2013 Chevrolet CRUZE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
586 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
51,350 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 417 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 211 of 586 complaints (36.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 84 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 79 | 13.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 48 | 8.2% |
| Engine operation | 38 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 34 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 211 |
| Electrical System | 117 |
| Power Train | 111 |
| Unknown Or Other | 75 |
| Steering | 74 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 62 |
| Air Bags | 49 |
| Service Brakes | 45 |
Engine: 211; Electrical System: 117; Power Train: 111; Unknown Or Other: 75; Steering: 74; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 62; Air Bags: 49; Service Brakes: 45
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 124 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 78 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 76 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 57 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 71 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 124; 25,000 to 49,999: 78; 50,000 to 74,999: 76; 75,000 to 99,999: 57; 100,000 to 149,999: 71; 150,000 and above: 11
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (124). 169 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 29 |
| 2014 | 108 |
| 2015 | 48 |
| 2016 | 47 |
| 2017 | 54 |
| 2018 | 80 |
| 2019 | 54 |
| 2020 | 47 |
| 2021 | 29 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2013: 29; 2014: 108; 2015: 48; 2016: 47; 2017: 54; 2018: 80; 2019: 54; 2020: 47; 2021: 29; 2022: 30; 2023: 29; 2024: 17; 2025: 11; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 84 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 79 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 48 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10497101 · 2013-02-03 (February 3, 2013)
AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 90 MILES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECOMES "NOTCHY". MINOR STEERING CORRECTIONS BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL ONLY MOVE IN FINITE INCREMENTS SO DRIVING THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT, EVEN DANGEROUS SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO POSITION IT PROPERLY IN THE TRAFFIC LANE. WEATHER OR TEMPERATURE DOES NOT SEEM TO AFFECT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR STEERS PROPERLY ON SHORT TRIPS BUT ON A REGULAR, WEEKLY TRIP I MAKE, THE PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS AFTER ABOUT 90 MILES. AFTER THE CAR IS STOPPED (AT THE 130 M…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10497101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10557063 · 2013-12-23 (December 23, 2013)
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS >55 THE STEERING WHEEL GIVE RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO MAKE MINOR LANE CORRECTIONS. WHEN YOU GET PAST THE RESISTANCE THE STEERING OVER CORRECTS WHICH CAUSES YOU TO SWERVE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10557063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10506101 · 2013-06-17 (June 17, 2013)
2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE HE THOUGHT HE WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT, WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE, HE APPARENTLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AS WELL AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE INTO THE INTERSECTION. APPARENTLY, HE APPLIED MORE FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR, THAN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RAISED TOO HIGH OFF THE FLOOR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10506101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10507230 · 2013-04-05 (April 5, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 660 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,002. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 660 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554773 · 2013-12-04 (December 4, 2013)
AFTER CHANGING OIL FILTER, OIL SPRAYED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES INTO DRIVE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE SAFE, BUT THE DAMAGE IS EXPENSIVE. WIRING HARNESSES, AS WELL AS MASTER CYLINDER WERE MELTED. THE TOP MOUNTED FILTER IS A PLEATED CARTRIDGE THAT SNAPS INTO A THREADED PLASTIC OIL FILTER CAP. A BLUE O-RING, INCLUDED WITH THE FILTER, SLIPS OVER THE PLASTIC OIL FILTER CAP, PAST THE THREADS. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO THAT TWO "GROOVES" EXIST AFTER THE THREADS TOWARDS THE END BY THE FLANGE. IF T…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,494 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10572498 · 2014-03-14 (March 14, 2014)
I PURCHASED A 2013 CHEVY CRUZE IN JUNE, 2013. IN NOVEMBER OF THE SAME YEAR, I STRUCK A DEER ON A RURAL STRETCH OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED (70MPH). AT THIS POINT THERE WERE ROUGHLY 9,000 MILES ON IT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT I WAS UNHARMED. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DO A 180 DEGREE ROLL ONTO THE SHOULDER, AT WHICH POINT I EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SEE THE AREA NEAR THE BATTERY SMOKING WITH A SMALL FLAME COMING OUT OF IT. WITHIN MINUTES, AND BEFORE EMERGENCY VEHICLES COULD ARRIVE THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAM…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10578279 · 2014-04-08 (April 8, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3200. UPDATED 06/17/14*LJ UPDATED 8/17/17*CN
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10597590 · 2014-06-11 (June 11, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10597590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10543281 · 2013-09-12 (September 12, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE GEAR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT MANUAL FORCE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10548822 · 2013-10-21 (October 21, 2013)
STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT ON SLIGHT INCLINE. RELEASED BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD, NEARLY STRIKING VEHICLE BEHIND ME. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. EXPERIENCED SAME CONDITIONS ON INCLINE SEVERAL MORE TIMES. TOOK TO DIFFERENT CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. CONTACTED GM AND RECEIVED CALL BACK. THEY SPOKE WITH SERVICE MANAGER AND ASKED ME TO TAKE IT BACK IN. I TOOK SERVICE MANAGER WITH ME AND PERFORMED SAME ACTIVITY TWICE. VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE IN DRIVE AFTER STOPPING ON INCLINE AND RELE…
Owner-reported narrative. 745 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10618166 · 2014-08-01 (August 1, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE …
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10863731 · 2016-05-07 (May 7, 2016)
CAR'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO BLOWN FUEL PUMP FUSE WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 M.P.H IN CLEAR WEATHER, DURING THE DAY, ON PAVED DOWNTOWN ORLANDO STREET. WHEN ENGINE DIED, LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BREAKS, VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A COIL PACK PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE COIL PACK AT A COST OF $534.00. I AM NOT SURE HOW THE COIL PACK THAT HOLDS THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP FUSE TO BLOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10863731 at NHTSA ↗