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.
Chevrolet Cruze spongy pedal problems
16 of the 3,731 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Cruze describe soft or spongy brake pedal, most of them for the 2011 model year.
- owner complaints
- 16
- worst model year
- 2011
- typical mileage
- 35,000
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
Apparently there is a TSB from GM regarding the end for updated/replacement of parts concerning the hydraulic piping, slave cylinder and accumulator. My clutch became spongy then stuck on the floor. This happened unexpectedly (reservoir full) while driving and almost caused an accident. Apparently GM doesn't take enough accountability to update the failure before or after failure. Reporting this hoping it will eventually force a recall!
Was getting ready to leave the house to go to the store brake pedal became hard after starting the engine. Feels like the brake has a loss of the power assist. After starting the car, put it in drive, release the brake, vehicle begins to move, apply brake, brake pedal was very hard with excessive force needed to stop the vehicle. This just happened out of no where. I have done some research and found the same thing occurred on 2013-2014 models.
When backing my daughters car out of our driveway, the brake pedal became hard and the car would not stop. There was a recall for her car for this exact same issue, but when I put the VIN number in for her car, it was not included in the recall. I am afraid to let her drive the car due to this issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruze. While reversing at 5 MPH, the brake pedal required extra force to depress. The failure occurred intermittently without warning. In addition, while driving 8 MPH pulling into the driveway, the brake pedal failed to depress. The contact mentioned that the brake pedal became stiff as if it were manual. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v360000 (service brakes). The dealer (classic chevrolet, 500 lincoln ave, pittsburgh, pa, 15202, 412‑451‑8962) and manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. No further assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000. ..updated 08/22/17 *bf
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. While driving various speeds, the brake pedal stiffened and the vehicle would not stop when prompted. In addition, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was diagnosed as having a faulty electronic brake assist. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,000.
Recall bulletin 12213 performed april 2014 for brake vacuum micro switch. Recalled part failed again august 2016. Vehicle has hard brake pedal upon cold start and sometimes when restarted after driving and warm. Vehicle becomes very hard to stop without warning and unsafe to drive. Dealer refused to replace part at no cost stating no additional recall exists and no warranty exists. It is unclear if this is the very start of a larger systemic problem with the actual design of these micro switches in this application. Gm part number 13460776 has become obsolete and part now comes as sub assembly with additional parts. This leads me to believe original design of micro switch was defective.
Has a hard brake pedal will not stop sometime the switch was replaced on early recall.
While driving the power steering shuts off, radio blinks on and off, and the brakes get spongy making it hard to drive and stop. I have had it in the shop and the mechanics were unable to find an problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet cruise. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the brake pedal became hard to depress and the contact had to applied force in order to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The vehicle resumed it normal acceleration but the failure recurred moments later. The dealer was contacted and informed that the recall repairs were already completed on the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the master cylinder and brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The failure mileage was 35,000 and the current mileage was 50,000.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
- Risk
- A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
Recall number 18V576000 · Recall details
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured February 4, 2015, to February 9, 2015. The left-rear or right-rear parking brake cable brackets may not have been properly fastened during the assembly process. As a result, the fastening bolts may back out completely, causing the parking brake bracket to separate and the parking brake to not hold the vehicle in place. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- Risk
- If the parking brake bracket separates, the parking brake may not hold the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll away and a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left-rear and right-rear parking brake brackets bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is 15135.
Recall number 15V113000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist
- 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
Questions about the Chevrolet Cruze spongy pedal
Which Chevrolet Cruze years have soft or spongy brake pedal problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2011 (7 complaints), 2012 (6 complaints) and 2013 (1 complaints).
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