Chevrolet Cruze Reliability Guide: Most Reliable Model Years to Buy Used

Remember the Chevrolet Cruze, one of the last sedans from General Motors in the US? Introduced in 2010 as a successor to the Chevy Cobalt, the Cruze had a decent run spanning two generations across a decade. The Cruze was one of the few Chevrolet products primarily designed for Asian and South American markets while simultaneously going on sale in the US.

Being a compact car, the Chevrolet Cruze was one of the preferred options among first-time car buyers who prioritized affordability, comfortable drivability, and low maintenance. The growing popularity of compact SUVs and crossovers led to the gradual demise of the Chevy Cruze, which had a relatively short life in its second-generation version. 

Did the Cruze fare well in its approach as a reliable car for the masses? That’s what we are about to find here.

Chevrolet Cruze: Model Year History

The Cruze was one of the first cars from General Motors in the US since the Chapter 11 reorganization in 2009. In that sense, the Cruze was nothing short of a ‘make-it-or-break-it’ car for Chevrolet in the compact car segment.

First-Generation Chevrolet Cruze (2010 – 2015)

• The full production of the Chevrolet Cruze began in Lordstown, Ohio, in September 2010.
• The engine options for the Chevrolet Cruze included 1.8-liter gasoline and 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline, offered with the choices of a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions.
• In 2014, Chevrolet added a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine to the lineup e, making the Cruze the first passenger car from General Motors to have a diesel engine option in 28 years.
• In 2015, Chevrolet gave the Cruze its first design update, with the sedan getting redesigned front and rear bumpers, a tweaked front grille, and new alloy wheels.

Second-Generation Chevrolet Cruze (2016 – 2019)

• The second-generation Chevrolet Cruze debuted in the US in 2016 with an all-new exterior and interior, along with a new D2XX platform that replaced the Delta II platform of its predecessor.
• Engine options for the second-generation Cruze included a 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and a 1.6-liter diesel, the latter of which joined the lineup in 2017. The 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmission options were the same as those offered in the first-gen model.
• The only update Chevrolet gave the second-generation Cruze was in 2019, which saw the sedan receive redesigned front and rear bumpers, a tweaked front grille, and new alloy wheels.

Is The Chevrolet Cruze A Reliable Option to Buy Used?

Among all the compact sedans Chevy has sold in the US to date, the Cruze is the most reliable and feels the most premium.

Challenging the might of the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic in the compact car category, the Chevrolet Cruze was the first well-sorted weapon from General Motors to tackle its Japanese rivals in many years.  Cruze had world-class styling, a sophisticated interior, good build quality, and excellent powertrain choices to take on the competition.

In fact, Consumer Reports recommends the 2017 Cruze as one of the best-used cars one can buy for under $10,000.

However, being an all-new product developed from scratch, the Cruze had its fair share of problems, making the initial model years a bit avoidable.

Thankfully, Chevrolet was quick enough to address these concerns, reflected in the drop in concerns reported by owners of the consecutive model years.

In our opinion, the 2015 and beyond model years of the Cruze are worth placing your bet on. Among them, the second-generation Cruze, irrespective of its model year, is the safer and more reliable bet, owing to the novelty factor it possesses, the more trouble-free set of powertrains, and the fewest problems it faces.

Reliability Ratings

One of the premier organizations for testing and ranking long-term reliability and ownership aspects, J.D. Power, has ranked the Cruze quite highly, especially in its later model years.

• The second-generation Cruze achieved high scores in quality and reliability index – 88/100 by the 2016 and 2017 model years.
• J.D. Power’s quality and reliability index for the Cruze was the lowest in 2011 (77/100), indicating the initial model year’s reliability concerns.

Recalls

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Chevrolet Cruze has a history of high recalls in the initial years, which dropped to a few in later models.

• The number of recalls dropped with the second-generation Cruze, reaching up to just two recalls each for the 2017 and 2019 models.
• The owners of the first-generation Cruze reported concerns related to loss of brake assist, faulty axle shafts, and airbag issues, for which Chevrolet announced multiple recalls.
• The first-generation Cruze had seven recalls for the 2011 model, five each for the 2012 and 2013 models, nine for the 2014 model, and four recalls for the 2015 model.

