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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).

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 13
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,137 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze Owner Comments (Page 1 of 13)

problem #245

Apr 012024

Cruze

  • miles

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

The main seal

- Burlington, NC, USA

problem #244

May 092024

Cruze

  • miles
Since I-??ve brought the car there is always an issue with the car overheating and something with the cooling system that needs to be repaired. It happens frequently and I-??ve spent more in repairs than what I paid for the car. It-??s always something with the coolant system that causes it to overheat which is dangerous.

- Muskegon, MI, USA

problem #243

Oct 252023

Cruze

  • miles
September 21, 2023 had taken my 2011 Chevy Cruze to a service center because i noticed an oil leak on my garage Floor. the service center replaced the intake manifold cover. Yesterday October 25, 2023 Major Oil Leak, had to pull over, engine was smoking badly. popped the hood and there was oil all over cover and most components around this area. i was told by a few good Samaritans that this oil leaking could potentially cause a fire. no warning lights, only a bad smell and seeing smoke.

- New Castle, PA, USA

problem #242

Jun 052023

Cruze

  • miles

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

Noticed a very hard transmission shift when accelerating from approximately 35 to 40 mph. Hard shifting in this vehicle has been observed over the past year. Milage is approximately 60,000 miles.

- West Seneca, NY, USA

problem #241

Mar 232020

Cruze

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started vibrating. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who changed the engine oil however, the failure persisted. The contact was informed that there might be an engine failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

- Yakima, WA, USA

problem #240

Jan 062023

Cruze

  • miles
Engine failed due to coolant system failure.

- Hazelwood, MO, USA

problem #239

Jul 042022

Cruze 4-cyl

  • miles

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

Engine light and P2099 waste gate actuator pin on the turbo of the Cruze has malfunctioned. There was a recall for this exact issue and my vehicle year was included but not my VIN number. I have less than 95,000 miles on the car and this part should also be recalled on my vehicle as well. Many issues with the car: replaced water pump, replaced hoses, constant smell of coolant that dealership claims doesn't exist. Please help! Car is not driveable now. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10145482-9999.pdf

- Bristol, CT, USA

problem #238

Oct 012021

Cruze

  • miles
Due to OnStar 2G sunsetting their services at the end of this year, all makes of General Motors vehicles did not comply to any of the customers requests to upgrade their module to 4G services, although upon researching, all Canadian GM vehicles did get the upgrade well over 7 years ago. This is well beyond a concern with GM and OnStar customers. With the NHTSA as a safety liaison and protecting the consumer, if a module upgrade can be applied in a vehicle that is on the same assembly parts, platform, electrical components...and be denied from the United States? The NHTSA should realize that this will be frivolous law suits because of neglect and safety concerns with GM and OnStar in the United States.

- Syracuse , NY, USA

problem #237

Sep 062022

Cruze

  • miles
I purchased a Car on 8-11& I didn-??t pick it up until 8/13 of this year. On 8/14 The electrical went out of my middle Consol starting with the radio and then down to the heating and air-conditioning buttons along with the fact that the windows would not roll down or up. When you use the Bluetooth in the car the AC shuts down and I hear a roaring sound coming from the engine as well as whenever I stop the car just jumps. There is also a sound in the steering wheel whatever it-??s turned right to left

- Columbus , OH, USA

problem #236

Aug 272022

Cruze

  • miles
Seven recalls!!! Chevy claims there are no recalls for this vin number. 7 is way to many!!! Not to mention their valve covers on this car are terrible, no wonder the engine catches fire, I-??ve had it replaced 3 times. I-??ve replaced cooling components multiple times an never got any recall notifications from Chevy!!!!!! Please help.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #235

Aug 262022

Cruze

  • miles

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

Valve cover, I-??ve had the valve cover replaced 3 times, an yet it keeps needing replaced an oil is getting all over my engine.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #234

Jun 022022

Cruze

  • miles
Last month the car started ti show me this errors Stabili Trak Control and Traction Service Control, I keep getting them driving on the highway, every road I drive, the steering wheal just becomes stiff and its hard to maneuver, the Air Condition turns off itself and the car has a big vibration, like there is an earthquake outside, I have been calling General Motors to tell them about the problem but they are telling me there is nothing they can do. There are times when I get in the car trying to get to work and the car won't start, the car would show me the errors and would not clear for hours, it's a nightmare.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #233

