2011 Chevrolet Cruze Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
AT THE END OF NOVEMBER I NOTICED A SMELL COMING FROM MY CRUZE. IT SMELLED LIKE ANTIFREEZE. I WAITED A FEW DAYS TO SEE IF IT SMELLED AGAIN. SURE ENOUGH ON ANOTHER COOL MORNING USING THE HEAT I SMELLED IT AGAIN. WHEN USING AND ADJUSTING THE HEAT THE SMELL IS TERRIBLE. MY WINDOWS ALSO HAVE A FILM ON THEM. IT DOES NOT FROST UP BUT THERE IS A NASTY FILM ON THEM THAT SMEARS AROUND WHEN WIPED. LIGHTS SHINE IN AND MAKE A RAINBOW TYPE COLORING ON THEM AND HARD TO SEE. THIS HAS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE ON VACATION IN DECEMBER I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AFTER SMELLING IT NOW ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY COULD NOT SMELL IT AND WOULD NOT EVEN OPEN THE HOOD. ON JAN 25 I TOOK IT TO BIG M CHEVY AND ONE GUY SMELLED SOMETHING, UNSURE OF WHAT IT WAS THEY PRESSURE TESTED IT AND NOTHING SHOWED. THEY PUT DYE IN AND I DROVE IT FOR 13 DAYS SMELLING IT DAILY. THEY LOOKED AT IT AGAIN ON 2/7 AND SAID NO LEAKS. IT IS GOING TO A 3RD DEALER MONDAY. I AM TO THE POINT OF STOPPING DRIVING IT. IT CAN NOT BE HEALTHY FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN TO BREATHE THIS IN DAILY. YOU HAVE TO RIDE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. THE LEAK HAS TO BE FOUND, SOMETHING CHANGED (MAYBE STARTING WITH THE HEATER CORE) OR I AM TRADING IT IN SOON. *TR
WHEN USING THE HEATER IN MY CRUZE THERE IS AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE INSIDE THE CAB. WHEN THE HEATER IS USED FOR MORE THAN 10 - 15 MINUTES AT A TIME, THE ODOR GOT SO STRONG THAT IT CAUSED HEADACHE, DIZZINESS, AND NAUSEA. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR AND WAS INFORMED THAT GM HAD SENT A MEMO BECAUSE IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY PERFORMED THE REPAIRS RECOMMENDED BY GM WHICH WAS TO REPLACE WEATHERSTRIPPING AROUND THE HEATER CORE AND REPLACE A TUBE AT THE OVERFLOW TANK. HOWEVER, WHEN I USED THE HEATER THAT SAME NIGHT, I DISCOVERED THAT IT STILL EMITTED AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT AS STRONG AS BEFORE AND I COULD USE THE HEATER FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT GETTING THE HEADACHE, DIZZINESS, AND NAUSEA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A STRANGE ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SAFELY MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. UPON EXITING, A BALL OF FIRE FORMED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR BURNS TO THE FACE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NOT TOO LONG AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. AFTER THE FIRE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 12V288000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,017....UPDATED 02-13-13 *BF UPDATED 02/19/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V288000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE REPAIRS STATED THE ENGINE SHIELD WOULD BE MODIFIED ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE DEALER REMOVED A PORTION OF THE SHIELD THAT WAS TWENTY INCHES BY TWENTY INCHES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND OTHER ELECTRICAL PARTS WERE NO LONGER PROTECTED AGAINST WATER, MUD, OR ANY OTHER ROAD CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 24,421.
