2019 Chevrolet Cruze Problems & Complaints

Better than average94% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Cruze at the same age

Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 94% fewer than a typical Cruze model year at the same age, making the 2019 one of the better Cruze years. The most reported problem area is the transmission & drivetrain (8 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles). 2 recalls cover this model year.

23complaints
2recalls
4crashes
1fires
3injuries
0deaths

Most common 2019 Chevrolet Cruze problems

  • Transmission & drivetrain~66,000 miles
    835%
  • Engine & cooling
    522%
  • Electrical system
    417%
  • Brakes~4,000 miles
    313%
  • Driver assistance
    313%
  • Air bags~91,000 miles
    313%
  • Speed control & acceleration~10,000 miles
    29%
  • Other / not specified~10,000 miles
    29%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~0 miles
    14%
  • A/C & heater~2,000 miles
    14%
  • Fuel & propulsion system
    14%
  • Wheels & tires
    14%
  • Seat belts
    14%

Share of the 23 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Chevrolet Cruze complaints by model year

20112012201320142015201620172018201973286558770225225020110923
Owner complaints per model year, Chevrolet Cruze. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Cruze years: 2019, 2018, 2017. Years to avoid: 2012, 2011, 2014. Compare all years →

2019 Chevrolet Cruze recalls (2)

Power train › Automatic transmission

NHTSA recall 20V-668 · Oct 29, 2020 · 194,105 vehicles

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020.

Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper

NHTSA recall 18V-576 · Aug 30, 2018 · 210,628 vehicles

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018.

What 2019 Chevrolet Cruze owners say

Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that in January of 2021 she had taken her vehicle to the dealer to be repaired due to a recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V668000 (Power Train). The contact stated that when she had taken her vehicle to be repaired, the dealer advised her that her vehicle was fine and that there were no problems with the vehicle. The contact stated that December 2021 , her son was driving her vehicle at approximately 55 MPH on the highway ,the vehicle had began to stall and loose power. The contact stated that her son was safely able to pull off to the side of the road, however, the vehicle was unable to start and had to be towed. …

66,000 miles · Dec 2021

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly displayed the "Park" light on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and shifted the vehicle into park to restart it. After restarting the vehicle, the parking brake became stuck, and the transmission failed to shift out of park(P). Eventually, the vehicle was able to be restarted and driven. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times, and the battery became drained due to the failure several times. The contact stated that occasionally the "Shift to Park" message failed to display as needed. The contact associated the failure with TSB: 19-NA-206; however, the VIN was not included in the TSB. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer informed the contact to take the vehicle to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was 60,058.

60,000 miles · Mar 2026

Engine & cooling

Unknown I purchased this vehicle in 2019 About 2 and half years now. This car engine is malfunctioning. When i am driving uphill the speed is not transitioning and it had caused other vehicles behind me to slow down. Second major problem is during the summer season the speed does not adjust easily . I would have to press on the gas so hardly to be able to proceed. The worst of all is when am at a traffic light and it turns green that I must proceed the car will not move. I get stuck for a short period and then i would pressed on the gas and all of a sudden you will hear a heavy noise. I drive without AC in summertime often because the car would be stuck, stuck i repeat on the road without moving if my AC is on. It is terrible i must turn off my AC to be able to drive and if i do not am at risk of getting hit by the car behind me. This has been so hard on me and i am really distressed.

Jun 2022

I am leasing this vehicle and it continues to have warning light on staring the vehicle engine power reduced as I'm driving and holds back vehicle and also airbag restraining system light continues also to be on. This is not normal wear and tear and I read previous years had this issue as well. This is still an issue concerning of my safety. Paying for inconvenience

Jun 2024

Electrical system

I am leasing this vehicle and it continues to have warning light on staring the vehicle engine power reduced as I'm driving and holds back vehicle and also airbag restraining system light continues also to be on. This is not normal wear and tear and I read previous years had this issue as well. This is still an issue concerning of my safety. Paying for inconvenience

Jun 2024

An authorized Chevrolet dealer diagnosed an electrical problem on my 2019 Chevrolet Cruze and found that the HVAC case/condensate drain was disconnected. The dealer determined that condensate water had been draining into the passenger compartment instead of outside the vehicle. According to the dealer's written diagnosis, the water soaked the body wiring harness and damaged the Body Control Module (BCM) and Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) module. The problem initially presented through door-lock/electrical malfunctions. The dealer confirmed the water intrusion and resulting component damage during its inspection. I am concerned because the affected components include the body wiring harness, BCM, and SRS module. …

Aug 2026

2019 Chevrolet Cruze engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
1.6L 4-cyl turbo diesel9-speed automaticFWD31 / 48 / 37
1.4L 4-cyl turboCVTFWD30 / 38 / 33
1.4L 4-cyl turbo6-speed automaticFWD28 / 38 / 32

EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze a good car?

Based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Cruze rates better than average: 94% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Cruze at the same age. It is one of the best Cruze years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze?

The transmission & drivetrain — 8 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and electrical system (4).

How many recalls does the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze have?

There are 2 recalls for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze, the most recent from October 29, 2020 (automatic transmission). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Cruze?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2018 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2011 and 2014. See the full Chevrolet Cruze years comparison.

At what mileage do 2019 Chevrolet Cruze problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 10,000 miles; 57% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

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.