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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,993 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.

2016 Chevrolet Cruze engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Chevrolet Cruze Owner Comments (Page 3 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #54

Jan 042021

Cruze

  • 66,445 miles

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

Before leaving work, I turned on my car for about ten minutes to warm up. When I entered the car to leave work, I was overcome with the smell of what I thought was gasoline. I drove like normal on my way home, rolling the window down to get rid of the smell, and I also thought some smoke or haze may have entered my car, although it was dark and foggy so I cannot be sure. While driving on the highway, my car's (2016 Chevy Cruze) oil light came on. It gave me an urgent message of "low oil pressure- stop engine" and beeped continuously, while a thick smell of oil filled the car. I am very lucky that I was near an exit and I pulled off immediately into a grocery store parking lot. The car had to be towed and later that week, I learned that my car had leaked 3.3 quarts of oil, leaving me with 1.25 quarts. The mechanic told me that I was lucky I pulled off when I did, and that there was a serious risk of engine damage. He also let me know that another car, same make and model, was also in the shop with the same exact problem, and that that car's engine had to be replaced. I quote from my $500+ invoice, "the turbo oil feed pipe was leaking at the oil cooler due to poor sealing. Vehicle was 3.3 quarts low on fluid."

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #53

Oct 072019

Cruze

  • 70,000 miles
I purchased a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze with an auto stop feature. The vehicle was purchased as a used vehicle in August of 2019. At the time of purchase, it had 70,000 miles on it. Less than two month into having the vehicle, the car started shutting off each time I came to a complete stop. The only way to get the car moving again was by placing it in park and restarting the vehicle. This issue occurs in all settings including city streets and highways. I have to be in traffic in order for the issue to present itself on the highway. The issue presents itself on the street anytime I stop at a light, stop sign, or yield to oncoming traffic. It has done this hundreds of times to date. I took the car to a Chevrolet dealership in October of 2019 shortly after the issue began. A representative explained that this happened because the auto-stop component wasn't able to receive enough power to stay on. I had the component replaced out of pocket, since my warranty didn't cover. The same day I drove the vehicle home, the issue persisted. Since then, I have also had the battery replaced. As of November 2020, the car is still experiencing the same issues, coupled with a check engine light that comes on and goes off each time restart the vehicle. The technicians have not been able to properly diagnose this vehicle's issue after multiple visits. Much of my time and money has been wasted trying to fix a vehicle with no active recalls. This is also the second time I am filing a complaint with the NHTSA.

- Hampton, GA, USA

problem #52

Nov 222020

Cruze

  • 40,000 miles
My cars cam shaft was replaced six months ago, and it was still under warranty. Now I'm having a bunch of other issues some of the problems are because the Chevy dealership, that replaced it my cam shaft wheel they had to to take parts off and back on to fix it now those parts they took off and now bad plus other bottoms up. It won't keep coolant. And keeps over heating, and the dealership, is trying to over price me on parts that I can get, for a fraction of the price there charging me, and now I'm with out a vehicle un less I come up with over $1400, I feel like they purposely didn't put everything back together right, cuz they new they could get and make more money out of it because some of the parts are still under warranty. Pluse when they fixed it the first time. They charge for a new belt on the car and I already hade one which wasn't mine to start with, it belong to a friend of mine, and the stole it and put it on my car then charge me for it. Be cause it was in the back seat, my vehicle is sitting at the shop now. It's at leach-wilson Chevrolet-Buick in shelbyville Illinois, there going to start working on it on January 11th, that's what they said anyways and I don't feel safe with them doing that but I have no other option right now. And I'm being forced to pay over $1400. Plus they stole parts out of my car I was holding for a friend and I had in the car and they use them and charged the warranty for those parts and it wasn't theirs to sell like that

- Shelbyville, IL, USA

problem #51

Dec 012020

Cruze

  • 0 miles

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

My car is parked looks like a rainbow color is coming out from under the engine. It looks like water from a distance until you get closer. I have notified the dealership where I bought it and he tells me there is nothing they can

