CSR

Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2019 Chevrolet Cruze

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

Owners have filed 22 safety complaints about the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the power train and the hydraulic brakes.

The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 7 complaints, 32% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 6,750 miles, the median across the 6 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers February 2019 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

22 complaints on file

22

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

3

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
POWER TRAIN 7 · 32%
ENGINE 5 · 23%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4 · 18%
AIR BAGS 3 · 14%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 · 14%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 · 9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 · 9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 9%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 · 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 5%
SEAT BELTS 1 · 5%
TIRES 1 · 5%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 22.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 6.

8 6 4 2
19 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2019 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2019 Chevrolet CRUZE, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4 DR FWD 5 HB FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 10.7% 10.7%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

20V668000 · October 29, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
The risk
Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

General Motors LLC · up to 194,105 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

18V576000 · August 30, 2018

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
The risk
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

General Motors LLC · up to 210,628 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 injured · crash · towed · 10,000 miles

I WAS STOPPED IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS A HIGHWAY. WHEN I TURNED LEFT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PRESSED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN BUT THE CAR WAS CREEPING. I COULD NOT CROSS THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STRUCK IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS GIVEN A TICKET FOR FAILURE TO YIELD. I HIT A VEHICLE AND WAS CHARGED AT FAULT IN THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS A RENTAL CAR.

NHTSA complaint 11176137. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

The airbags did not deploy, and the driver hit the windshield.

NHTSA complaint 11454888. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

fire · crash · towed

Carvana

NHTSA complaint 11447696. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed

The brakes system didnt seem to be stopping properly almost as if i had to push really hard on the brakes to get the car to stop. Finally today, I was 1.6 car lengths behind another vehicle whom slammed their brakes on for no reason and I had to do so as well. My car would not stop, the brakes would not work causing a major accident.

NHTSA complaint 11747783. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
COMPONENT: Transmission control system / GM VT40 continuously variable transmission (CVT), RPO code MRG - a rare, fleet-only configuration for this model year, confirmed via the vehicle's factory build/RPO code list. WHAT HAPPENED: While stopped at a red light (engine idling just after an automatic stop-start restart, foot on brake only, no accelerator input), the check engine light came on along with an unusual mild jolt sensation from the drivetrain. Diagnostic codes P0700 (Transmission Control System - MIL Request) and P2714 (Pressure Control Solenoid D Performance/Stuck Off) were stored. Drove approximately 4 miles without further incident; vehicle has since been limited to short,

NHTSA complaint 11766928, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
An authorized Chevrolet dealer diagnosed an electrical problem on my 2019 Chevrolet Cruze and found that the HVAC case/condensate drain was disconnected. The dealer determined that condensate water had been draining into the passenger compartment instead of outside the vehicle. According to the dealer's written diagnosis, the water soaked the body wiring harness and damaged the Body Control Module (BCM) and Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) module. The problem initially presented through door-lock/electrical malfunctions. The dealer confirmed the water intrusion and resulting component damage during its inspection. I am concerned because the affected components include the body wiring

NHTSA complaint 11761407, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
For a year I have had my car to the shop multiple times due to a musty smell inside my car. I have never been able to find any fluids or moisture inside the car, however, the inside of my windshield tends to get a weird film on it, I am constantly cleaning to keep visibility especially at night. None of the mechanics that I have taken it to were able to figure it out, and most of them could not smell The musky smell that I smelled. The car had approximately 40,000 mi on it when this started about a year ago, Maybe 8 months. Recently I have noticed that the coolant in my car is disappearing, I have kept a constant check on it and about once a week have had to add fluids to keep it from

NHTSA complaint 11730583, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am leasing this vehicle and it continues to have warning light on staring the vehicle engine power reduced as I'm driving and holds back vehicle and also airbag restraining system light continues also to be on. This is not normal wear and tear and I read previous years had this issue as well. This is still an issue concerning of my safety. Paying for inconvenience

NHTSA complaint 11657080. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Timing chain rattles, due the the chain tensioner not having motor oil at early morning start-up. This causes the chain to be loose and eventually engine damage. Europe already issued recalls to this issue. They solved this issue by installing a seal, TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FOR CHEVROLET GMC OPEL FEBI BILSTEIN 181945.

NHTSA complaint 11641590. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Cruze

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 109 3 1
2017 201 2 —
2016 250 4 —
2015 252 4 —
2014 702 10 —
2013 586 5 —
2012 865 7 —
2011 732 7 2

Other 2019 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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