Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Chevrolet Cruze owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze D2. The contact stated that while driving 20-25 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. As a result, the contact had whiplash to the neck and the front seat passenger head hit the windshield and whiplash to the neck. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the hydroplane warning light illuminated and the vehicle independently downshifted and decelerated to 50 mph. The contact stated that a couple of weeks later, the contact was driving at 65 mph and the vehicle independently downshifted and decelerated to 55 mph. The contact then stated that while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,911.
My 21 yr old daughter was in serious accident May 3. 2022 on the way to her college. The accident was horrific. Her left hand middle finger was impaled by a piece of metal L shaped. The hospital said it was an airbag pin. She was covered in cuts and injuries but her finger/ hand were the worst by far. She has had a surgery and will need additional surgeries. I would like it looked into please. I was very grateful it wasn't her eye or neck.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the front air bag warning light illuminated, and the message "Service Air Bags" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer that stated that the front passenger side air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.
Hit a buck on highway. When airbags went off I felt sudden sharp pain in my left arm. I was later advised that it most likely was shrapnel from the airbag. It was obvious from the injury something hit my arm with a lot of force. The car was a total loss and in possession of insurance company. Concerned that it could have been my eye.
System failure...airbag light continues to come on and go off. It says service airbag. If John Elway Chevrolet repairs the airbag system will it impact the integrity of the airbags. The airbag light doesn't say which airbag is defective. I want to make sure that my family and I are safe when we are in the car.
In November of 2015 I was sitting at a stop sign and somebody hit me head on at approximately 45 to 50 MPH causing a substantial amount of damage to the front end of my car costing nearly a total of $9,000. The air bags didnt deploy resulting minor injuries. On March 06, 2016 my vehicle was involved in a head on collision with a deer at approximately 65 MPH resulting in $8,100 worth of damage to my vehicle. The air bags did not deploy again only this time no injuries were caused. Right after the accident before the car was towed from the scene there was a airbag light on my dashboard that was staying on for a couple days then went away. I contacted GM personally and they told me that there is nothing that they can do for me. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH then making a right turn, the front passenger side wheel feel off the vehicle. The vehicle rolled over the wheel and the side air bags engaged but the front air bags did not. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled by the contact's insurance company. The vehicle was towed to the dealer hendrick Chevrolet shawnee mission 8300 shawnee mission pkwy, merriam, ks 66202 [phone] and they along with the insurance representative totaled the vehicle. The failure mileage was 28,000.
Takata recall. I was leaving a parking lot and went to turn into my lane and someone cut over at the last minute causing me to jerk my wheel out of reaction and the front end of my car slammed into the guard rail. My air bags never went off and my head bounced off the steering wheel twice causing some damage to my face.
I was driving, 55 miles and hour on highway. I was was struck on the driver front side by another vehicle and the airbags deployed. Upon deployment the extreme force of the cars bags knocked me out thereby causing me to run off the road. .
Airbag complaints in other Cruze years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 8% of the model year's 250 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Chevrolet Cruze airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, though it has 4 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 2016 Chevrolet Cruze airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 8 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.