Most common 2011 Chevrolet Cruze problems
Share of the 732 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Cruze complaints by model year
Best Cruze years: 2019, 2018, 2017. Years to avoid: 2012, 2011, 2014. Compare all years →
2011 Chevrolet Cruze recalls (7)
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with 1.4L DOHC gasoline turbo engines and 6T40 front wheel drive automatic transmissions and equipped with an electric vacuum pump to provide supplemental vacuum for brake assist, when needed.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace a microswitch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
General motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 and 2012 Chevrolet cruze vehicles manufactured from October 2, 2009, through May 14, 2012. Attachment welds for the fuel tank strap secondary brackets May have been omitted.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds. If the vehicle is missing welds, dealers will secure the bracket attachments with fasteners. Repairs will be performed free of charge.
Engine and engine cooling
General motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 and 2012 Chevrolet cruze vehicles manufactured from October 2, 2009, through May 31, 2012. Spilled or dripping oil (such as after an oil change) May collect in the engine shield (bellypan) near hot engine or exhaust system surfaces.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will modify the engine shield to prevent fluid from contacting the shield. Also, on vehicles with a manual transmission, dealers will apply a protective tape to the electronic power…
Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet cruze vehicles manufactured from October 6, 2009, through April 27, 2011 and equipped with an automatic transmission for failing to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmission shift linkage for correct installation and adjust the shift linkage system free of charge. The safety recall began on May 23, 2011.
Steering › Gear box › Shaft sector
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet cruze vehicles manufactured from October 2, 2009, through April 21, 2011. The bolt attaching the intermediate steering shaft to the steering gear input shaft May not have been properly installed.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if required, repair the intermediate shaft/steering gear assembly to assure the bolt is fully seated and the shaft properly assembled. This service will be performed free of charge.
Show 1 more recall
Steering › Column
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet cruze vehicles. During manufacturing the steering wheel could have been improperly fastened and May detach from the steering column.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect to ensure that the steering wheel is assembled properly. This service will be performed for you free of charge. The safety recall began on April 7, 2011.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze:
Engine compartment fire
In a June 21, 2012 letter to NHTSA, General Motors LLC. (GM) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) identifying a defect in approximately 413,148 model year (MY) 2011 through 2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured from October 2, 2009 through May 31, 2012 (Recall 12V-288).
Chapman Chevrolet / Cruze Engine Recall
NHTSA opened AQ12-002 to determine whether Chapman Chevrolet of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C.Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations.The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with Federal Motor Vehicle…
What 2011 Chevrolet Cruze owners say
Engine & cooling all 295 →
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the traction control warning light was illuminated. The check engine warning light illuminated shortly after the vehicle was purchased. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking erratically, and the engine was abnormally loud. In addition, the RPM was elevated. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and the engine seized. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that there was electrical power to the vehicle; however, the engine failed to crank. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was purchased, and diagnosed with a computer system failure. …
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.
Transmission & drivetrain all 193 →
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while at a stop sign and accelerating, the vehicle hesitated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 54,057. The contact noted that the failure mileage was actually 45,057 and the failure speed was intermittent. After the vehicle was left with the dealer a second time, they found that there were two cylinders with low compression. The dealer presented the contact two options to remedy the issue. The contact paid to have the engine replaced with a remanufactured one from GM. The new engine has since been reinstalled, but it is unknown why the failure happened. …
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that on two separate occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle shut off unintendedly and without warning. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not yet been contacted regarding the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V502000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 129,000.
Electrical system all 96 →
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private in April 12th 2026. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 135,000 The contact stated that the next day when retrieving the title they noticed the mileage discrepancy. The contact spoke withe seller who then stated it was the same mileage they were told when they received the vehicle and had since replaced the engine therefore the engine mileage would not show at the DMV. The contact looked up the CarFax and saw the same mileage discrepancy with a mileage of over 300,000. When the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for an air bag recall, when the dealer confirmed mileage discrepancy. The contact sought out legal assistance.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that on two separate occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle shut off unintendedly and without warning. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not yet been contacted regarding the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V502000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 129,000.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 28 / 40 / 32 |
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 37 / 30 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 35 / 29 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 35 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze a good car?
Based on 732 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Cruze rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Cruze at the same age. It is one of the Cruze years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze?
The engine & cooling — 295 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › emission control › crankcase (pcv). Next are the transmission & drivetrain (193) and electrical system (96).
How many recalls does the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze have?
There are 7 recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, the most recent from July 5, 2016 (ignition). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Cruze?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2018 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2011 and 2014. See the full Chevrolet Cruze years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Chevrolet Cruze problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 44% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.