I TOOK MY 2011 CRUZE TO MY NEAREST CHEVY DEALER FOR SAFETY RECALL 1208 ("ENGINE FLAMBE"). I WAS CHARGED $2.66. THE CASHIER MUMBLED SOMETHING ABOUT A FEE IMPOSED BY THE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR EITHER RECYCLING OR DISPOSAL. I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE FULL COST OF A SAFETY RECALL MUST TO BE PAID BY THE MANUFACTURER. I'D LIKE A REFUND OF THAT $2.66. OTHER AFFECTED OWNERS--(WHEREVER)--SHOULD ALSO BE REIMBURSED. IF THE FEE WAS FORCED AS THE RESULT OF GM POLICY, THEN GM DESERVES TO BE FINED. 9 AM APPOINTMENT ON 25 JULY 2012. LEWES AUTOMALL 17861 COASTAL HIGHWAY (STATE ROUTE 1) LEWES DE 19958. *TR
I BROUGHT MY NEW CAR IN FOR A OIL CHANGE ON 5-15-12, THEY FORGOT TO PUT THE OIL CAP BACK ON AND I HAD OIL EVERYWHERE INSIDE MY CAR IT WAS A COMPLETE MESS, I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS SMOKING BECAUSE IT WAS A RAINY AND FOGGY NIGHT. BY THE TIME WE PARKED IT WE THOUGHT IT WAS ON FIRE, MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS EMPTY, WE GOT TOWED BACK TO CHEVY OF MILFORD TO BE FIXED AND CLEANED, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS OIL IN IT AND ONLY A LITTLE CAME OUT.[NOT TRUE] I DON'T REALLY THINK THE CAR RUNS THE SAME AFTER THAT, IT SPITS AND SPUDDERS ALOT. ON JULY 23RD 2012 I BRING IT BACK TO THEM FOR A RECALL # 12081. AND ASKED THEM TO ALSO CHECK WHY MY CAR SPUDDERS AND TO CHECK FOR A SLOW LEAK IN THE BACK TIRE. THEY GOT BACK TO ME LATER THAT MORNING AND SAID, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WAY IT DRIVES, AND MY TIRE CANT BE FIXED I WOULD HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER FOR $125.00 BECAUSE OF WHERE THE HOLE WAS IT COULD NOT BE PATCHED. I TOLD THEM NO ON THE TIRE AND TOOK IT TO A TIRE PLACE, TOWNFAIR TIRE TOOK THE SCREW OUT OF IT WITCH THEY DIDN'T FIND [CHEVY OF MILFORD] AND PATCHED IT FROM THE INSIDE AT N/C. ON 7-24-2012. I REALLY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR ANYMORE AFTER CHEVY OF MILFORD LOOKED AT IT TWICE AND CAME BACK WITH 2 LIES. I DON'T EVEN TRUST THAT THEY DID THE RECALL FOR ALL I KNOW. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? PLEASE HELP, I HAVE 2 SMALL GRANDCHILDREN I DRIVE AROUND IN THIS CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE ANTI-FREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,024.
COOLANT SMELL IN CABIN. BEEN BACK TO DEALER APPROX. 5 TIMES, REPLACED A COOLANT HOSE, THERMOSTAT HOUSING, AND NOW TOLD BY DEALER THERE IS NO FIX. THERE IS A FIX, PUT A NEW ENGINE IN, IT'S ALREADY BEEN OUT FOR A LEAKING REAR MAIN SEAL. SIXTEEN MONTHS AND 17,000 MILES OF OLD CAR SMELL IN A NEW CAR, TIRED OF IT.
I JUST GOT OIL CHANGE A WEEK BEFORE THIS HAPPENED THROUGH THE DEALER. AT NORTHSHORE CHEVROLET IN SMITHTOWN NY. MY SON WAS WAITING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AT INTERSECTION OF POND PATH AND NICOLLS ROAD IN SETUKET NY. WHEN A WOMAN IN NEXT LANE WAS YELLING YOUR.CARS IS ON FIRE. JUST AS HE WAS EXITING CAR HE SAW A FLAME POP OUT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN 2 MINS THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED AND FLAMES WERE AT 15FT HIGH. MY CAR IS FULLY STOCK NO AFTERMARKET ITEMS INSTALLED. DEALER MAINTAINED. UPON SOME RESEARCH I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO FINDOUT AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT. THE CHEVY CRUZE IS A GREAT CAR THAT WE LOVED DRIVING AND OWNING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT HE HAD YET TO RECEIVE THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,700.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH AND NOTICED A BURNING OIL SMELL COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANTIFREEZE OR COOLANT FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,320 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR ANTIFREEZE SMELL OUTSIDE THE CAR AND MORE IMPORTANTLY INSIDE THE CAR WHILE USING THE HEATER. I HAVE STOPPED USING THE HEAT DUE TO THE NAUSEATING SMELL. DEALER CLAIMS ALL IS WELL. *TR
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Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze has 138 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.