2013 Chevrolet Cruze: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 585 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 5 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
585
Complaints
5
Recalls
54
Crash reports
8
Fire reports
32
Injuries
88.9
Severity index
Severity index 88.9 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 145 2013 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze ranks 45 of 145 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 69% of its model-year peers. See the full 2013 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 210 | 35.9% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 121 | 20.7% |
| POWER TRAIN | 112 | 19.1% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 75 | 12.8% |
| STEERING | 74 | 12.6% |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 62 | 10.6% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 50 | 8.5% |
| AIR BAGS | 49 | 8.4% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 210 of 585 complaints (35.9%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 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 (year to date) | 2 |
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V502000 | 05/07/2016 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 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, 2013-20 |
| 14V417000 | 02/07/2014 | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to Augu |
| 14V151000 | 31/03/2014 | POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with a 1.4L turbo engine, and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and March 7, 2014. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate. |
| 14V372000 | 26/06/2014 | AIR BAGS | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's front air bag inflator may have been manufactured with an incorrect part. |
| 13V452000 | 23/09/2013 | POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) and manufactured January 24, 2013, through August 1, 2013. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.