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CarComplaints.com Notes: What’s that smell – it’s a tad sweet with a tinge of chemical toxicity? If you own a 2011 Cruze it’s probably a coolant leak. It’s a widespread and notorious problem for the car and is the subject of a class-action lawsuit filed in the state of New York. And that’s not the only problem 2011 owners face…

Many say the 2011 model year suffers from a throttle lag that is probably due to a fauly electronic throttle control. The problem is signifigant enough that some owners say they are too scared to drive their cars. Those that do get behind the wheel often say their transmission isn’t shifting properly and problems start occuring as early as 15,000 miles.

All of this leads us to say you’re probably better off without this car’s headaches (they’re probably chemically-induced anyway).

9.2

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$120
Average Mileage:
54,100 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (7 reports)
  2. recharge compressor (1 reports)
2011 Chevrolet Cruze AC / heater problems

AC / heater problem

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze Owner Comments

problem #8

Jul 242020

Cruze LT 1.4L 14614mfi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,949 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After Pepboys fixed my water pump ,thermostat,2 air filters and added coolant, I drove my car for a very short while and the car started making aloud noise under the hood and a little bit later the AC starting blowing out hot air no light came on in my car to warn me that I had a problem problem going on with my A C.My light for stabril would go off and on some time.When pepboys put the thermostat and other items they said that would solve the problem ,but it did not .The light still goes off and on. My milage when I took my car to them was 66454 and my milage now is 66949.this shows that I had not drove the car much.I saw on the G M custom care and after sales (DC53518 ) Urgent Distribute Immediately on the web where a customer had put in complaints on the same problems that i am having .special coverage was put in place for these problems. Jim Moloney General Director Customer and Relationship Service Bulletin No.(14371B) Reimbursement- Department--- POBox 33170 -----Detroit,M I 48232-5170----(1800-222-1020) -water pump (9900044)---- Chevy Cruise 2011-14 equipped with 1.4L Engine. i already have had 2 recalls on this car and I have not had it about years.I should not have to put out money like this back to back and seems like the car is falling apart and malfunctioning.I bought a extended warranty when I got the car but it has expired.

- Edna G., Sanford, US

problem #7

Jun 012016

Cruze Lowest Eco

  • Manual transmission
  • 38,000 miles

Car had new compressor at 3,000 and needed a recharge at 38,000. mechanic said newer cars don't hold a charge well?

- mullymull40, Royal Oak, MI, US

problem #6

Dec 252017

Cruze 2LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

a/c stopped working. Compressor clutch not starting.

- David R., Wentzville, MO, US

problem #5

May 012012

Cruze

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I hate that my air conditioner doesn't work. My boyfriend will not go anywhere in my car in warm months even though mine is more economical than his big truck. I had a death in the family in Alabama and was not able to take my car because it is so hot down there, we all would have been miserable.

- Angela D., Akron, OH, US

problem #4

Aug 142015

Cruze LS

  • Manual transmission
  • 48,467 miles

cool air vents blasting heat

One of the hottest days of summer ( 36 degrees C ) had to drive 1 hour with the heat blasting even though it was turned completely off. It was so hot that the dash was getting hot and I could smell the rubber on my shoe. No matter what I did it would not stop. After reaching my destination it just quit on its own. I hate this piece of crap!!

- brenda-shane, Sintaluta, Saskatchewan, canada

problem #3

Oct 312013

Cruze LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles

I was driving 100 miles in the rain. About mile 5, I noticed that the hot air was really hot, so I turned the dial to cool (outside temp was about 63 degrees). No go. All I could get was hot. It got to the point where I had to just turn it off as it was getting hard to breathe.

Turning the dial to off did not stop the air flow through the vents. I turned each individual vent switch to off, which allowed me to breathe with the windows down in the rain, soaking my door interior. My dash heated up significantly.

All 95 miles were spent like this.

After I reached home, on a hunch, because I had the battery replaced a month before, I checked the battery cables - the battery can make your car do strange things. There was already corrosion on the negative post. Took the cable off, knocked off the corrosion. Left the cable off for about 15 minutes. Put it back on and it has worked fine ever since.

- Josie M., Pittsburg, TX, US

problem #2

Jan 032012

Cruze 2LT 1.4L Ecotec Vvt Dohc

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,000 miles

While riding home from Houston to Austin the heater wouldn't turn off. We turned off everything and tried to turn on the AC to get the heater to kick off. The heater kept blowing hot air. We stopped the car, turned it off and went in to a rest area. We came back to the car and the heater still wouldn't turn off. It was so hot that I had to sit cross-legged. My husband was driving. Of course by the time I took it to the dealership the heater was working. I was told to bring it back when the problem reoccurred.

- dmp444, Round Rock, TX, US

problem #1

Jan 072013

Cruze

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,282 miles

my car only blows hot air so it is pretty bad when you have to roll windows down when it is -5 outside

Update from Feb 26, 2013: they had to reset the HVAc

- pecoskie, Combermere, ON, Canada

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