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).
The contact was riding in a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while the driver was driving at an unknown speed, the driver crashed into another vehicle from the driver's side to the other vehicle's rear passenger side due to unable to focus. The contact mentioned the front passenger and the front side passenger air bags were the only air bags that deployed. The contact stated that she was the only one who sustained right wrist, thumb, and burnt arm injuries that needed medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The contact was aware that the vehicle was damaged. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was informed the air bags were Takata air bags and the injuries were caused by the air bags. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
For the airbag the car was sold to me without a working airbag. It's in the steering wheel (I have been told this by a Chevrolet dealership) and the part that is broken is the part that will make it inflate in case of crash. This is scary to me. I was just in my first (and hopefully only) accident a month before in a more steely car and while no airbags were deployed it still hurts. The second issue is with the fuel pump or sensor - the coding is very unsure but the dash (including the mechanical gauge) says the car will go from half tank to empty on an 8 mile drive. It has no leaks on the underside and I had it into the mechanic twice. The second time because it stumbled and stalled at a stop light. Before dying - half tank. August 6th they just scanned it with their computer I got no paperwork from them. On the 15th I didn't get any paperwork either. I will include the shop's number.
I wanted to file this because I feel this a safety concern. My vehicle has always been kept up on maintenance. One day out no where it started acting up my 2013 Chevy Cruze Ls. I had a shop come back after they did a diagnostic that is was a faulty throttle body sensor and Pcv. I have issues with it shutting off and I'll have to coast it to stop.What I'm not understanding how can there be recalls for my vechicle same problems same make/model but it's not showing my vehicle matching up with my Vin #.I do have all the supporting documents and paperwork stating these issues.
Water pump, cooling system. There's a recall on this system already but not for my vin. The service bulletin describes 100% off issues im having yes manufacture will not help because my vin isn't attached to service bulletin. Car over heat constantly, I've pretty much replaced the entire cooling system twice now. Airbags also faulty. The entire passenger side of vehicle was hit by fedex truck not long after being rear-ended and an adjuster claiming car 95% totaled,( yet still ended up rebuilding it) no airbags deployed in both situations
I was driving home and hit an 8 point buck that weighed about 180lbs head on that caused damage from the middle front center of the car extending to the drivers side of the car and smashing up into the motor. The instrument panel immediately illuminated to service airbag but the airbag never deployed. I was told if I was going slower, the deer would have went through the windshield. I could have been seriously hurt since the airbag didn't deploy. I bought this car brand new with only 17 miles on it. I have driven it for 2 years and now have to wonder if my family and I were put at risk for the last two years, while traveling to ohio, from iowa and out to boise 3 times. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that a vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle causing the front end to crash into the rear of a third vehicle. Next, a fourth vehicle made contact with the contact's vehicle causing the front end to crash into the vehicle a second time. During the incident, the seat belts malfunctioned and did not secure the occupants. The air bags failed to deploy although the vehicle sustained significant damage to the front end and was destroyed. During the incident, the check air bag warning sensor illuminated and a strange odor was present inside the vehicle. The driver sustained a concussion, head, neck, and upper torso injuries. The passenger suffered a concussion, head, neck, and back injuries. Medical attention was required and a police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
I was driving about 35 MPH on a city street when the person in front of me slammed on their brakes the first time I hit the brake and the car stopped the next time I hit the brake it was hard and didn't stop the car causing me to crash into the vehicle in front of me, the air bag did not deploy and I think it should have, causing my head to slam into the steering wheel causing me to bite my tongue in half. I have contact Chevrolet and GM multiple times and they won't do anything they literally have not cared one bit. I believe their is a problem with the braking system or the vacuum system in the brakes and I am not the first person that this has happened to in a Cruze, I looked it up after it happened and I found a few other stories of the same thing happening.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while she was driving at approximately 40-45 MPH, she hit a deer and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated that this failure occurred in 2018 however recently her husband was driving at 70 MPH, hit a deer in the middle of the hood which then rolled over onto the passenger side. The contact stated that the air bags also failed to deploy in this incident as the damage was a huge dent in the hood and front of the vehicle. A police report was not filed and contact was not injured. The insurance company was contacted as the vehicle was awaiting inspection. The dealer and the manufacturer had not been contacted yet. The failure mileage was 165,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a guardrail causing significant damage to the front end of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. During the crash, the driver sustained a right hip injury, the front passenger sustained a right arm, right hip, and right knee injury. The rear passenger seat occupant sustained a minor head injury. Medical attention was not received. The vehicle was destroyed and a police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 37,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH in inclement weather, another vehicle attempted to switch into the contact's lane. As a result, the contact hydroplaned and spun multiple times crashing into several trees but the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained back, neck and shoulder injuries as well as bruises that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the crash scene to an impound lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Related recalls
Air bags
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's front air bag inflator may have been manufactured with an incorrect part.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Airbag complaints in other Cruze years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the air bags of the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze, 8% of the model year's 587 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Chevrolet Cruze airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-372 (air bags, Jun 26, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Cruze airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles, and 29% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 32 crashes, 1 fire and 29 injuries to air bags 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.