Chevrolet Cruze Airbag Problems

Owners have filed 259 complaints about air bags problems with the Chevrolet Cruze — 7% of all Cruze complaints. The worst model years are 2014 (77), 2013 (49) and 2011 (40). Problems typically start around 49,000 miles. 7 related recalls have been issued.

259complaints
2014worst year
49ktypical miles
7related recalls
149crashes
6fires

Airbag complaints by model year

201120122013201420152016201720182019403449772021783
Airbag complaints per model year, Chevrolet Cruze.
YearComplaintsShare of year's complaintsTypical mileage
2019313%91,000 miles
201887%51,000 miles
201773%17,000 miles
2016218%71,000 miles
2015208%56,000 miles
20147711%43,000 miles
2013498%47,000 miles
2012344%59,000 miles
2011405%40,000 miles

Which parts fail

  • Side/window
    3
  • Frontal › Sensor/control module
    1
  • SRS malfunction warning lamp/light
    1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    5831%
  • 25k–50k
    3519%
  • 50k–75k
    3519%
  • 75k–100k
    2815%
  • 100k–150k
    2212%
  • 150k+
    74%

What owners report

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting into drive(D), the SRS warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the air bag warning light had been illuminated for months prior to experiencing the new failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who failed to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,000.

2019 Cruze · SRS malfunction warning lamp/light · 91,000 miles · Jun 2023

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. …

2019 Cruze · Aug 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while making a turn, the vehicle went in another direction. While her son was driving at 2-3 MPH, making a turn, the vehicle went in another direction. The frame was rusted and secured with chicken wire. While her son was driving at 20 MPH and driving up the parking garage, the steering wheel was straight, but the wheel went towards the left, and he crashed into a pole. The vehicle was drivable. The air bags deployed and went to the floorboard. The ABS and stability track control. There were no reported injuries, police reports, or fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 105, 000.

2018 Cruze · 105,000 miles · Feb 2024 · crash

The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle collided with a deer and a guardrail. The vehicle was impacted on the front and rear passenger side and the front of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The passenger seat occupant sustained a knee injury but did not receive medical treatment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a lot where it was deemed totaled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

2018 Cruze · 180,000 miles · May 2023 · crash · 1 injury

My airbag light came on. My vehicle has less than 100K miles on it. I took it to the Chevy Dealership that I purchased it from. The dealership indicated that the passenger side rail air bag is the issue. Apparently, that airbag is no longer available. If I wanted to repair it, they can't, because there is no airbag. As long as the airbag light remains on, NONE of my airbags will deploy. My car is now a useless lemon. I don't feel comfortable driving it in the condition it's in, but I have to commute to work.

2017 Cruze · Mar 2026

The service airbag light came on, car has not been in any accidents or fender bender, service airbag message came on and took it to dealership and they mentioned that the sensor went out on its own and that the airbag will not deploy on the passenger side if we happen to get into an accident. Will not pass inspections and dangerous to drive like this.

2017 Cruze · Jan 2022

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.

2016 Cruze · 58,000 miles · Nov 2022 · crash · 2 injuries

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.

2016 Cruze · 110,000 miles · Jul 2019

Related recalls (7)

Air bags › Side/window

NHTSA recall 25V-764 · Nov 6, 2025 · 2,099 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators located on the roof rails above the headliner, may rupture at the inflator weld joint.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 5, 2025.

Air bags › Side/window

NHTSA recall 23V-870 · Dec 21, 2023 · 20,712 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators may rupture at the inflator weld joint. This recall is an expansion of Recall 23V-674.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 22, 2024.

Air bags › Side/window

NHTSA recall 23V-674 · Sep 20, 2023 · 9,264 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators located on the roof rails above the headliner, may rupture at the inflator weld joint.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2024.

Air bags

NHTSA recall 14V-372 · Jun 26, 2014 · 29,019 vehicles

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.

Air bags

NHTSA recall 14V-300 · Jun 6, 2014 · 31,520 vehicles

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured…

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020.

Show 2 more recalls

Air bags

NHTSA recall 13V-023 · Jan 24, 2013 · 4,167 vehicles

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Air bags

NHTSA recall 12V-522 · Oct 31, 2012 · 2,949 vehicles

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

NHTSA investigations

Air Bag Non-deployment

NHTSA investigation RQ13002 · opened May 31, 2013 · closed Jul 9, 2014 · led to recall 13V-023

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see…

Frequently asked questions

Which Chevrolet Cruze years have airbag problems?

By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (77), 2013 (49), 2011 (40), 2012 (34) and 2016 (21) model years. Airbag complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 2014.

Is there a recall for Chevrolet Cruze airbag problems?

Yes — 7 recalls, including 25V-764 (side/window, Nov 6, 2025); 23V-870 (side/window, Dec 21, 2023); 23V-674 (side/window, Sep 20, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.

At what mileage do Chevrolet Cruze airbag problems start?

Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 49,000 miles; 50% happened before 50,000 miles.

What part fails most often?

Owners most often name the side/window (3 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (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.