Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private in April 12th 2026. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 135,000 The contact stated that the next day when retrieving the title they noticed the mileage discrepancy. The contact spoke withe seller who then stated it was the same mileage they were told when they received the vehicle and had since replaced the engine therefore the engine mileage would not show at the DMV. The contact looked up the CarFax and saw the same mileage discrepancy with a mileage of over 300,000. When the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for an air bag recall, when the dealer confirmed mileage discrepancy. The contact sought out legal assistance.
Chevrolet Cruze engine failure problems
84 of the 3,731 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Cruze describe engine failure, most of them for the 2013 model year.
- owner complaints
- 84
- worst model year
- 2013
- typical repair cost reported
- $6,700
- typical mileage
- 66,000
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 21Steering lock-up 18Overheating 10Stalling 7Loss of power 7Misfire 5Fire or smoke 4Knocking 4
Trouble codes mentioned
P0011 1
What owners say
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the traction control warning light was illuminated. The check engine warning light illuminated shortly after the vehicle was purchased. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking erratically, and the engine was abnormally loud. In addition, the RPM was elevated. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and the engine seized. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that there was electrical power to the vehicle; however, the engine failed to crank. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was purchased, and diagnosed with a computer system failure. The contact was informed that the computer system needed to be replaced. In addition, the contact was informed that the computer system was being replaced with a used computer system. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
-The engine experienced internal failure resulting in low compression in cylinder 1. The failure has rendered the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle and engine are currently available for inspection upon request. The issue was diagnosed and confirmed by both an independent mechanic and an authorized Chevrolet dealership. Both identified low compression in cylinder 1 due to internal engine failure. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent mechanic and an authorized Chevrolet dealership at the request of General Motors. The vehicle became undrivable due to the engine issue. There were no significant prior warnings that would have indicated imminent internal engine failure. The check engine light turned on 2/9/26 and was first taken into a shop the next day, 2/10/26.
My turbocharger is failing. My car has 83,000 miles, but had to get a completely new engine at 37,000 miles. So the engine is less than 50,000 miles old. My check engine light has turned on and it’s is the turbo charger. General Motors has a Special Coverage Adjustment N232395330 that covers models with the same engine as the Chevy Cruze. However, because the model is not listed they are refusing coverage under this adjustment. The adjustment specifically covers the turbocharger, a component or the engine. But since my model is not listed it is not covered despite having the same engine. My turbocharger began failing while I was driving on the grapevine in California. Luckily I was able to make it to my destination but had it failed over the grapevine that would have put me and my passengers in an unsafe situation. It is unacceptable that an engine with less than 50,000 miles on it which has been maintained with frequent oil changes be having this issue yet not be covered under an SCA that acknowledges the issue just doesn’t list the model.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle also lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic control unit module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,212. The VIN was not available.
I have had car repairs done identical with the 2014 models with the same exact issues described in those year recalls, car hesitant and jerking, breaking down on numerous occasions and replacing gaskets hoses and many codes common with fuel and traction control and finally engine blown!
for some strange reason the engine has 150K miles on it and has been extremely well maintained however there is oil blowby coming from the oil filler cap which coats the entire engine belts will slip and cause drivability issues this oil vapor can also coat the front wheel brake discs and soak the pads causing braking failure to occur GM said they are aware of this problem however they do not have a recall to replace the engine or causing issue with the vehicle and i would be better off buying a new GM vehicle rather then worry about this insignificant issue since no accidents have occurred I Maintain my vehicles to the gills something like this is very concerning since this is my wifes car and out child travels in this car what can the federal safety agency do to make GM correct this issue on this chevy cruze?
My 2017 Chevy Cruze engine failed with only 38,000 miles on it (Case [XXX]). After it happened, I read that this is a known problem (see link below). I hope that GM will consider a recall on this item in order to save others from this experience. When I contacted GM and Chevy about this in late August, I was hoping that GM would take full responsibility for what clearly appears to be a manufacturing defect in Cylinder 1. I was deeply disappointed that it took GM so long to respond to this request, and that the compensation was no more than the cost assistance that I was offered at the dealership originally. I will never buy a GM vehicle again, and will be sure to tell my friends and family about my dissatisfaction with owning a 2017 Chevy Cruze. [XXX] Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am writing to express my concern regarding a serious issue with my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. Recently, I noticed that my car's engine was overheating, which I initially thought was due to a problem with the coolant or radiator. However, on [XXX], my vehicle suddenly broke down while I was driving on the highway. I had my car towed to a mechanic, who informed me that this particular model of the Chevrolet Cruze, specifically from the years 2011-2015, is known to have severe engine overheating problems. The mechanic also mentioned that in cases like mine, the engine is often seized and sent to the junkyard. After researching further and reading through numerous online reviews from other Cruze owners, I discovered that engine overheating is a common and recurring issue for many of them. This leads me to believe that this problem may be more widespread and could potentially be a defect in the design or manufacturing of the engine. Given the severity of this issue and the impact it has on vehicle safety, I kindly request that you consider issuing a recall for the engines in the 2011-2015 Chevrolet Cruze models, similar to the actions taken for other vehicle recalls, such as the Hyundai Sonata. I hope that Chevrolet will take steps to address this issue and ensure that owners like myself do not have to face costly repairs or the loss of their vehicle due to an engine failure that appears to be inherent in these models. I would greatly appreciate your attention to this matter and hope for a positive resolution, such as a recall or another form of support for owners dealing with this serious engine problem. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely [XXX] , [XXX] 2013 Chevrolet Cruze LT Plate - [XXX] Vin - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
At just over 70k miles the engine began running rough. Diagnostic showed cylinder 1 pressure issues from cracked piston requiring engine replacement. This vehicle has had all recommend service since owning it.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2011 and 2012 chevrolet cruze vehicles manufactured from october 2, 2009, through may 31, 2012. Spilled or dripping oil (such as after an oil change) may collect in the engine shield (bellypan) near hot engine or exhaust system surfaces. As a result, the oil and the engine shield may ignite and burn.
- Risk
- Either condition could result in an engine compartment fire, possibly causing injury or death.
- Remedy
- Gm will notify owners, and dealers will modify the engine shield to prevent fluid from contacting the shield. Also, on vehicles with a manual transmission, dealers will apply a protective tape to the electronic power steering wire harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge to the owner. The safety recall began on july 10, 2012. Owners may contact the chevrolet owner center at 1‑866‑694‑6546.
Recall number 12V288000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chevrolet Cruze engine failure
Which Chevrolet Cruze years have engine failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2013 (23 complaints), 2014 (13 complaints) and 2012 (12 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix engine failure on the Chevrolet Cruze?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $6,700 (median of 11 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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