condition turns off itself and the car has a big vibration , like there is an earthquake outside, I have been calling General Motors to tell them about the problem but they are telling me there is nothing they can do. There are times when I get in the car trying to get to work and the car won't start, the car would show me the errors and would not clear for hours, it's a nightmare.

Filed Jul 1, 2022 · Brakes, Engine · CA

I drive daily taking 2 freeways. I stopped at the traffic light and the car felt like shaking. Stabilitrack warning and traction control warning light and messages appeared on the screen and also the check engine light turned on, and ABS too. Break pedal was really hard to push and breaks were not working (i was not reducing speed at all) and it felt like the engine loose power and the car felt rough while driving. I was approaching to another traffic light and it was a red light so I prepared to decrease my speed and stop to wait for the green light. When I placed my foot and pressed the break pedal, it was hard. I was pushing it hard but the pedal did not respond, it was very hard and not moving at all and I was almost on the intersection, which always has heavy traffic with cars, 18 wheeler trucks and delivery trucks and more because its an industrial zone and Amazon and UPS are on this avenue along with other major companies. I could be involved and be responsible for a really bad crash if the light wouln't turn green on time. Fortunately it changed to the green light and I was in the very front. After this, I tried to go to the side if the road but there was a sidewalk and it was a no parking zone with no space/edge to park In case of emergency. I drove slowly with my emergency lights on and moved to the right lane until I found a space to stop. The car was shaking really bad, same lights on the dash were on and messages on the control panel did not change or disapear. The car was still moving when the engine suddenly stopped working while I was driving it. Music was playing and all lights worked so I knew it wasn't the battery. This situation was so scary that I was afraid to drive my car. I did not want to cause an accident resulting in injury to myself, others or any fatality. I've always taken my car to service and to be fixed in chevrolet. My car shook a little since 2020 and chevy guys don't know the reason. Total is about $2800 to get it fixed.

Filed Oct 22, 2021 · Brakes, Engine · OH

Unknown. When stopping then going to accelerate again the engine acts like it’s in nuetrual and revs the engine up then causing it to jerk forward. This happens at almost every stop.

Filed Aug 26, 2021 · Brakes · 110,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was firm and difficult to depress. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed as brake pump failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer, awaiting the brake pump part for replacement. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was over the 100,000 miles warranty and that the recall for the brake pump had expired in 2018. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Filed Aug 6, 2021 · Brakes · 99,178 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while reversing the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard before the vehicle came to a complete stop. The contact's wife had also informed him of the brake failure while she was driving. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was a recall repair for the vehicle under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 13V360000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and that the manufacturer only guaranteed a one year or 20,000 miles for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that only a free one time repair would be performed. The failure mileage was 99,178.

Filed Jan 5, 2021 · Airbags, Brakes · 95,000 miles · VA · crash · 1 injury

I leased a 2011 chevy cruze and had it less than 1 month. Deer were in the rd, so I slowed down, then brakes locked, I went over an embankment into a lightpole. Total loss, transported via ems to mmmhc hospital, unconscious for half hour my memory is now horrible, I have bad headaches, my back is horrible and im without a vehicle. I wasnt driving above speed limit. No collision warning and I've been to er and my dr many times

Filed Oct 10, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 115,000 miles · NJ · crash

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 then also my stablitrak and traction control issues kept me from getting out of an accident because my wheels didn't move the way I planned too, the radiator fan also has been working harder then usually it non stop is blowing very hard to keep the car cool. Last under the car the bottom trays have some oil building up and building up

Questions about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze brakes

Does the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze have brakes problems?

Owners have filed 75 complaints about the brakes of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 10% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2011 Chevrolet Cruze brakes problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 43,163 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze brakes?

Yes, 1 recall: 13V360000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Chevrolet Cruze have bad brakes?

The Chevrolet Cruze model years with the most brakes complaints are 2012 (150 complaints), 2011 (75 complaints) and 2013 (50 complaints).

Other 2011 Chevrolet Cruze problems

Engine 295Transmission 193Electrical 96Driver assistance 77Acceleration 70Steering 48Fuel system 43Airbags 40Visibility 30Body 14Seats 8Lights 7Tires 7Seat belts 6Wheels 5Suspension 3Locks 1

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