Chevrolet Cruze engine problems, 2016–2019
219 of the 582 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Cruze 2016–2019 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2016 (108), 2017 (77), 2018 (29). Filed under the same heading across these years: no document yet. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Chevrolet Cruze engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 | 23% | — | 219 TSBs | the year → |
| 2018 | 29 | 27% | 13k | 303 TSBs | the year → |
| 2017 in depth | 77 | 38% | 40k | 333 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 108 | 43% | 66k | 335 TSBs | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 9 · 2019: 38 · 2020: 38 · 2021: 20 · 2022: 37 · 2023: 27 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 15 · 2026: 12
Across the model years, half of the 115 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 19,000 and 81,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Takata recall going down the road coolent outlet housing disintegrated while hose on the radiator was in motion on highway it cracked where the part is molded part is gets bad quickly overtime and heat
My 2016 chevy Cruze limited started to lose acceleration and wouldn't go over 40 miles an hour. No code lights are on and none detected. So I drove home and parked the car and waited until it was cooled down and opened the hood to check my oil. I unscrewed the oil cap where you add oil and it completely smelled like gasoline.
Vehicle purchased under 1 month ago with 15k miles on it. Vehicle was stationary at a red light with auto stop engaged, I attempted to accelerate as light turned green; auto stop attempted to turn on, then seemingly failed and vehicle completely shut off.
Car having major miss fireing and very bad jerking back and fourth at high ri rmp.7000 and does it alot which ia causing me to have more pain and injury to. My. Back. AM disable veteran. Im im alot of pain and causinf my recent back surgery to have more issues due to a @#$%ed up car poor design
I got my vehicle through a local dealership in town, in July of 2020 and only a couple months later my problems started. The vehicle started to vibrate violently and almost jerk back and forth on its own whenever I would drive it.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNothing filed under this heading on these model years.
Other systems with a record on the Chevrolet Cruze
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Chevrolet Cruze problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Chevrolet Cruze years have the most engine complaints?
2016, 108; 2017, 77; 2018, 29. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2016 (43%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Chevrolet Cruze?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the Chevrolet Cruze?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 59,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 19,000 and 81,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.