Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Chevrolet Cruze owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the brake lights, power locks, and windshield wipers were inoperable. The contact stated that the ignition key failed to disengage after turning off the vehicle. The contact had to hold a button underneath the steering panel to be able to remove the key. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the Body Control Module (BCM) needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze. 1.4 engine. Manual transmission. No accidents. Mileage: 69,000 The engine has stopped while driving 3 times in last year (2023) January (5 degrees), Sept and November. Battery is 2 years old. Replaced negative battery cable with (OEM), after 2nd engine stop, after reading that negative cables have history of going bad over time. Very dangerous, especially in dark. All lights, head lights, dash lights and engine stop. Emergency flashers work. I coast to the side of road, and try to restart. It will restart after about 5 minutes. I have gotten a check air bag message on dash. First, two times I took to a mechanic and they said there are no repair codes coming up from computer.
Last month the car started ti show me this errors Stabili Trak Control and Traction Service Control, I keep getting them driving on the highway, every road I drive, the steering wheal just becomes stiff and its hard to maneuver , the Air Condition turns off itself and the car has a big vibration , like there is an earthquake outside, I have been calling General Motors to tell them about the problem but they are telling me there is nothing they can do. There are times when I get in the car trying to get to work and the car won't start, the car would show me the errors and would not clear for hours, it's a nightmare.
I purchased a Car on 8-11& I didn't pick it up until 8/13 of this year . On 8/14 The electrical went out of my middle Consol starting with the radio and then down to the heating and air-conditioning buttons along with the fact that the windows would not roll down or up . When you use the Bluetooth in the car the AC shuts down and I hear a roaring sound coming from the engine as well as whenever I stop the car just jumps. There is also a sound in the steering wheel whatever it's turned right to left
When I start my vehicle and go over a certain speed it show service abs system it also makes a grinding sound when breaking before that speed is hit it also has a wobbleing steering wheel when breaking at high speeds also when accelerating it will sometimes show engine power reduced after presing the gas pedal
Every year there's always a issue with oil leakage resulting into smoke coming out of my car, another thing is my car starts to hesitate literally once a year. This has been happening since I purchased my car in February of 2015
While driving home on the interstate after work, I was travelling at around 65 miles per hour, with the cruise control set at that speed. In an instant I lost all engine power and began to slow down very rapidly. A quick look to the rearview mirror to ensure nothing was approaching the rear of my vehicle, I found that I could see nothing except grey and white smoke behind me from all three mirrors. I was forced to remove myself from the highway for fear of causing an accident by blinding drivers with the smoke coming from my exhaust, and I was able to use the service road to get to the next fueling station. Upon arrival, I opened the hood and found that oil had sprayed out of every available portal in the engine, it exited through the vacuum lines, pressure sensors onto my alternator, saturated my serpentine belt as well as everything else ion the engine compartment. …
The primary failure is a total loss of engine power and electrical systems while the vehicle is in motion. The dealership (Ray Skillman Southside Mitsubishi) has diagnosed this as a failed engine/body control computer system. The vehicle is currently located at the dealership's service center and is available for inspection. The vehicle has stalled/shut off completely while driving on four separate occasions. This resulted in an immediate loss of power steering and motive power, nearly causing collisions in traffic. A vehicle that loses all power without warning is a severe safety hazard to the driver, passengers, and other motorists on the road. Yes. The problem has been confirmed by the Ray Skillman service department. …
Related recalls
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.
Electrical complaints in other Cruze years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA has 96 complaints about the electrical system of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 13% of the model year's 732 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Chevrolet Cruze electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-502 (ignition, Jul 5, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Chevrolet Cruze electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 4 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.