2011 Chevrolet Cruze: complete transmission failure

Filed May 22, 2024 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · KY

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while attempting to leave a parking lot, the gear shifter was shifted to drive but the transmission remained in reverse. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Nov 6, 2023 · Transmission · NY

The transmission failed and wouldn't go into 3rd gear. Safety of person driving was put at risk on an expressway on ramp, transmission refused to go into 3rd gear could have been rear ended as traffic was accelerating on ramp. The issue was reproduced at a transmission repair shop. Vehicle has been repaired at a transmission shop after being towed to their facility as it was undriveable. There were NO warning lights or messages prior to failure. Car seemed a little sluggish before but not really a warning at all before catastrophic failure of transmission.

Filed Feb 6, 2020 · Driver assistance, Engine · VA

We purchased a 2011 chevy cruz with less than 100k miles. In the 2 years we've had it we've replaced the transmission, oil cooler, and all the hoses. The furthest we've driven it is 400miles in a trip. We haven't taken it up mountains, and we keep up with maintenance

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 19, 2018 · Transmission · 66,000 miles · NJ

On my way to the beach I approached a stop sign near the entrance of a busy highway. After stopping I proceeded to press the gas pedal and all I got was engine revving the car didn't move at all. I tried shifting the gear from park back to drive and I tried again. The car still didn't move and I got revving again. Something was wrong with the transmission causing the car to slip into neutral while being in drive. I returned the vehicle to park and turned it off, after waiting a few seconds I started the car up again put it in drive and I accelerated forward, I pulled into a nearby parking lot and eased my way into a space, before making it all the way into the space I lost gear again. I put the car in reverse and backed out of the space. Put in back in drive and again didn't go forward, just revving. I ultimately parked the car and had it towed to a mechanic. 2011 chevrolet cruze are most commonly known to have transmission problems but there is no open recal. My cruze could have slipped into neutral while I was on the middle of the highway. There was no warning it was gonna fail. No light indications, no strange sounds coming from the car. I had the car towed to a nearby chevrolet dealer to see if they could tell me what happened. The transmission guy drove it around the lot and then told me his best educated guess on what happened is that the 3,5,r plate brokedown and clogged the filter. They told me I need a new transmission. I contacted chevrolet and gm to see if they would help at all and they said they could not. I had the car towed somewhere else to get the transmission rebuilt for cheaper. I tired to encourage the gm representative I spoke to, to look into opening a recal on the transmissions of 2011 chevrolet cruze being that is the most common complaint. However they could not provide any information on if they would open a recal.

Filed Feb 22, 2018 · 5 miles · CA

Takata recall, transmission failure, car not shifting into gears. Driving on city street at a stop light and the car would not advance forward, I had to physically push it off to the side of the road to let traffic pass. Car will not advance in forward or reverse.

Filed Feb 15, 2018 · Transmission · 41,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. While attempting to make a 3-point turn, the vehicle was shifted into reverse, but failed to engage. The contact stated that after four attempts, the vehicle was able to shift into reverse, but the vehicle failed to accelerate and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. Also, a whistling sound was heard coming from the engine compartment. After the vehicle was coasted to the side of the roadway, turned off, and restarted, the vehicle operated correctly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who advised the contact to take the vehicle to a chevrolet dealer for diagnostic testing and repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would tow the vehicle to winter chevrolet (3750 century ct., pittsburg, ca 94565). The dealer diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000. *tt

Filed Feb 12, 2018 · 41,000 miles · CA

" takata recall" transmission failure

Filed Nov 20, 2017 · Transmission · 3 miles · NJ

I was driving home on a highway during rush hour. The traffic was very slow moving - about 10 MPH. After slowing to almost a complete stop, I pressed the accelerator and could not get the car over 3 MPH. I was able to get off an exit and pull over. When I turned the car off and back on again, the car would not move forward at all - only in reverse. I had it towed to a mechanic, where I found out I have forward transmission failure - under 89k miles on the car and a 2011!

Filed Jul 6, 2017 · Acceleration · 55,400 miles · MA

I purchased a certified pre-owned car on jan. 2015. Since mid-2016 (one and a half year since I owned the car) I've been noticing that my check engine light turned on every now and then, and gear shifting became significantly lagging around 30mph. Every single time in a service appointment (which I took strictly on schedule for every 3 months), I would point that out to the service department, and every single time they would claim that they tested everything and there was no problem they detected. While last week (late june 2017, 2 and a half years since I owned the car, and interestingly 5 months after all my warranty expired), I was trying to drive back home from office via the highway. While entering the highway and speedup, I noticed that my engine speed went ups and downs in a serious, uncommon, rapid manner. There was also an unpleasant noise coming out of the transmission system. My car seriously shakes, and all gear shifting attempts became useless. The car went out of control and went to neutral gear on the highway--which pushed me to a very dangerous emergency situation. Fortunately I made it stopped by the side of the highway and managed to call the roadside assistance. My car was finally towed to the closest chevy dealership, and upon diagnostics they replied that to replace the transmission part, it would cost me $4100. It was the same amount for selling the same model with good condition !!!! I read every complaints for 2011 chevy cruze regarding the transmission problem, and found very similar experiences for all the cases. It all happened on the 2011 module, transmission system got failed around 50k~60k mileage, and the only solution is to replace the whole part.

Filed May 15, 2017 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a loss of power without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Filed Oct 5, 2016 · Transmission · MO

The car had been jerking when I put in reverse, and taking a dew seconds to go when I accelarated. The reverse went out and I had to take it to a mechanic who tols me I wouls need a new transmission which will cost 3.7k the car has only 69k miles had regular oil changes.