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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2016 Chevrolet Cruze

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

247

Complaints

19

Crashes

6

Fires

14

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze have filed 247 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2016 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 100 of them (40%). The typical failure was reported at 56,639 miles, the median across the 149 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

18V304000 · May 10, 2018

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
The risk
A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.

General Motors LLC · up to 111,966 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

17V057000 · January 26, 2017

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."
The risk
In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.

General Motors LLC · up to 17,197 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

16V502000 · July 5, 2016

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
The risk
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

General Motors LLC · up to 8,367 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

16V498000 · July 1, 2016

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
The risk
Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a GM dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet Customer Service Department at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 50190.

General Motors LLC · up to 32,913 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 247.

ENGINE 100 40%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 58 23%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 43 17%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 34 14%
POWER TRAIN 31 13%
AIR BAGS 21 9%
STEERING 18 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 17 7%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 16 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 4%
STRUCTURE 7 3%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 44.

2016 2020 2026
2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 58,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze D2. The contact stated that while driving 20-25 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. 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. The dealer nor the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

NHTSA complaint 11494862. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS

2 injured

On [XXX], the right front passenger side control arm/ball joint broke as my daughters were driving home. The car was in motion on a major street in Kansas City, KS when the control arm/ball joint broke. My daughter was in the right-hand lane when it broke as the car was in motion. The front of the car forcefully propelled in the air, landed, and jerked my daughter into the side walk. Afterwards, she fought the car over to the left-hand turn lane to stop in a somewhat safer spot on a major street. My oldest daughter driving suffered neck injuries from the seatbelt and my youngest daughter bumped her head. Both were hurt. An independent mechanic diagnosed the issue as well as Hendrick

NHTSA complaint 11600176, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 1,400 miles

IN NOVEMBER OF 2015 I WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN AND SOMEBODY HIT ME HEAD ON AT APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH CAUSING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR COSTING NEARLY A TOTAL OF $9,000. THE AIR BAGS DIDNT DEPLOY RESULTING MINOR INJURIES. ON MARCH 06, 2016 MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A DEER AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH RESULTING IN $8,100 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME NO INJURIES WERE CAUSED. RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT BEFORE THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE THERE WAS A AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD THAT WAS STAYING ON FOR A COUPLE DAYS THEN WENT AWAY. I CONTACTED GM PERSONALLY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE

NHTSA complaint 10905160, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · towed · 2,135 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GROUND WAS DRY. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAD HIP SURGERY AND LACERATIONS TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,135.

NHTSA complaint 10926924. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
After 3 years of having this car it’s overheating each summer requiring the coolant system, hoses, thermostat, and water pump to be replaced each summer. As well as major oil leaking after full tune ups.

NHTSA complaint 11745807. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Coolant system and engine fan

NHTSA complaint 11743067. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
My engine needed oil I checked the dip stick added the oil the next day my engine started leaking and over heating come to find out there’s a pcv issue the valve cover gasket along with multiple other seals need replaced I was unaware of anything wrong no indication of over heating I just smelled the heat and was able to see after popping the hood the radiator fan is now not working and gas is coming through the valves

NHTSA complaint 11736714. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
While driving, I went to make a right turn and the power steering went out making the turn very difficult using manual muscle to complete the turn. Fortunately, it was in a parking lot. After the ignition was turned off for about 45 minutes, I turned it back on and the steering functioned normally. However, I am very concerned if this problem would again happen and I am driving at a speed and this problem would appear, it could possibly cause a serious accident because of the unexpected action that would be required.

NHTSA complaint 11731311. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There has been no accident to report. My check engine light comes on periodically and will remain on for a lengthy time. It is the light that looks like a water spigot. When I have it checked they say it’s either the “Turbo” or “Air Filter” . I can. It get a clear answer as to what it is and why it comes on or how to fix the problem. My car is actually a 2016 Chevy Cruze Premier but that’s not an option to choose.

NHTSA complaint 11730730. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
The rear brakes lights have a crack causing water to leak through. The water caused damage to the converter output

NHTSA complaint 11695471. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Cruze

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 20 2 —
2018 109 3 1
2017 201 2 —
2015 251 4 —
2014 701 10 —
2013 585 5 —
2012 864 7 —
2011 731 7 2

Other 2016 Chevrolet models

Malibu 835 Silverado 1500 790 Colorado 695 Equinox 393 Traverse 291 Tahoe 255 Suburban 217 Volt 169

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst