Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Chevrolet Cruze owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I'd like to report this vehicle and its engine as I did not know I could before we have had this car since 2015 This engine has chronic repeated issues that Chevy would patch once under "special coverages" or "extended warranty" and it fails again and again but they only honor it 1 time even if it fails yet again due to bad engineering or design flaws. This car has had 3 water pumps 5 water outlets- I eventually had to buy an off market alternative to stop this from failing, 2 (about to be 3) valve covers because the PCV valve is a chronic failure on the system cause oil to bypass into the intake and feed back into the turbo but it's built into the valve cover instead of a separate piece like other engines. This car with the 1.4 L turbo is not safe or reliable to be on the road. …
When I accelerate my rpm goes up but car dosent move as speed says and takes for me to let off the gas to speed up , and my steering when I turn it pulls away n it keep popping up service traction and going off
Coming home from grocery shopping the night of Sept 3, 2023 the radio kept turning off then coming back on. I was on the highway about 20miles from home radio still turning on and off about every 5mins (go black/blank then light back up) and I had felt when i would accelerate it would as I would slightly go up hill. Once I jad got about 4miles from my house the radio went off once again and dash warning light said "Stabili Trak" and head lights had went off then came back on again. I just was grateful I was not to far from home since it was dark out and the lights were now Turning off too. …
My vehicle looses power, engine leaks, have a number of different problems with the key in the switch....the vehicle started smoking and caught on fire than looses power all the time. I am afraid to drive this car because I travel with my family I have three children.
I bought my car from a used car lot in March. After about 2 weeks, I started having issues with the cruise control, after a few months, the cruise switch had to be replaced because it stopped working all together. During the time I've had the vehicle, I've had to replace the thermostat control, as well as a coil in the engine. For the past 2-3 months or so, I'll be driving down the highway and the service stability track will show up, with the traction control and the check engine light blinking. My car wont let me speed up, and it will slowly slow down. If I have my cruise on when this happens, the car's RPM will shoot up in an attempt to get back to the speed I had it set at. After about a minute with the lights on, the check engine light will stop blinking and the car will go back to normal (the traction light wont turn off until I turn off the car). …
I was driving on the interstate and the car lost all power in a very remote part on the interstate. This was at 9 o'clock pm on a Sunday. The car would not accelerate past 5 MPH. Had to take the battery connectors off to clear the codes and then was able to slowly drive home. Could not go more than 50 MPH or the engine would jump and the car would decelerate. Again, I was on I-10, at 9 pm, 6 hours away from home. When I got back to town, I took the car to get serviced and when I got the car back the first time, I pulled out into traffic and the car still would not accelerate. Took the car back to the dealership and when they said it was ready for pickup, the check engine light came back on. Left the car at the dealership to get serviced again. Picked up the car this past Saturday and when I went to drive it on Sunday, the check engine light came back on. …
I have two complaints on my vehicle, 1.several times the vehicle went into a loss of engine power mode where it was in an idle position with no ability to accelerate, the display showed loss of engine power, no stabiltrack and check engine light. The vehicle would transition to a loss of power mode on the main road, I had to turn the engine off, wait about 60 seconds and restart, my power was restored, this happened on 3 occasions. 2. The second complaint is regarding the low coolant level, I brought the vehicle to a certified dealer and they put the coolant system under pressure and detected no leak, they added coolant since it was very low and asked me to leave the car with them for a day or two and suggested it May be the radiator. I refused and asked them to add a dye to the system that would indicate the leak path and I would return the next day, they refused.
I was parallel parking my car and when I put it in park I took my foot off the brake and the car made a revving sound and went in reverse. I then hit the brake, and the car lunged forward and made the same noise. It went into the car behind me, and the car in front of me. Finally after that I was able to take the car back out of park to go reverse so that I can get my car away from the car in front of it (that I hit) and then I parked it successfully. Probably the scariest thing that ever happened because I had absolutely no control over my vehicle. When I tell my family/friends about the incident they think I'm a crazy person because the only way I can describe it is by saying it felt like something (such as a ghost lol) took control of my car. I'm not sure if I am going to have to pay for the damage when my lease is up.
While I was stopped at a traffic light all of a sudden I received the following warnings: stabilitrac light, service traction control light, the engine light came on and the reduce engine power warning. Even though the warning stated reduce engine power, I couldn't drive the car. I turned the car off twice, still no power when I applied my foot to the gas pedal. I called on-star and had my car towed to the dealership. The throttle body was replaced on my car, which was covered under warranty. I noticed from several complaint sites that the incident with sudden loss or reduced engine power is a common problem with the Cruze. I'm a little afraid to drive my car now for fear that the incident will happen again at a busy intersection. I hope the problem with my car is resolved with the replacement of the throttle body.
The Chevy eco Cruze has been giving me problems from the start. I was driving with the ac on and came to a signal light when the ac shuts of & comes back on. Also at the signal light I thaught I had gotten a tap from the back from another vehicle because the car jerked. Turned out no car behind me but car still jerks forward with foot all the way down on brake pedal. Next if I'm driving and slow down to make, let's say a left hand turn once I make the turn the car is sluggish as if it has trouble picking up speed. Happens all the time from a stopped position or if I slow down it takes for ever to pick up momentum. Making it scarey to merge or just be on the road. Also if I turn the radio up the lights will die or fade so I've replaced the alternator but it still does it. Ive checked connections wires you name it.
Acceleration complaints in other Cruze years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze, 7% of the model year's 587 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Chevrolet Cruze acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Cruze acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 49,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to speed control & acceleration 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.