Acceleration complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Shortly after I merge onto a highway and pickup speed my cruze apears to be slipping gears. It does not do it every time but it appears to be happening increasingly often. It starts to shake violently, becomes hard to stear and refuses to excelerate even though the rpm's are rising significantly higher then they should be, leaving me going 35 - 40mph on a 65mph highway, it does not fully decelerate either. It happened the other day and the road speed was 65mph to start which my car wouldn't do then immediately became congested which is when I realized it wouldn't properly decelerate either, at least before I thought I coupd just pull over if it lasted to long. My car only has 22,000 miles on it and was certified pre-owned. It is regularly maintenanced as well. I have not taken it to be inspected just yet but that is my next step as I don't feel at all safe driving it in this condition.
The Auto Start and Stop feature has malfunctioned multiple times. Safety was put at risk due to car stalling at multiple red lights and shutting off while driving down the road. Problem has been reproduced by dealership. No warnings at all prior to the failure.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while attempting to reverse, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
My 2017 Chevy Cruze had the throttle body replaced by STG Auto Group in Montclair, CA. A few months after the repair, my car began shaking violently and then shut off in the middle of the street while I was driving on 11/17/2025 This created a serious safety hazard for me and other drivers. When I took the vehicle to a local auto zone once the vehicle turned on , they told me the throttle body "needs cleaning," but a new throttle body should not get dirty within a few months. This suggests improper installation or a defective part. The problem returned even though the part was recently replaced. I immediately called the dealership who fixed it and the manager stated I'd have to wait to the following week for another inspection and that I can not be squeezed in . The vehicle is still unsafe to drive because it shakes and can stall unexpectedly. …
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 car was recalled for problems with fuel system or something of that nature, I took it to get repaired not once but about 3 times and problem is still ongoing. When I press the gas, the car shoots all the way to the 3rd gear and gets stuck at about 27 miles which is very dangerous, especially when I'm on the freeway. It will also cut off in the middle of the road making me have to put my car in park and recrank the car, multiple people have almost ran dead into the back of my car. They basically told me it is no way to fix my car. Now, it has caused more problems. My car is now saying "engine power reduced" and "service brake assist" when I try to press the brakes, it's literally almost impossible. I have to almost stand on the brake and it still does not stop all the way. My brakes are new btw, so it shouldn't still have this error message. I'm basically driving a lemon. …
My car acts as if it is going to stall out at 20mph, it is automatic and the car jerks violently when in motion and can be on and off. My first code that popped up was for a misfire, the second for servicing the traction control system. This happens when the vehicle is in motion and goes over 15mph. Once I get to the desired speed it'll stop jerking as bad but if I slow down a little and speed back up it starts all over again and does not feel like pushing the accelerator is making the car move at all. I repeatedly press on the gas and let go to try to get it to stop but continue in motion. It has gotten worse over the week and I have changed the spark plugs and checked for leaks.
Around November 29, 2014 I was driving the 2015 Chevy cruz while out of town driving on the highway going around 55 miles I was pulled over by a police reporting that I was driving 75 miles, but when I slightly hit my brakes to slow down the car didn't change its speed. Based on the police's report of the speed he reported me going the odometer reading is wrong or set too high in this vehicle and will cause accidents if not fixed. It appears that the digital odometer is wrong in this model and needs to be fixed to include the breaks stalling, and odometer reading reporting the wrong speed, please send me report via email.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Cruze years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2011 (70), 2012 (51), 2013 (39), 2014 (39) and 2016 (11) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 10% of all complaints for the 2011.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Cruze acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for any Chevrolet Cruze model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Cruze acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 46,000 miles; 53% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (8 mentions), followed by the cruise control (1).
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.