2011 Chevrolet CRUZE: complaints, problems and recalls

I JUST NOTICED THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE 2011 CHEVROLET VEHICLES AND SOME DODGE( THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT I HAVE SEEN SO FAR) HAS THE SAME TYPE OF SEAT BELTS AND FOR ME THEY LOOK KIND OF WEAK/ UNSAFE COMPARE TO THE ONES THAT I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST. I'M A CHILD PASSENGER TECHNICIAN AND WHEN I WAS INSTALLING SOME CAR SEATS IN SOME CHEVY'S VEHICLES I NOTICED THAT TWO OF THE SEAT BELTS ALMOST GOT PERFORATED BY THE CAR SEAT PLASTIC SHELL, I NOTICED THAT THEY'RE NOT AS HEAVY DUTY AS THE ONES THAT I HAVE IN MY 2000 CHEVY VAN. I'M KIND OF CONCERNED AB…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10361005 at NHTSA ↗

2011 CHEVY CRUZE SEAT ADJUST CONTROL ON DRIVER'S SIDE WILL CAUSE SEVERE PINCHING/CRUSHING OF FINGERS ON LEFT HAND IF YOU LOWER THE SEAT TO ITS LOWEST POSITION USING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL ON THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT WITHOUT KEEPING ALL FINGERS ABOVE THE CONTROL. IT IS A FAIRLY NATURAL GRIP TO REST THE THUMB ON THE TOP OF THE CONTROL AND LIGHTLY GRASP THE BOTTOM OF THE PLASTIC SEAT SKIRT TO PUSH THE CONTROL SWITCH DOWN. THIS GRIP WILL CAUSE THE FINGERS TO BE PINNED BETWEEN THE SEAT SKIRT AND THE SEAT BASE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 58 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361451 at NHTSA ↗

I AM REPORTING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE 2011 CHEVY CRUISE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT DOES NOT STAY FASTENED TO THE PINS ON THE FLOOR AND BUNCHES UP BENEATH THE GAS PEDAL PREVENTING ACCELERATION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD RESULT IN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ACCIDENT. I HAVE REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT. GM NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 134 miles reported. Look up ODI 10379915 at NHTSA ↗

NEW 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. 270 MILES ON ODOMETER. ENTERING MY GARAGE AND STEPPED ON BRAKES AND CARE WOULD NOT STOP. RELEASE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED AND CAR STOPPED. TOOK TO DEALER WHO TESTED AND FOUND NO PROBLEM BUT WHEN TECHNICIAN WAS TAKING CAR INTO BAY TO INSTALL MUDFLAPS PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. DEALERSHIP KEPT CAR AND ENDED UP REPLACING A POWER BOOSTER CHECK VALVE. *LN

Owner-reported narrative. 270 miles reported. Look up ODI 10383221 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND WENT INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY COULD SMELL THE POWDER FROM THE AIR BAGS ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. AN ONSTAR REPRESENTATIVE CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY RECEIVED A MESSAGE STATING THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WOULD BE INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10383991 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING MY NEW 2011 CHEVY CRUZE ON HIGHWAY 10 IN MINNESOTA, WITH OUT ANY WARNING OR ANY OTHER INDICATIONS THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF IN THE HANDS OF THE DRIVER. WE CROSSED SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC AND FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED JUST INCHES FROM HITTING THE GUARDRAIL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,609 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392252 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE. I JUST PURCHASED IN NOV 2010. ONE MONTH AFTER I HAD THE CAR I HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER DUE TO STEERING NOISE WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT/RIGHT. THEY HAD TO LUBRICATE SOME PARTS BY THE WHEELS. STARTING IN FEB 2011 I NOTICE THE CAR STARTED TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN YOU TOOK YOU FOOT OF THE BRAKE. IT BOGS WHEN YOU TAKE OFF, YOU WILL GO THEN THE CAR BOGS AND THEN IT GOES AGAIN. WHEN ITS GOING INTO GEARS (I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED) ITS ROUGH AND THE CAR JERKS WHENEVER YOU ACCELERATE OR WHEN YOUR SLOWING DOWN. WHEN YOU …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392518 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2011 CHEVY CRUZE LS. AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THAT WHEN DRIVING IT IN MANUAL AND COMING TO A STOP THE CAR WOULD VIOLENTLY SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONTACTED GM. THEY ALSO TEST DROVE EVERY CHEVY CRUZE LS MODEL AND NON-TURBO ENGINE CRUZE THEY HAD IN STOCK AND FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY CONTACTED GM AGAIN AND GM INFORMED THEM THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE LS AN NON-TURBO ENGINE MODELS AND THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION OF FIX TO TH…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10392902 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2011-04-06 (April 6, 2011)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES. DURING MANUFACTURING THE STEERING WHEEL COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FASTENED AND MAY DETACH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN.

Consequence: SHOULD THE STEERING WHEEL DETACH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS ASSEMBLED PROPERLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FOR YOU FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2011-05-06 (May 6, 2011)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 21, 2011. THE BOLT ATTACHING THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED.

Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE SHAFTS TO SEPARATE, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF REQUIRED, REPAIR THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT/STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY TO ASSURE THE BOLT IS FULLY SEATED AND THE SHAFT PROPERLY ASSEMBLED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 23, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2011-05-06 (May 6, 2011)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 6, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 27, 2011 AND EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, 'TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT,' AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, 'THEFT PROTECTION.' THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE LINKAGE IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, THE PRNDL SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVER COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO PARK AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN PARK.

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE FOR CORRECT INSTALLATION AND ADJUST THE SHIFT LINKAGE SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 23, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2012-06-22 (June 22, 2012)

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 31, 2012. SPILLED OR DRIPPING OIL (SUCH AS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE) MAY COLLECT IN THE ENGINE SHIELD (BELLYPAN) NEAR HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST SYSTEM SURFACES. AS A RESULT, THE OIL AND THE ENGINE SHIELD MAY IGNITE AND BURN.

Consequence: EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ENGINE SHIELD TO PREVENT FLUID FROM CONTACTING THE SHIELD. ALSO, ON VEHICLES WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, DEALERS WILL APPLY A PROTECTIVE TAPE TO THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WIRE HARNESS. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER AT 1-866-694-6546.

Reported: 2012-06-22 (June 22, 2012)

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 14, 2012. ATTACHMENT WELDS FOR THE FUEL TANK STRAP SECONDARY BRACKETS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED.

Consequence: THE FUEL TANK COULD COME LOOSE IN A CRASH, POSSIBLY ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR MISSING WELDS. IF THE VEHICLE IS MISSING WELDS, DEALERS WILL SECURE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENTS WITH FASTENERS. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER AT 1-866-694-6546.

Reported: 2013-08-15 (August 15, 2013)

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with 1.4L DOHC gasoline turbo engines and 6T40 front wheel drive automatic transmissions and equipped with an electric vacuum pump to provide supplemental vacuum for brake assist, when needed. In the affected vehicles, the pump may not activate, resulting in an intermittent reduction or loss of brake assist.

Consequence: A loss of braking assistance will require extra pedal force and/or distance to bring the vehicle to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace a microswitch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's recall number is 12213.

Reported: 2016-07-05 (July 5, 2016)

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."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.