Hesitate to change gears properly. Engine stalling. RPM will rive up. Sounds like the transmission wants to slip.
Chevrolet Cruze slipping problems
26 of the 3,731 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Cruze describe transmission slipping, most of them for the 2011 model year.
- owner complaints
- 26
- worst model year
- 2011
- typical mileage
- 65,000
Is there a fix? There are 5 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20183
- 20171
- 20151
- 20143
- 20132
- 20123
- 201113
Often reported together
Stalling 5Jerking 4Check engine light 3Transmission failure 2Sudden acceleration 2Hesitation 2Harsh shifting 2Door locks 1
Trouble codes mentioned
P2817 1
What owners say
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the door locks were opening and closing independently. The contact stated that the instrument cluster was also flashing several unknown warning lights. The contact stated that the heater and the A/C were also functioning independently. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but became a constant failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission occasionally slipped out of gear, almost causing the vehicle to stall, making the steering wheel difficult to turn. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact replaced the 12-Volt battery and the fuse box; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.
My transmission started acting up around 70,000 miles. I noticed symptoms like stalling when backing up, trouble coming to a stop from higher speeds, and an occasional stutter. My local transmission shop couldn’t replicate the issue, as it was intermittent, and recommended an oil change. At 100,000 miles, the transmission began slipping, so I changed the oil again, only to find it was black and burnt. Now, at 139,000 miles, I changed the oil once more at 138,000 miles after experiencing issues with shifting into 8th and 9th gears and receiving a P2817 code. After speaking with several people on forums, I learned this is a common problem with these cars, and many recommend replacing the transmission as it often fails around this mileage. I also consulted another transmission shop, but they refused to service my car due to their past experience with these models.
Shortly after I merge onto a highway and pickup speed my cruze apears to be slipping gears. It does not do it every time but it appears to be happening increasingly often. It starts to shake violently, becomes hard to stear and refuses to excelerate even though the rpm's are rising significantly higher then they should be, leaving me going 35 - 40mph on a 65mph highway, it does not fully decelerate either. It happened the other day and the road speed was 65mph to start which my car wouldn't do then immediately became congested which is when I realized it wouldn't properly decelerate either, at least before I thought I coupd just pull over if it lasted to long. My car only has 22,000 miles on it and was certified pre-owned. It is regularly maintenanced as well. I have not taken it to be inspected just yet but that is my next step as I don't feel at all safe driving it in this condition.
Transmission locked gears and would not accelerate causing a huge safety violation when it occurred on an interstate. Vehicle was just seen by a mechanic that deemed the car safe to drive and then the car proceeded to malfunction. Vehicle has history of a slipping transmission, with no diagnosis ever found.
Less than 30 days I have purchase a car from gallimore motors started having issues with the transmission slipping reported it to the dealer, who did nothing. It was like oh well. Then now the stabilitrak is coming on, I haven't even had this car for 30 days until yesterday.
My engine is leaking oil and my transmission is slipping. After I filled up the gas tank one day the car jerked and the engine light never went off. I'm not sure why there isn't a recall on it when apparently these cars are notorious for these issues. Jack maxton told me some gear broke inside my transmission.
Steering link slipping when turning. Vin# (xxxxxx) parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
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.
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!!!!
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
- Risk
- Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑888‑988‑7267, Buick Customer service at 1‑866‑608‑8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
Recall number 20V668000 · Recall details
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with a 1.4L turbo engine, and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and March 7, 2014. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.
- Risk
- If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right half shaft, as needed, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. GM will send an interim letter to owners in May 2014. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1‑866‑694‑6546. GM's number for this recall is 14079. This is an expansion of recall 13V‑452. NOTE: Some vehicles subject to this recall were subject to the recall campaign initiated in 2013. Some of those vehicles were repaired using defective parts. Those owners will be advised that they must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign and that having the earlier recall completed did not remedy their vehicles.
Recall number 14V151000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
- Risk
- If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
- Remedy
- General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Buick owners at 1‑800‑521‑7300, and GMC owners at 1‑800‑462‑8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.
Recall number 14V092000 · Recall details
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
- What is wrong
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) and manufactured January 24, 2013, through August 1, 2013. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.
- Risk
- If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- General Motors has notified owners. Dealers will replace the half shaft assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 15, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑521‑7300. This is General Motors campaign number 13276.
Recall number 13V452000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 chevrolet cruze vehicles manufactured from october 6, 2009, through april 27, 2011 and equipped with an automatic transmission for failing to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, 'transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect,' and federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, 'theft protection.' these vehicles may have been built with a transmission shift linkage that is not properly installed. If the linkage is not properly installed, the prndl shift lever may not accurately reflect the position of the transmission gear. With this condition, the driver could move the shifter to park and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in park.
- Risk
- The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the transmission shift linkage for correct installation and adjust the shift linkage system free of charge. The safety recall began on may 23, 2011. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, or www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 11V273000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chevrolet Cruze slipping
Which Chevrolet Cruze years have transmission slipping problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2011 (13 complaints), 2012 (3 complaints) and 2014 (3 complaints).
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