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).
In Sweeping Action, G.M. Recalls 154,000 Chevrolet Cruze Models - General Motors is recalling all of its 2011 Chevrolet Cruze compact sedans to check for a steering problem as well as a condition in which an automatic transmission that appears to be in Park may still be in gear, increasing the chance of a roll-away accident.
I bought this car last year, I only have 33000 miles on it. On my way to the doctor app, suddenly this car without any engine light notice start rolling back on intersection 195 East. Some guys helped me push my car to the grass area and I needed to tow my car to the dealer.
I was at the red light by our steakhouse, and put it in park, because I didn't feel like pressing the brake because you have to use so much force, another issue... I put it in drive, rolled back, the stabilitrak freaked out, there was no indication [D][100xxx] ie blank box for the PRND as to switching gears, and the car started rolling backwards, was nearly rear ended or whatever, because when these geniuses made it, it doesn't let you drive, and it lost power and yeah. Then I rolled into a parking spot crooked, so as I was trying to straighten up(meanwhile brakes are not funtioning nor park to stop) I rolled out in front of this lady and she hit me. Really pissed off at this car.
When in reverse it drives forward. When in drive it rolls back. Very dangerous, i almost nailed someone in a drive thru. Biggest mistake i ever made was buying this car.
I'm a 22 year old girl, who wanted a cute car that would get me to and from work.... I fell in love with my cruze from the first time i saw it... Until, September 1,2011, the first day of my car payment and the last day my car was ever the same, I got rear ended by a Mustang... They had to replace the entire back bumper of my cruze... I got my car back and it ran okay, it seemed normal i thought, but boy was i wrong! As time went by and miles began to rack up, the more and more and more weird noises i had coming from my car.......... It sounded like grinding metal, and washing machine and knives being rubbed together.... I took my car in, they said nothing was wrong with it...... A few months later i took my car in, again nothing was wrong.... the third time i demanded they look at it and that the noises coming from the car WERE NOT NORMAL.... They found that my Air compressor entirely went out.... At that time not only did that break, but the interior of my car was falling apart. The output in the front had a shortage in it, and the output in the back had completely fallen out of the middle console.... I never used either one of these....... The replaced the interior issues and they the air compressor..... But after that, the car started shooting up to 5,6,7 Rpms while driving at only 20 mph... The car now will not go up a hill with out drifting down the hill even at the speed of 20 mph... GMC Dealership said since they can't pull up codes and can not duplicate the concerns, it does not exist... from April up to now i have been complaining about these random noises, the rpm's going so high and how the car all in all's drives... This is the worst car i have ever owned in my life.... I've owned a KIA Sedona and i'd rather drive that again than have to be stuck with this car! The Chevy cruze was the worst investment i have ever made in my life i think..... I am currently trying to trade it in... What makes me even more mad is i paid 24,000 for this hunk of junk!!!!! This thing has nothing but issues..... The car has stalled out while in driving motion.... It has drifted entirely down hills where i live almost hitting other vehicles, I have a claim number now with the car but Chevy is taking their sweet time to get back to me...... Then today while driving the car wouldn't go more than 70 mph unless i put it in manual mode!!!!!
- Brittany L.,
BRUNSWICK, MD, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I purchased this car in February 2011 and from day one we noticed that the Cruze rolls back on hills when in drive. This happens constantly and has been reported to the dealer and we have been told that this is normal!!!!! How can this be normal? Yesterday when the vehicle rolled back while in DRIVE I was unable to hold on hill in Parking Garage and the vehicle rolled back and then STALLED. I almost collided with the vehicle behind me. This is not normal and is downright dangerous. I want to return the car as it is a hazard.
Update from Mar 26, 2012: Well everyone...you will not be happy with what I am going to tell you but, it appears that this IS Normal for this vehicle as well as a lot of other small fuel efficient cars. I brought by CRUZE back to Chevrolet and the General Manager could not have been nicer. He was very concerned and was willing to work with me to obtain another vehicle that did not have this dangerous feature. I tried other vehicles and all the CRUZE's do it as well as HYUNDAI and even some TOYOTA's. It seems that in order to reach the fuel savings here is an excerpt from the data that the techs at the dealership receive.....this is not common knowledge to the consumer and they do not even tell you about it when you are purchasing the vehicle. I see major issues here especially with the number of elderly drivers downsizing to a smaller fuel efficent car and then not expecting this type of action with the vehicle...
Well here is the info:
Taken from #PI0217A: Cruze New Model Features and Service Guide-
Netural Idle:
The Cruze is equipped with a feature calle Neutral Idle. This feature saves on fuel by automatically shifting the vehicle into a neutral state when the vehicle comes to a stop and foot is on the brake. It will then shift back to gear as you release the brake pedal. The customer may experience a different feeling during starts and stops when driving this vehicle compare to other vehicles and may experience a slight roll on on incline.
I still think that this is very unsafe and there is more than a slight roll depending on the degress of the incline.
Please let me know what others thoughts on this are............
Car feels like it is going into neutral when sitting at stoplight if you take your foot off the brake (nearly hit someone), it has done this since purchase the dealer says it is normal, its the first automatic transmission in a gm car that i've owned in the past 35yrs that has done this and being a chevy nut i have owned plenty!
It was an awful mistake on my part to buy this car. The gas mileage is not even CLOSE to what they rate it at. The transmission shifts constantly, and in order to pass, you have to manually downshift.It has a terrible ride, you feel every bump in the road. Driver fatigue just after a short trip on the freeway.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I bought this car last year, I only have 33000 miles on it. On my way to the doctor app, suddenly this car without any engine light notice start rolling back on intersection 195 East. Some guys helped me push my car to the grass area and I needed to tow my car to the dealer.
- Dihna C., New Bedford, MA, US