Jun 282022

Cruze

  • miles
I drive daily taking 2 freeways. I stopped at the traffic light and the car felt like shaking. Stabilitrack warning and traction control warning light and messages appeared on the screen and also the check engine light turned on, and ABS too. Break pedal was really hard to push and breaks were not working (i was not reducing speed at all) and it felt like the engine loose power and the car felt rough while driving. I was approaching to another traffic light and it was a red light so I prepared to decrease my speed and stop to wait for the green light. When I placed my foot and pressed the break pedal, it was hard. I was pushing it hard but the pedal did not respond, it was very hard and not moving at all and I was almost on the intersection, which always has heavy traffic with cars, 18 wheeler trucks and delivery trucks and more because its an industrial zone and Amazon and UPS are on this avenue along with other major companies. I could be involved and be responsible for a really bad crash if the light wouln't turn green on time. Fortunately it changed to the green light and I was in the very front. After this, I tried to go to the side if the road but there was a sidewalk and it was a no parking zone with no space/edge to park In case of emergency. I drove slowly with my emergency lights on and moved to the right lane until I found a space to stop. The car was shaking really bad, same lights on the dash were on and messages on the control panel did not change or disapear. The car was still moving when the engine suddenly stopped working while I was driving it. Music was playing and all lights worked so I knew it wasn't the battery. This situation was so scary that I was afraid to drive my car. I did not want to cause an accident resulting in injury to myself, others or any fatality. I've always taken my car to service and to be fixed in chevrolet. My car shook a little since 2020 and chevy guys don't know the reason. Total is about $2800 to get it fixed.

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #232

Dec 242021

Cruze

  • miles
As I was on the highway, I was unable to pick up speed without feeling resistance! After awhile I couldn-??t go past 25 mph and my car eventually gave out before I made it home. I had to call a tow to have them tow me to my park lot! A couple days went by and my car was able to drive through the parking and park in different spots. I am not sure what the problem may be but I just bought this car and it has been causing unsafe issues for about a year now! Please help!

- Yorktown , VA, USA

problem #231

Dec 222021

Cruze

  • miles
i have an oil leak coming from the valve cover gasket, ,it is a brand new genuine cover and gasket so oil is falling on the drive belt which breaks pretty quickly while driving I heard that it might be an issue with the pcv check valve inside the manifold Apparently many customers complaints about this issue and no recall yet

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #230

Oct 142021

Cruze

  • miles
Every year there-??s always a issue with oil leakage resulting into smoke coming out of my car, another thing is my car starts to hesitate literally once a year. This has been happening since I purchased my car in February of 2015

- Bear, DE, USA

problem #229

Oct 202021

Cruze

  • 148,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from under the hood and a burning odor was detected. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with oil leakage from the valve cover gasket. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact scheduled an upcoming appointment for diagnosis with the dealer. The vehicle had a Manufacturer Recall N202299080 (Special Coverage Camshaft Cover Replacement) performed in 2019. However, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

- Newnan, GA, USA

problem #228

Jul 302021

Cruze

  • miles
Unknown. When stopping then going to accelerate again the engine acts like it-??s in nuetrual and revs the engine up then causing it to jerk forward. This happens at almost every stop.

- Cleves, OH, USA

problem #227

Jun 192021

Cruze

  • miles
The car cuts out and jerks (has no power) (no warning lights) when accelerating or staying at a steady speed with engine light coming on or flashing. I've reported to dealership. So far, Don't know the cause of problem.

- Cuba, MO, USA

problem #226

May 252021

Cruze

  • miles
The car overheated out of nowhere. Oil busted out of the compartment it-??s supposed to be held in and got all over my mechanical parts inside the vehicle. My car caught on fire from the bottom where the engine and transmission are. The car started rattling and giving me warnings to get out of the vehicle because the vehicle was unsafe. It gave me the warning that the engine is idle, Engine locked up, and also an coolant issue. The car didn-??t have issues before this. I literally had to jump out of the car with my family. The warning light for the engine and coolant came on. There hasn-??t been In problems prior to this other than changing a sensor. The insurance was notified and don-??t have a solution. We-??re trying to figure out what to do because it-??s not driveable. Going to contact Chevy dealer or GM as well.

- Spartanburg , SC, USA

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