- Bacliff, TX, USA

problem #50

Dec 162020

Cruze

  • 81,000 miles
The intake manifold blew out it's sensor. Not like it just went out, but some how pressure built up and blew it out of the manifold. This is exactly what the representative at the dealership just told me over the phone. Car is at the service department because of the ongoing issues with the turbo and the missing bolts and the fact that this engine was obviously a faulty build, as GM has already acknowledged. I am terrified to drive this car and I still owe on it. So now with the intake manifold blowing up and a leaking valve cover....I just don't understand how GM isn't responsible for getting these cars off the road. I am so afraid of blowing up while driving this car I don't know what to do and I believe in karma and do not want to trade it in for fear of risking someone else's life. I've owned a lot of vehicles in the 30 years I've been driving and am thankful I've never had this problem but good lord, how do I fix this?

- Sawyer, MI, USA

problem #49

Oct 212020

Cruze

  • 72,000 miles
New 2016 Cruze limited, 2 years after the purchase of the car, water pump and thermostat housing replacement(covered by the drive-train warranty),2 years later, car overheats again, I am apparently losing water but not evident in the engine compartment, I take it back to the dealer, told them what I thought was happening again and they conducted an analysis for which I had to pay $96, (car has 72,000 miles, out of warranty) telling me the same thing I had already figured out, that I need a new water pump and thermostat housing. They tell me it will cost me about $870. To replace the water pump and thermostat. Now understand, my wife and I bought this car on good faith that it was going to be something that we could rely on. I am retired and she is disabled. I needed a dependable mode of transportation. When we first bought it, it was great. But back to our dilemma, after I was given the estimate, I told them I did not have that kind of money for the repair, and they made sure the coolant was full and I limped it back to my house. I purchased a new water pump, thermostat housing, and a water outlet assembly and replaced it myself. I am an experienced mechanic. After replacement, while on our way to an appointment the next day, the car over heated again. Got it back to the house, found no leaks, bled the system to make sure there was no air in the lines. Drove it the next day and the engine stopped on me on the road while I was driving, it would not re-start. Checked the oil dipstick and found water in engine! some analysis I was given. Had it towed to my house. Here we are with a 4 year old car, 72,000 mile engine and it is done. We live on social security and I still owe payments. Why weren't these cars recalled if they knew so many people were having this cooling problem on the cars" now what do we do" I don't want to make payments on a broken car!

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #48

Jul 152019

Cruze

  • 67,240 miles

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

Reoccuring problems with PCV system.emissions system, mass air flow sensors, O2 sensors, intake manifold, valve covers wont accelerrate, stalls while driving and idling, hard shifting, stability control ssues and stabilitrack issues, intake air flow system, fuel trim system lean bank

- Ashland City, TN, USA

problem #47

Sep 232020

Cruze

  • miles
The whole engine went out and the auto repair shop that I took it too is saying the whole engine needs to be replaced. I'm also not the only who is having this problem with this car. What is going on is that the engine is always overheating and having problems.

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #46

Sep 152020

Cruze

  • 93,868 miles
Car suddenly overheated and within 30 seconds managed to spray coolant everywhere. The coolant went in the spark plugs, warped the head and managed to enter the piston compression chamber. The head warped and allowed coolant in the engine. This issue should have been just a simple fix and a refilling of coolant but instead has become a full engine disaster. Luckily I was not on a highway when this happened and I was on an empty road going 55 or this could have become a greater issue. When the coolant housing busted it sprayed all over the engine bay and some even made it on the windshield cutting some of my visability. I feel fortunate that I was driving in a straight line and not in the middle of traffic or a winding road.

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #45

Sep 012020

Cruze

  • 90,000 miles
Dtc code P0011 is an issue with 2016 Chevy Cruze limited Chevy is aware pip4543D Chevy needs to cover the cost of this repair it is going to cause me to get hurt in this car and if so I will hold Chevy responsibile they need to do the right thing the car as 90,000 miles on it and contimues to have this issue daily

- Mt Washington, KY, USA

problem #44

Aug 142020

Cruze

  • 85,474 miles

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

The vehicle has had overheating issues since I bought it. Repaired it twice and is experiencing problems again. I have changed all components of the cooling system to no avail. I have come across countless complaints about this. Why hasn't there been a recall for this yet?

