2016 Chevrolet Cruze electrical problems
59 of the 250 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 287 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 59 reports a crash · 4 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 12 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 11 · 2019: 11 · 2020: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 1
Half of the 39 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 16,000 and 61,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
250 complaints in all about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 1 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Cruze electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I was parked in an outdoor parking lot. When I got to my vehicle I could not enter my it even though I had the key fob in my hand (keyless entry). I used the Chevrolet mylink app to gain access to the vehicle. Then I could not start my car using the start button.
Just received a recall letter of some form for my 2016 chevy cruz stating that a fire may start when the d.c./d.c. Converter is powered due to a resistive short occurring due to electrical/ lighting problems I believe the letter describes it better then I can.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the electrical system failed, the vehicle decelerated while driving, and the instrument panel lighting dimmed. During the failures, the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure.
As I was driving about 35 on a city street, everything seemed like just any other day. But it was far from it. I started to smell a funny plastic/rubber like smell coming from the front of my car. So immediately pulled over to check what was going on.
Vehicle proved to be spontaneously combustive thus the car burned up in a fire due to electrical harness catching fire as stated fire fire department fire inspector. No signs showed any imminent danger, the driver of the vehicle barely escaped before car went up in flames. The vehicle was in motion being driven on a city street
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications287 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B3055 B3060 B3935 P00C7 P0236 P2227 B101D P0171
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze
Source: the same files- engine problems 108 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 59 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (24% of everything owners filed about it), and 287 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 4 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 45,000 miles; half of them between 16,000 and 61,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.