AI Damage2016 Chevrolet Cruze: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze filed 250 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 950 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 250
- involving a crash
- 19
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 950
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 41% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 24% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 6% of all complaints
- Engine: 102 complaints (41% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 101.
- Electrical system: 59 complaints (24% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 197.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 35 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Powertrain: 31 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 69.
- Air bags: 21 complaints (8% of all), 12 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speednamed in 3 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 250 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 102 | 3 | 101 |
| Electrical system | 59 | 2 | 197 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 35 | 1 | 5 |
| Powertrain | 31 | 0 | 69 |
| Air bags | 21 | 12 | 6 |
| Service brakes | 19 | 2 | 14 |
| Steering | 18 | 1 | 22 |
| Electronic stability control | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 2 | 4 |
| Structure | 8 | 0 | 38 |
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 126 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 10 |
| Wheels | 5 | 1 | 40 |
| Seats | 4 | 0 | 9 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
At first, and only on cold/rainy/snowy weather, while driving the radio would randomly turn off and turn itself back on (i have videos of this). Sometimes it would last a few seconds, sometimes a few minutes. While this was happening, the blinker sounds wouldn't work.
The check engine was on and I have fixed the O2 sensor, the mass air flow sensor, Ive replaced the turbo hose it had a big chunk ripped out of it which we have no clue how that happened, I just changed the PCV valves a few weeks ago and the car started but would not go in drive nor reverse put it back in shop and…
The air bags failed to deploy. As a result, the contact had whiplash to the neck and the front seat passenger head hit the windshield and whiplash to the neck. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Prior to this crash,months before,at various times,and and for no reason, the service power steering,at times the service traction control,and at times the service stability message would appear,only for a split couple of seconds,at random times.
I was leaving a parking lot and went to turn into my lane and someone cut over at the last minute causing me to jerk my wheel out of reaction and the front end of my car slammed into the guard rail. My air bags never went off and my head bounced off the steering wheel twice causing some damage to my face.
No airbags deployed, although there is a message on my dash now that states air bag deployed and also the service air bag light is on. Car is currently in the shop for the repairs to the rear end, bumper and deck lid.
I parked my car in the parking lot at my work and I had the brake up but the car rolled back and hit a parked car. Thankfully, not a lot of damage was done to the car but I couldn't relax about my car. I took my car into the dealership because I had the car only 1 1/2 years and they had my car for 4 hours.
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the scene. The vehicle was not destroyed. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 3,400.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 257 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Cruze has 146 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 250, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- This service bulletin provides procedures to correct customer concerns of Poor Engine Performance in…
This service bulletin provides procedures to correct customer concerns of Poor Engine Performance in Extremely Cold Weather Conditions, Charge Air Cooler (CAC) Icing - Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated with…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
NHTSA lists 950 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 250. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (20%), overheating, coolant loss (8%), smoke, burning smell, fire (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA lists 950 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.