2016 Chevrolet Cruze problems and recalls

Owners have filed 249 complaints on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, and NHTSA has issued 4 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (102 complaints).

249
Complaints
4
Recalls
19
Crash reports
6
Fire reports
14
Injuries
81.7
Severity index

Severity index 81.7 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 81.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 33 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 77% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 102 complaints (41.0%)102 41%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 58 complaints (23.3%)58 23%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 43 complaints (17.3%)43 17%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 35 complaints (14.1%)35 14%Power TrainPower Train: 31 complaints (12.4%)31 12%Air BagsAir Bags: 21 complaints (8.4%)21 8%Service BrakesService Brakes: 19 complaints (7.6%)19 8%SteeringSteering: 18 complaints (7.2%)18 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE10241.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5823.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4317.3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3514.1%
POWER TRAIN3112.4%
AIR BAGS218.4%
SERVICE BRAKES197.6%
STEERING187.2%

Complaints filed per year

022442016: 212017: 172018: 322019: 422020: 442021: 242022: 272023: 202024: 112025: 42026: 7 (partial year)161718192044212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201621
201717
201832
201942
202044
202124
202227
202320
202411
20254
2026 (year to date)7
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (35 against 95).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V30400010/05/2018FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEGeneral 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 comp
17V05700026/01/2017SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINTGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may no
16V49800001/07/2016EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply wit
16V50200005/07/2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONGeneral 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

Other Chevrolet Cruze model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-29. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.