23 complaints reported

2013 Chevrolet Cruze Steering

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
23
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Mar 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING. THE DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. .*BF*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2019
Mar 2019

2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING GOING OUT. *LD *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2019
Nov 2018

WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURN IN CITY, CAR JERKED, ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND "SERVICE POWER STEERING" LIGHT CAME ON, THEN CAR RECOVERED AND WAS DRIVEN HOME

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2018
Sep 2018

STEERING RANDOMLY COMPLETELY LOCKED IN MOTION. SEEMINGLY RANDOM ELECTRICAL PROBLEM REMEDIED ON ITS OWN AND REQUIRED SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO CHECK IT OUT TO ASSES SAFETY. CANT BE SURE OF THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE NOW.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2018
Mar 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR STARTED TO FLASH AND THE POWER STEERING ABILITY DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,158.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2018
Aug 2017

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE AND THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. THE STABILITRAK LIGHT WAS ALSO ON. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY ARE GOING TO KEEP IT ANOTHER DAY TO SEE IF THEY CAN MAKE THE CODE COME UP, BUT IF IT DOESN'T THEN I GET TO DRIVE A CAR THAT CAN CRASH BECAUSE OF POWER STEERING FAILURE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE STEERING GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. GM NEEDS TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND FIX IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2017
Jul 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE HAD A STEERING (STEERING WHEEL WITH A RANCH) AND THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND FAILED TO TURN APPROPRIATELY WHEN DESIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN CONTACTED THE HEALEY GM DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2017
Mar 2016 Crash

STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD. CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35MPH. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME AND I COULD NOT TURN AT A CURVE CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND SLID OFF OF A DIRT ROAD INTO A DITCH AND TREE LINED AREA. DO HAVE POLICE REPORT AS WELL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2016
Jul 2015

FOR ABOUT 5 MILES THE WARNING FOR POWER STEERING WAS ON I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS AS OTHERS ARE ASKING FOR A RECALL ON THIS AT THE TIME I DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM DRIVING BUT I AM CONCERNED IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN THE TRACTION LIGHT WAS ON AT THE SAME TIME

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2015
Apr 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,699.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2015
Nov 2014

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP, FELT THE VEHICLE LOSE POWER AND HEARD LOUD NOISES COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. CAME TO A FULL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. TURNED OFF THE CAR. TURNED IT BACK ON AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. CAR HAD TO GET TOWED. CHEVY DEALERSHIP STATES THE FRONT RIGHT AXLE SNAPPED. IN PROCESS OF BEING REPLACED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2014
Oct 2014

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK YESTERDAY AND WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE SCREEN WENT OUT AGAIN....WHICH IS FINE. WE CAN ALL LIVE WITHOUT AUDIO AND A FANCY SCREEN IN OUR CARS, BUT AS SOON AS THE SCREEN WENT OUT THE POWER STEERING AND STABILITRAK LIGHTS BOTH CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT IN MY CAR WHILE I WAS TURNING. I ALMOST HIT A CONCRETE WALL AND THE CARS THAT WERE WAITING FOR THEIR TURN TO GO IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANES. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT I HAD THAT ISSUE BUT OF COURSE, THERE'S MORE. WE LIVE ON AN ARMY BASE - FORT SILL, IN OKLAHOMA - WE HAVE TO STOP AT THE GATE TO GET ON BASE AND SHOW OUR IDS TO GET HOME. I STOPPED AT THE GATE AND TALKED WITH THE GUARD FOR A MINUTE, SHOWED MY ID AND WENT ON WITH MY BUSINESS.. I STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY AND MY CAR WENT CRAZY AGAIN. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AGAIN AND ALL OF MY LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF FOR THREE MINUTES, INSIDE LIGHTS AND OUTSIDE TOO. THE CAR STARTED JERKING LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO CUT OFF, IT FINALLY STOPPED AND I MADE IT HOME BUT I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2014
Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS USED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2013
Sep 2014

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (BETWEEN 60 AND 75) THERE IS A "NOTCHY" TUG TO THE STEERING WHEEL. SEEMS TO HAPPEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. HAVE TO GIVE THE WHEEL A LITTLE PRESSURE IN A TURN TO GET IT TO UNLOCK POSITION AND MAKE IT ABLE TO TURN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2013
Jun 2014

OVER 30 DAYS AGO I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY CAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE CHEVY GARAGE TO BE FIXED BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. I DROVE THIS CAR FOR 30 DAYS WITH A BAD AXLE AND THE GARAGE KNEW THIS. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PROCEEDED TO GO BUT MY CAR ONLY DRIFTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENTIRE FRONT END FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. I HAD MY 6 MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WITH ME WHILE I WAS GOING TO PICK UP MY 6 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. WE SAT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE PEOPLE DROVE BY SWEARING AND SIGNING TO ME UNTIL 3 KIND GENTLEMEN PUSHED ME OUT OF THE WAY. THE CHEVY GARAGE CAME AND PICKED ME AND MY CAR UP BUT THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS NOW BECAUSE PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL RECEIVE THEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
Jun 2014

STEERING BECOMES "NOTCHY/STICKY" WHILE DRIVING, MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I DRIVE 40 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND NOTICE THIS ABOUT 95% OF THE TIME. WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE FINE. DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPRODUCE THE SYMPTOMS. THEY NEED TO DRIVE IT FOR MORE THAN A MILE. PLENTY OF DISCUSSIONS ON OTHER WEB SITES WITH THE SAME ISSUES. (CRUZETALK.COM). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2013
Apr 2014

