2016 Chevrolet CRUZE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
249 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
56,639 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 149 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 102 of 249 complaints (41.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 32 | 12.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 9.6% |
| Steering behavior | 22 | 8.8% |
| Engine operation | 20 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.0% |
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 | 102 |
| Electrical System | 58 |
| Unknown Or Other | 43 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 35 |
| Power Train | 29 |
| Air Bags | 21 |
| Service Brakes | 18 |
| Steering | 18 |
Engine: 102; Electrical System: 58; Unknown Or Other: 43; Fuel/Propulsion System: 35; Power Train: 29; Air Bags: 21; Service Brakes: 18; Steering: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 40 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 50 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 40; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (50). 100 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 42 |
| 2020 | 44 |
| 2021 | 24 |
| 2022 | 27 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2016: 21; 2017: 17; 2018: 32; 2019: 42; 2020: 44; 2021: 24; 2022: 27; 2023: 20; 2024: 11; 2025: 4; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 22 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 10888542 · 2016-07-26 (July 26, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. AFTER COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BLACK SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE WINDOW VENTS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY UNLOCK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND WITNESSED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10888542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10926924 · 2016-11-18 (November 18, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GROUND WAS DRY. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAD HIP SURGERY AND LACERATIONS TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE A…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10926924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873002 · 2016-06-07 (June 7, 2016)
CAR STOPPED AND WAS COMPLETELY DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, HAZARD LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. ONSTAR DIDN'T WORK, I COULDN'T ROLL WINDOWS DOWN AND COULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. 10 MINS LATER VEHICLE RESTARTED LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP SEEING AS CAR WAS LEASED ONLY 14 DAYS PRIOR, THEY STATED THIS WAS A KNOWN RECALL AND THAT BATTERY CABLE WASN'T PROPERLY SECURED. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH GM SAID THEY ISSUED IT ON 5/24/16 AND THIS HAPPENED ON 6/1/16. DEALERSHIP AND GM…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10908050 · 2016-09-19 (September 19, 2016)
2016 CRUZE THE STEERING LOCKED AS I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WITH MY 16 YEAR DAUGHTER ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS GOING OFF AND ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES STEERING RELEASED AND RADIO SYSTEM CAME BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. WE PURCHASED THIS CRUZE FOR MY 16 YR DAUGHTER AS HER FIRST CAR BUT FIND IT VERY UNSAFE. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. CHEVY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND GET THIS FIXED. THIS HAPPENED 9/14/16 AND CAR IS ST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10908050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10838142 · 2016-02-25 (February 25, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANUVER AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND 55 MPH OR GREATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER FAILED TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,850.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10838142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10870498 · 2016-05-24 (May 24, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10994634 · 2017-06-13 (June 13, 2017)
CAR STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN TRAFFIC- A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,568 miles reported. Look up ODI 10994634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10986039 · 2017-05-16 (May 16, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT REMOVED THEMSELVES FROM THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED LIQUID COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A ROLLING STOP AT WHICH POINT THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10986039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11064308 · 2018-01-23 (January 23, 2018)
CAR HAS LESS THAN 17,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE A FAILING TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVING AND STARTING UP AFTER STOPPING IT JERKS AND HESITATES. BRAKES ARE CONTINUOUSLY BEING BLOWN OUT AS THEY SQUEAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10930344 · 2016-12-07 (December 7, 2016)
TL* 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. THE DEALER RESEATED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND SERVICED THE FUEL INJECTOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10930344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11129749 · 2018-09-16 (September 16, 2018)
WAS IN REVERSE GOING OUT THE DRIVE WAY THAT WAS ON A SLIGHT HILL. CAR CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START. GOT OUT CAR AND SEEN GAS LEAKING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOW WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ON 8/8/2018 TOOK CAR TO BRADSHAW OF GREER BECAUSE OF A RECALL ON THE FUEL LEAK. CERTAIN GM VEHICLES COULD POSSIBLY HAVE AN ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK AND THE VPS SENSOR NEEDS A LOCK RING INSTALLED. HAD THE CAR WORKED ON FOR THE RECALL AND I STILL HAD A GAS LEAK. VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129749 at NHTSA ↗