Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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 owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while her daughter was exiting a parking lot at approximately 5 MPH, and making a right turn, she heard a sharp cracking sound from the passenger's front side of the vehicle. The contact stated that her daughter drove only a few feet more when the front-end lowered down to the right. The contact's daughter stated that the passenger's side front wheel had detached from the vehicle and was laying on the roadway. The contact stated that her daughter was not aware of any warning light being illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the half shaft had fractured, causing the passenger's side front wheel to detach from the axle. The vehicle had not been repaired. …
The vehicle keeps going to A/C off due to vehicle running hot. I've gone to the dealer and various shops had the water pump, hoses, outlet housing, thermostat replaced. I still smell coolant leaking and burning off when I open the hood I see the engine and catalytic converter wet and drying off as the wetness evaporates; the smell stays inside the car. The effects of smelling coolant has to be toxic, has any studies been done on long term effects of smelling coolant? I spend a minimum of 3 hours a day in traffic. The problem started around 100k. I also have oil leaking on right axel and somewhere on the engine. I've noticed the1.4l turbo has the same problems why are there recalls on the 1.4L but not the 1.8L? I'm paying out of pocket to get the same repairs done, if the vehicle is unsafe for the 1.4L it should be unsafe for the 1.8L
Check-engine light comes on and stays; after repairs, it keeps flashing. "Traction control" message comes on and stays on. The air conditioning system keeps warning to be turned off, and heats up the car when not turned off. The care drives and dies while driving. The transmission is not consistent, takes much more time to accelerate. Breaks and fan replaced after a year of purchased and about 1,500 dollars have just been spent in repairs and the car still gives a check-engine light, shaking and about to die. Presently not in use. The safety issues for me and my family are high. I recently had to drive it with safety lights on and below 25 miles/hr to and from the mechanic. I have taken the car before two mechanics and it is still not resolved. The car is available for inspection upon your recall.
The 2013 Chevy Cruze is prone to overheating and there is always a coolant leak or something related to the coolant/antifreeze that is leaking or not correct. My Chevy Cruze has been leaking coolant profusely and so has my friends who had a Chevy Cruze as well. It is truly a pain to continuously refill the coolant so that the vehicle will not overheat. A recall needs to be in place immediately. I've heard this same story on Chevy Cruze a way too many times.
My car just shut off by itself while I was driving without any warning. My check engine light isn't on and I just got my car out of the shop a few weeks ago, so I'm not sure why this happened. It is not safe and was definitely scary, being that I am pregnant and also had daughter with me.
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 car is a danger the engine power slows down when driving causing another to hit in the back power steering light displays, stabilize tract and engine power, I have already had one hit and run accident.I took car to Chevrolet dealership harbison rd columbia sc they just half repair it someone May die if car continue to power down.
I bought my 2013 Cruze in June 2014, with around 40K miles on it. In September the car began having issues. At first it was just that the radio and all dash lights would shut off. Then I had multiple service lights that would flash randomly. Those included stabilitrak, traction control, power steering and security system. At one point, while driving in a parking lot, my power steering completely locked up. My car eventually stopped starting. I was stranded at school and had to call a tow truck. When this happened, my key actually got stuck in the ignition. I was able to jump the car after several minutes of trying, but it would not keep power. I had it towed to the dealership, but they were not able to find anything wrong with it (no codes even came up on the computer) and it ran just fine for them. I drove the car home, and the next day had the same problem. …
Since purchase of the vehicle brand new in 2013, clutch has repeatedly smelled like burning clutch at random times while driving in 5th and 6th gear at highway speeds. The dealerships claim this is normal. At about 50K miles while driving on the freeway at 60mph in 6th gear for a period of about 30 minutes, I started smelling the clutch burning even though I wasn't shifting and didn't have my foot on the clutch. When it came time to exit the freeway and switch gears the clutch went to the floor and I couldn't shift into other gears. I had to pull over and take my car to the dealership by shifting when the gears synced. The dealership, keys Chevrolet, in van nuys, told me I was riding the clutch and caused it to melt and wouldn't listen to me about what really happened. …
My transmission started slipping while driving to work on the highway at 70 MPH. The car gave me 2 warnings, one for the traction control needing serviced and one for the transmission needing serviced. I drove the car to my dealer explained the problem to the dealer and stated that I didn't think I was going to make it to them. The dealership service center let the car sit for a few hours and then checked for codes and mysteriously could not find any problem. The problem always starts when the vehicle is going up hill, the transmission lights starts blinking, the car starts sputtering and I lose speed very unsafe in traffic! When sitting at a stop light with the brake pedal mashed to the floor the car lunges forward. …
Related recalls
Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with a 1.4L turbo engine, and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and March 7, 2014. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right half shaft, as needed, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. GM will send an interim letter to owners in May 2014.
Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) and manufactured January 24, 2013, through August 1, 2013. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.
Remedy: General Motors has notified owners. Dealers will replace the half shaft assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 15, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Transmission complaints in other Cruze years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA has 113 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze, 19% of the model year's 587 complaints. The component named most often is axle assembly › axle shaft (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Chevrolet Cruze transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-151 (axle shaft, Mar 31, 2014); NHTSA recall 13V-452 (axle shaft, Sep 23, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Cruze transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 37,000 miles, and 44% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.