2011 Chevrolet Cruze: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Acceleration · 129,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and raising the foot off the accelerator pedal, the vehicle decelerated drastically. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally hesitated while accelerating and failed to immediately accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. Occasionally, the vehicle lurched forward suddenly. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 129,000.

Filed Jan 30, 2025 · Transmission · NC

Vehicle does not shift gears, jumpy, sluggish, disengages then jerks back into gear. Hazard when trying to pickup speed to accelerate into highway traffic. Does not engage in reverse gear at times, have to turn vehicle off, wait a few minutes then turn vehicle back on for reverse gear to engage. Sometimes when vehicle is in park, vehicle will not start, have to fidget with gear and key, sometimes for several minutes before it will register in park and allow you to start the vehicle. When on highway transmission will jolt and jerk making you think you have lost your transmission on the roadway. This is a major hazard for my daughter who drives this vehicle to college. I am aware of a lift plate that can be installed to fix this problem that has existed in all 2011 Chevy Cruze s since they were manufactured. the federal safety agency Bulletin issued Oct. 10, 2024 the federal safety agency ID#11010651 Manufacture Communication #24-NA-223 Bulletin to all technicians for an alternative procedure for a lift plate that can be installed into the transmission to correct this problem. This needs to be a nationwide issued RECALL because of the endangerment people are being put in while driving these unsafe Chevy Cruze with faulty transmission issues.

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 Jun 22, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · MO

The car cuts out and jerks (has no power) (no warning lights) when accelerating or staying at a steady speed with engine light coming on or flashing. I've reported to dealership. So far, Don't know the cause of problem.

Filed Mar 23, 2021 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · OK

Issue 1: car jerks while at low speeds and sometimes acts like it's in neutral, even though my gear is in drive. Issue 2: when I put my car into reverse, then to drive, the car acts like it's in neutral, instead of drive. The engine revs, but doesn't move, unless I happen to be on a hill, at which point it will roll, without me waniting it to. In order to go into drive I have to put on the brake and put it into park, let go of the brake, put the brake back on then put the gear back in drive for it to move forward. Issue 3: car runs in gear 1 and 2, but will not shift to another gear. When you're driving, the engine just revs, but you can't go past a very low speed. I bought this car brand new in 2011, it has 80,000 miles. I don't expect it to be a perfect car, but for the transmission to already be out, isn't right. It's dangerous. Please do the right thing and investigate this car's transmission. Everyone is having this same issue with this particular car. Please. I'm begging.

Filed Jan 6, 2020 · Transmission · 84,000 miles · MO

When slowing to a stop from 2nd gear, the car shifts hard and jerks back when shifting down into first gear. Often times, when accelerating from a stop, the car doesn't actually get power; the rpms jump to about 6000 and the car doesn't move. While driving, it feels like tension against the gas pedal while the car feels like it's dragging back and bogging down (the rpms don't indicate bogging, but that's what it feels like). When it finally catches a gear, it jerks backwards and almost feels like it's going to stall out.

Filed Sep 3, 2019 · Transmission · 133,623 miles · FL

While driving, the car suddenly began jerking, acting like it was losing power. After turning off the main road onto a side street, tried to accelerate, but the car acted like it was in neutral. After letting off the accelerator, it went into 1st gear, but couldn't drive faster than 15-18 miles per hour. I had to have it towed.

Filed Aug 20, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 37,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked, lunged, and lost power. Also, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to bmw of alexandria (499 s pickett st, alexandria, va 22304, (703) 684-8500) where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v044000 (electrical system); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

Filed Jun 8, 2019 · Transmission · 122,000 miles · MN

While driving my 2011 chevrolet cruze lt when it gets t0 between 30-40 MPH the rpms will go extremely high the check engine light will come on and the car will slow down as it is slowing down it will jerk into the lower gears if I don't put the car in neutral. Since I don't have a reader for the check engine light I have to pull over and disconnect my battery to get that to shut off. I have to let my car engine/transmission cool down before driving again otherwise I will only make it eighth of a mile down the road and the same thing happens. I want this problem fixed. I officially hate my car because of this problem. Makes me never want to buy a chevrolet again. I have seen may complaints of this happening to this year of car. This should be recalled and fixed free of charge.

Filed Sep 14, 2018 · Transmission · 88,000 miles · OH

In may of this year, as I tried to back out of my driveway, my car would not move in reverse. The car was rattling, the rpms were going up, but the car would not go in gear. My family pushed my car out of the driveway in neutral and I drove it 2 miles to my mechanic. During that 2 minute drive, the car continually slipped gears. Fast forward to having the cruze towed to a transmission shop (after not having heard from chevrolet after multiple attempts contacting them) and I find out the transmission is completely broke. The car is out of warranty, and of course chevrolet lent no assistance, so I paid $3,674 to have a remanufactured transmission put in with a 500,000 mile warranty. The transmission in the cruze never acted completely right (a common complaint among many cruze owners)- not shifting properly when going up hills, jerking when shifting on flat pavement. It's mind-blowing that there have been so many reported issues of transmission failures in this model, but chevrolet has yet to make any recalls. It's not only a financial issue, it's a safety concern. I will not be buying a chevy again, as they were unwilling to provide any assistance when this major component failed. Not even 90k miles, seven years old, this shouldn't even be an issue yet.

Filed Aug 7, 2018 · Transmission · TX

Tamara recall: I am a former gm employee. I purchased a 2011 chevy cruze right after having it a few months I had a issue with the transmission. I've also have had trouble with the oil getting into the coolant reservoir. Which has now happened thee times. The cost is ridiculous!!!! I just spent $1050 on that and a new water pump just to find out I'm still without a car because the transmission is right back doing the same thing again. The transmission is slipping and jerking. I feel like gm should be paying me back my money for this crap piece of car. I try hard to take care of my car but this is horrible!!!! I want my car fixed and I don't want to have to pay another dime. I loss my job because my car went out on me. I has to borrow the money to get the gasket job done again. I'm calling the dealership in the morning and if they don't do something about that transmission I am going to put general motors on blast!!!!

Filed Jun 18, 2018 · Engine · 109,000 miles · FL

I put $20 in gas in the vehicle on my way to work. When I pulled out into traffic, the car jerked violently, then proceeded to buck and idle funny all the way till I got to work. From that day till now, everytime I stop at a red light or stop sign, it stalls unless I keep gas petal pressed down.