I RENTED A CHEVY CRUZ FROM AVIS FOR A VACATION TRIP. I NOTICED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT AND AS I APPLIED PRESSURE TO CORRECT FOR THE DRIFT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD RELEASE SUDDENLY AND THE CAR WOULD TRACK NORMALLY FOR A SHORT TIME THEY REPEAT. ONLY AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH DID I NOTICE THE PROBLEM. I WAS CALLED BY AVIS TELLING ME THE CAR WAS BEING RECALLED BUT THE RECALL DIDN'T DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE RETURN. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
Mar 2014

THE STEERING WHEEL/RACK HAS KNOWN ISSUES ALREADY DOCUMENTED BY THE NHTSA. WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS > 50MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL "LOCK UP" OR FEEL "NOTCHY" WITHOUT CONSTANT DRIVER INPUT. WHEN PERFORMING INTERSTATE DRIVING YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE STEERING CONSTANTLY FEELING LIKE ITS LOCKING UP UNTIL EXCESSIVE FORCE IS USED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL (MORE THEN A FEW FINGERS WORTH OF STRENGTH). DEFINITELY UNNATURAL AND DEFINITELY AN ISSUE FOR A BRAND NEW CAR. STARTED SINCE 5K MILES, VEHICLE HAS APPRXOIMATELY 15K MILES NOW AND THE ISSUE IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. DOCUMENTED ONLINE IS THAT THE STEERING RACK HAS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH ALLOWS AIR INSIDE THE STEERING RACK, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FEEL NOTCHY OR LIKE IT IS LOCKING UP. BEING THAT THE ISSUE IS GETTING WORSE, I EXPECT THERE TO BE A MAJOR FAILURE AT SOME POINT AND WANTED THIS DOCUMENTED. ONLINE ON CHEVROLET CRUZE FORUMS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF ISSUES SIMILAR TO MY OWN AND I BELIEVE A TSB IN CHEVROLET'S DATABASE. I AM GOING TO ATTEMPT TO BRING THE ISSUE TO LIGHT AT THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP NOW THAT I HAVE THE TIME TO ACTUALLY DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION (DUE TO MILITARY/GOVERNMENT WORK CONFLICTS). I PURCHASED A FULL PREMIUM WARRANTY WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN I BOUGHT IT THAT COVERS EVERYTHING FOR 100K MILES/7 YEARS, SO THERE SHOULD BE NO ISSUES WITH THIS REQUEST OF FIXING/REPLACING THE ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Mar 2014

THE STEERING DOES NOT FEEL STABLE. AT VARIOUS TIMES MOSTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING FEELS AS THOUGH THERE IS NO CONNECTION FOR A SPLIT SECOND WITH THE TIE ROD THAT CONTROLS THE STEERING. THE CAR WILL ACTUALLY PULL SLIGHTLY AND REQUIRE CORRECTION FROM TIME TO TIME. THE PULL CAN BE EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT AND NOT RELATED TO ANY POSSIBLE WIND. THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER MARCH 14, 2013, WITH NO CHANGE IN THIS SITUATION. THE FEELING IS SIMILAR TO DRIVING SOME OF THE OLD JUNKS FROM DAYS GONE BY BACK IN THE 60'S WHERE THE STEERING WAS LOOSE AND REQUIRED BOTH HANDS FIRMLY ON THE WHEEL AND CONSTANT CORRECTION GOING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2011
Feb 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL IN THE DIRECTION BEING STEERED. THERE WAS FORCE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS AND LUNGED FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY WHEN AT A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,500.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
Dec 2013

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS >55 THE STEERING WHEEL GIVE RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO MAKE MINOR LANE CORRECTIONS. WHEN YOU GET PAST THE RESISTANCE THE STEERING OVER CORRECTS WHICH CAUSES YOU TO SWERVE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2013
Dec 2013

2013 CHEVY CRUZE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SEEMS TO HAVE THE STEERING LOCK OR BECOME "STICKY". PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MAKE MINOR CHANGES IN DIRECTION WHEN TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE "LOCK UP" SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN CORRECTING TO THE LEFT COMPARED TO CORRECTING TO THE RIGHT. THIS BECOMES A REAL CONCERN WHEN DRIVING ON ICY OR SNOW PACKED ROADS AS I FEAR A LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN OVERCORRECTION DUE TO THE "STICKY" STEERING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2013
Mar 2013

AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 90 MILES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECOMES "NOTCHY". MINOR STEERING CORRECTIONS BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL ONLY MOVE IN FINITE INCREMENTS SO DRIVING THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT, EVEN DANGEROUS SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO POSITION IT PROPERLY IN THE TRAFFIC LANE. WEATHER OR TEMPERATURE DOES NOT SEEM TO AFFECT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR STEERS PROPERLY ON SHORT TRIPS BUT ON A REGULAR, WEEKLY TRIP I MAKE, THE PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS AFTER ABOUT 90 MILES. AFTER THE CAR IS STOPPED (AT THE 130 MILE MARK) FOR A COUPLE HOURS, THE PROBLEM DOES NOT REOCCUR AT START-UP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM--BUT HASN'T DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MORE THAN A MILE OR SO.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Chevrolet Cruze has 23 Steering complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.