2016 Chevrolet Cruze
Gas Midsize car
The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car with 9 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Cruze, is EPA-rated at 34 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 249 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruze | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 30 | 40 | 34 | $1,850 |
| Cruze Premier | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 30 | 40 | 34 | $1,850 |
| Cruze Limited Eco | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 28 | 40 | 33 | $1,900 |
| Cruze | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 28 | 39 | 32 | $1,950 |
| Cruze Limited | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 26 | 36 | 30 | $2,100 |
| Cruze Limited | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 26 | 37 | 30 | $2,100 |
| Cruze Limited Eco | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 26 | 37 | 30 | $2,100 |
| Cruze Limited | Gas | FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 25 | 35 | 29 | $2,150 |
| Cruze Limited | Gas | FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 22 | 34 | 26 | $2,400 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (4)
Fuel System, Gasoline
criticalProblem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.
Seats
highProblem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."
Risk: In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.
Power Train
highProblem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Exterior Lighting
minorProblem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
Risk: Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a GM dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet Customer Service Department at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 50190.
Owner complaints
249 complaints filed
19 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 14 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2016: 21 · 2017: 17 · 2018: 32 · 2019: 42 · 2020: 44 · 2021: 24 · 2022: 27 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 7
Most-cited components
- Engine — 102
- Electrical System — 58
- Unknown Or Other — 43
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 35
- Power Train — 31
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 11% |
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | 11% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Cruze model years
2019 Cruze
2 recalls · 21 complaints
D2018 Cruze
3 recalls · 109 complaints
C2017 Cruze
2 recalls · 201 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 37276, 37278, 36462, 37277, 36465, 36467, 36464, 36364, 36468). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.