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #43

Jul 312020

Cruze

  • miles
Car shuts off abruptly when stopped or at times when speed is decreased to almost parked. This typically happens at red lights or when car is going under 10 mpg. It's happened in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I have to put it in park and restart the push start. This has been going since last summer (2019) or so.

- Carson, CA, USA

problem #42

Jun 102020

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 123,000 miles
My valve cover has went bad and started leaking oil around my spark plugs. Upon further investigation of my own I have found out that this is a common issue for many year models of the Chevy Cruze. My valve cover is an updated version of the plastic on the 2015 and older and is now a metal one. I spoke with a local mechanic who informed me he has replaced 75 new valve covers that General Motors has built a new valve cover to replace the metal one on my car. Also this metal valve cover has caused my car to start smoking heavily when I drove it to make me have to have my car towed home until I can get the issue fixed.

- Winder, GA, USA

problem #41

Jun 292020

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
I own a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze with <100K miles, no accident history, and no previous issues. I bought the car new from the dealership and have been the only owner. I was driving straight on a residential street (<30 mph) when the car started puttering and shaking. The car suddenly shut off right in the middle of the road, and I had to swerve to the shoulder to avoid crashing. Upon bringing the car to the certified Chevy dealership, we learned the car had a damaged piston and cracked cylinder wall. The only fix was to completely replace the engine. It should be noted the oil had been changed just the week previous. I know Chevy is aware of this issue because they released safety bulletin pip5421F back in 2018 regarding this very issue. I also know there is an active lawsuit in the state of California, but this doesn't apply to us in Minnesota. I find it unacceptable that Chevrolet is aware of premature engine failure in their vehicles, and have not issued a recall, even though it poses a safety hazard.

- South Saint Paul, MN, USA

problem #40

Mar 172020

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
P0301 code; stabilitrak light flashes intermittently; after taking it to a mechanic for diagnostics the mechanic stated that compression on cylinders 2-4 was 120psi; cylinder 1 is at 15 psi; after further testing found issue with piston. Vehicle will shake when running on idle, slow to start.

- Pacifica, CA, USA

problem #39

Apr 212020

Cruze

  • 80,000 miles
Car while driving suddenly sputters and stalls. I get an error message saying to check airbags. The locks on the doors will unlock and lock and unlock an lock multiple times while driving. Check engine light comes on. When I pump gas the car wont start immediately it sputters and clicks every time.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #38

Feb 012020

Cruze

  • 47,350 miles
My car has a bad smell coming from the engine. It started smelling like a dead animal under the hood, then it smelled like animal urine, and now it smells nauseating, I'm not sure where it is coming from or why it's there, we already checked under the hood for any visible damage to the hoses and it is disappointing that there is not a recall for this problem that Chevy Cruze owners seem to complain about. My car only has 48K miles on it and we let it sit in the driveway more than run it because of the smell. The smell is there when you start the car -- we have to drive with the windows open a little bit so that we don't overwhelmed with the smell.

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

problem #37

Mar 232020

Cruze

  • 148,000 miles
My turbo is going out. The car heavily shakes when in idle or at a stop light. It stopped in heavy traffic while trying to cross the street, I had my foot completely down on the gas and the car didnt budge for 2 minutes leaving me sitting in the middle of the road in heavy traffic..

- Charleston, IL, USA

problem #36

Mar 022020

Cruze

  • 65,000 miles
After repairing the coolant system car, I drove it around the block to ensure it was working properly. Upon doing so, all gauges stopped working. I also put the car in reverse to park it in the driveway and the transmission would not go into the selected gear. We had to put the car into neutral and push it into the driveway. Also, all notification lights were also lit at the time. When it finally shifted into drive the car jerked very hard.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #35

Mar 022020

Cruze

  • 25,380 miles
Car stalls out after auto stop is disengaged. Battery is dead car wont start even tho battery has power. Door locks lock and unlock on there own. Touch screen flickers.

- Tuckahoe, NY, USA

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