Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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
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. …
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the Auto START/STOP failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that when the vehicle was restarted, there was a slightly shuddering noticeable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not repaired because the failure was related with an unknown recall; however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle felt imbalanced and was shuddering. Additionally, the engine emitted abnormal knocking sounds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact then parked the vehicle a block away from his residence. The contact who is a certified independent mechanic, diagnosed that the fuel injectors had failed. The contact also diagnosed that the fuel injector had melted and fused into the number one cylinder, causing the engine to misfire. The contact replaced the fuel injectors, the spark plugs, the fuel line, the fuel harness, and the vehicle software were flushed. However, the failure reoccurred. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with the Auto START/STOP feature; however, while at a complete stop, the engine turned off but failed to restart. The contact shifted into park (P) and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving between 35-65 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jolted and hesitated to respond. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The contact also stated that the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed but no issues were found. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal banging sound. The contact then noticed through the rearview mirror, that the rear bumper had detached and was hanging on the passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and noticed that an unknown control module had detached along with the bumper. The contact stated that only one rear bumper screw remained attached while the others were missing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer parts department and was provided the screws to temporarily re-attach the bumper. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that upon returning to the parked vehicle, while attempting to unlock the doors with the key fob, the doors failed to open. The contact was able to open the door manually using the key. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle and closing the front driver's side door, the doors locked and failed to unlock. The contact depressed the brake pedal and pressed the Push to Start button, but the vehicle failed to start or unlock. The message "No Key Fob Detected" was displayed. The contact disassembled the key fob and wiped the battery; however, the failure persisted. The contact called his wife, who arrived with another key fob. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The message "Theft Alarm" was displayed. …
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.
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system › Ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Cruze years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (196), 2014 (187), 2013 (122), 2011 (96) and 2016 (59) model years. Electrical complaints make up 23% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Cruze electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 16V-502 (ignition, Jul 5, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Cruze electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles; 47% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the instrument cluster/panel (6 mentions), followed by the instrument panel › speedometer/odometer (3).
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.