2018 Chevrolet CRUZE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
109 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
24,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 109 complaints (24.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 17.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 12.8% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 10.1% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.8% |
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 | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Power Train | 23 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
Engine: 27; Unknown Or Other: 24; Power Train: 23; Electrical System: 14; Service Brakes: 12; Steering: 9; Air Bags: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 32 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 48 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2018: 7; 2019: 23; 2020: 22; 2021: 10; 2022: 12; 2023: 8; 2024: 10; 2025: 10; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11112952 · 2018-07-23 (July 23, 2018)
THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR HAS SEVERAL AREAS WITH CHROME TYPE OF MATERIAL FOR DECORATIONS. DURING DAYTIME DRIVING, THE SUN HITS IT AND BLINDS ME, SO IT PREVENTS ME FROM DRIVING SAFELY UNTIL SUNDOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11112952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120610 · 2018-08-17 (August 17, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY CRUZE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FUEL LINE SPRAYING FUEL ON THE ENGINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11139600 · 2018-10-11 (October 11, 2018)
THE COMPUTER SCREEN IN THE DASH STAYS AT FULL BRIGHTNESS AT NIGHT. THIS MAKES FOR A BLIND SPOT DRIVING AND VERY HARD TO PARK THE CAR ON THE STREET AS IT BLOCKS VIEW TO THE MIRROR ON RIGHT.
Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 11139600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142351 · 2018-10-24 (October 24, 2018)
2018 DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS ISSUE NIGHT TIME DRIVING THE DISPLAY IS WAY TO BRIGHT. DIMMING LIGHTS WITH DIMMER SWITCH HAS NO RESULTS. DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS IS SO DISTRACTING IT BLINDS OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. CONTACTING CHEVROLET THEY DISPLAYED IGNORANCE OF THE PROBLEM. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET PROVIDE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON SEVERAL MODEL IN ADDITION TO THE CRUISE
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144757 · 2018-11-01 (November 1, 2018)
I LEASED A CRUZE AND WITH LESS THAN TWO WEEKS IN MY POSSESSION IT HAS BEEN MORE AT THE DEALER THAN WITH ME. FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A STRUT AND AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS THEY REPLACED THE AFFECTED PART. A DAY AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK, THE SAME CREAKING NOISE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPARENT WAS STILL THERE AND GETTING WORSE. THEY HAVE NOW HAD MY CAR FOR 4 DAYS AND REPORTED BACK TO ME THAT THE NOISE WAS IN THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ON A NEW CAR. IT IS AMNAUFACTURING DEFE…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11144757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11154606 · 2018-11-28 (November 28, 2018)
AS I WAS BACKING OUT I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE GAS AS I GOT READY TO BREAK I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THAT'S WHEN MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE PEDAL AND BACKED INTO THE PERSON BEHIND ME.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,005 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11156705 · 2018-12-07 (December 7, 2018)
I WAS LEAVING WORK ON 11-30-18 @ 5P.M. STARTED DRIVING DOWN LA HARPE BLVD, LIKE I DO EVERYDAY AFTER WORK. IT WAS RAINING THAT AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK. I WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. I HAD IT TOWED TO CRAIN CHEVROLET WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. THE GM CERTIFIED MECHANIC CALLED US HALF AN HOUR AFTER THEY OPENED SATURDAY MORNING AND SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED AND THE ONLY WAY HE FOUND THAT OUT WAS JUST STARTING THE VEHICLE UP WITHOUT LOOKING @ THE VEHICLE FIRST. MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11171354 · 2019-01-22 (January 22, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO QUIRK CHEVROLET OF PORTLAND (LOCATED AT 1000 BRIGHTON AVE, PORTLAND, ME 04102, [phone removed]) AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FAST ON THE HIGHWAY TO CLEAR THE FILTER, WHICH WOULD TURN OFF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 94989017128. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11171354 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V304000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2018-05-10 (May 10, 2018)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V576000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
Reported: 2018-08-30 (August 30, 2018)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V668000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2020-10-29 (October 29, 2020)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
NHTSA campaign record ↗