Commonly Faced Issues in Chevrolet Cruze: Things to Keep in Mind

Compared to the second-generation model years of the Chevrolet Cruze, which remains highly reliable, the first-generation version had a few problems to tackle. However, the magnitude of these problems decreased with every consecutive model year.

First-Generation Chevrolet Cruze (2010-2015)

The first-ever model year, the 2011 Cruze, is the most notorious one, with some mechanical issues related to the steering shaft and transmission, and unpredictable electronics. It is the one model year from which people should stay away.

The 2012, 2013, and 2014 model years of Cruze also suffered from high recalls and transmission and electronics-related concerns, though they are not as significant as the ones reported in the 2011 Cruze.

The 2015 Cruze, which also happens to be the only facelifted version of the first-gen model, is the one to buy with the least number of problems and recalls.

Second-Generation Chevrolet Cruze (2016-2019)

• Among all the model years of the second-generation Chevrolet Cruze, the owners of the first one of the lot, the 2016 Cruze, have reported a few minor concerns.
• These concerns are also related to engine, transmission, and electronic systems, but are minor when compared to those of the 2011 Cruze and are avoidable.
• The last three model years of the Cruze have the least reported problems and recalls, making them highly reliable.

Most Reliable Model Years of Chevrolet Colorado

2016-2019 Chevrolet Cruze

The 2016–2019 model years of the Chevrolet Cruze are regarded as some of the most reliable in the sedan’s history, addressing almost all the concerns owners of its predecessor faced. The second-gen Cruze was an extensive upgrade over the model it replaced – in every sense.

• These years saw fewer mechanical issues and improved build quality, earning strong reliability ratings across industry benchmarks
• J.D. Power consistently rated these model years very highly for quality and dependability, reflecting positive ownership experiences. Additionally, data from NHTSA, car complaints, and Consumer Reports show a relatively low number of complaints and recalls during this period, further solidifying the second-generation Cruze’s reputation for reliability.
• There were only four recalls issued for the 2016 Cruze to date, including for possibilities of incorrectly aimed headlights, removal of key when not in Park mode, incorrectly welded seat back frame, and fuel leak in rollover after crash.
• The only key recalls issued for the 2018 and 2019 model years of Cruze include addressing the insufficient coating on the rear brake caliper piston and missing bolts on the start/stop accumulator.
• Besides a fine-tuned version of the 1.4-liter engine, the new 1.6-liter diesel engine, added to the lineup in 2017, proved to be more frugal and reliable than the 2.0-liter diesel engine from the first-gen Cruze.

2015 Chevrolet Cruze

The first-generation Chevrolet Cruze received its first update in 2015, which also is the most reliable model year of that generation

• Backed by a solid score from J.D. Power, the 2015 Cruze also has the lowest number of recalls among the first-generation models as per data released by NHTSA.
• The four recalls were issued to address the separation of the parking brake cable brackets, the steering gear not tightened to specifications, the seat belt assembly bolt not tightened properly, and the removal of the key when the car is not in Park mode.
• The 2015 Chevrolet Cruze came with three engine options in the US – a 1.8-liter gasoline, a 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline, and a 2.0-liter diesel.

FAQs

Q1. What’s the best year to buy a Chevrolet Cruze?

All the model years of the second-generation Chevrolet Cruze, spanning from 2016 to 2019, are worth considering due to their high-reliability rankings. Among the first-generation Cruze, the 2015 model year is also worth considering.

Q2. Why was the Chevy Cruze discontinued?

Like all other sedans, the Chevrolet Cruze also faced the growing popularity of compact crossovers and SUVs, along with changing market dynamics. The drop in sales numbers of the Cruze in favor of compact crossovers resulted in Chevrolet discontinuing the Cruze without a successor to it.

Q3. Are Chevy Cruzes cheap to fix?

For an entry-level compact car, the Chevrolet Cruze is easy to fix and maintain, with affordable maintenance and parts costs. However, the 2011-2014 model years are relatively more expensive to maintain due to their higher possibility of encountering mechanical and electrical issues.

Q4. What is the biggest problem with the Chevy Cruze?

The first iterations of the Chevrolet Cruze are known to have mechanical and electronic problems related to the steering shaft and transmission. These issues, however, decreased with consecutive model years, making the later model years more reliable and hassle-free to run and maintain.

Q5. How long does the Chevy Cruze usually last?

Many Chevrolet Cruze owners have reported driving for around 175,000-200,000 miles before replacing engine components.