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2013 Chevrolet Cruze problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 5safety recalls
- 587owner complaints
- 54crash reports
- 8fire reports
- 38%fail the UK MOT
587 complaints, against an average of 343 for the other 7 Chevrolet Cruze model years.
Every Chevrolet Cruze model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?
The components named most often in the 587 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2013 Chevrolet Cruze owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 587 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze stall, lose power or shut off while driving?62 owners · 10.6%
- Why does my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze overheat?58 owners · 9.9%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?52 owners · 8.9%
- Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?20 owners · 3.4%
Has the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze been recalled?
5 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
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. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Equipment: Electrical General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.
Risk: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.
Air Bags 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike and potentially seriously injure the vehicle occupants. Additionally, if the air bag does not inflate, the driver is at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: 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. GM's number for this recall is 14305.
Power Train: Axle Assembly: Axle Shaft General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with a 1.4L turbo engine, and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and March 7, 2014. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.
Risk: If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right half shaft, as needed, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. GM will send an interim letter to owners in May 2014. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's number for this recall is 14079. This is an expansion of recall 13V-452. NOTE: Some vehicles subject to this recall were subject to the recall campaign initiated in 2013. Some of those vehicles were repaired using defective parts. Those owners will be advised that they must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign and that having the earlier recall completed did not remedy their vehicles.
Power Train: Axle Assembly: Axle Shaft General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) and manufactured January 24, 2013, through August 1, 2013. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.
Risk: If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: General Motors has notified owners. Dealers will replace the half shaft assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 15, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300. This is General Motors campaign number 13276.
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAChevrolet UK Takata Drivers Airbag
Risk: On affected vehicles the chemicals in the Takata airbags may deteriorate over time which may cause the inflator to rupture and lead to serious injury.
Fix: Exchange affected airbag modules as a precautionary measure.
UK DVSADrive shaft may fail
Risk: It has been detected that certain MY2013 & MY2014 Cruze and Orlando vehicles equipped with tubular drive shaft may in some instances experience breakage on RH drive shaft neck area. This will result in loss of drive but the driver will still be able to steer and brake the vehicle.
Fix: Examine affected vehicles for type of RH drive shaft fitted. Where necesaary replace driveshaft.
UK DVSADrive shaft may fracture
Risk: The tubular drive shaft may in some instances experience breakage on RH drive shaft neck area. In the event that the RH drive shaft is broken the vehicle will not be capable of acceleration; however steering and braking will be controllable
Fix: Vehicle drive shafts will be inspected and where necessary replaced free of charge.
EU Safety GateThe propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time.If the airbags deploy, it can result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Request to stop driving; Date of entry into force: 08/08/2025
EU Safety GateThe propellant in the inflator of the driver airbag may deteriorate over time.If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments of the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Other; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe front brake hose might be misassembled/twisted.This could increase the stress on the brake hose, eventually leading to a leak of brake fluid. If this happens, the vehicle may experience an increased braking distance and potential degradation of braking performance.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Other; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe right-hand driveshaft may break in the neck area.If this happens the vehicle will not be able to accelerate.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Other; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 11/08/2014
EU Safety GateThere is a possibility that the transmission will break and the vehicle be left with no traction leading to the risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Other; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 03/12/2013
How often does the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2013, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2013 Chevrolet Cruze owners report?
12 of the 587 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH MY STUDENT FINANCIAL AID MONEY AS SOON AS I GOT 5 CAR A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AND THE CAR STARTED BOILING.THEN THE KEY IGNITION SYSTEM SAID USE POCKET TRANSMITTER THAT DIDN'T WORK .I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY I HAVE A MECHANIC THAT'S WHY I PURCHASED THE CAR I WAS CONFIDANT JE COULD FIX IT NO MATTER WHAT THE CAR WAS3 VERY UNSAFE NO WARMING ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE THEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IT STOPPED SUDDENLY AND I CHECKED THE FLUIDS PUT ANTIFREEZE AND OIL THE CAR ENGINE WAS SO HOT IT DAMAGED THE HEATER BYPASS HOSE.I REALLY NEEDED MY TRANSPORTATION I GO SCHOOL WAS A…
I’d like to report this vehicle and its engine as I did not know I could before we have had this car since 2015 This engine has chronic repeated issues that Chevy would patch once under “special coverages” or “extended warranty” and it fails again and again but they only honor it 1 time even if it fails yet again due to bad engineering or design flaws. This car has had 3 water pumps 5 water outlets- I eventually had to buy an off market alternative to stop this from failing, 2 (about to be 3) valve covers because the PCV valve is a chronic failure on the system cause oil to bypass into the…
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact felt ill and pulled over to the side of the road. The contact stated that a passerby stopped and found the contact unconscious inside the vehicle. The ambulance was called to the scene, and the contact was taken to the hospital. The doctor determined that the contact had 27% of carbon monoxide inside the body. The contact received oxygen to expel the carbon monoxide. The vehicle remained near the walking trail where the contact had pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was…
When I accelerate my rpm goes up but car dosent move as speed says and takes for me to let off the gas to speed up , and my steering when I turn it pulls away n it keep popping up service traction and going off
For the airbag the car was sold to me without a working airbag. It’s in the steering wheel (I have been told this by a Chevrolet dealership) and the part that is broken is the part that will make it inflate in case of crash. This is scary to me. I was just in my first (and hopefully only) accident a month before in a more steely car and while no airbags were deployed it still hurts. The second issue is with the fuel pump or sensor - the coding is very unsure but the dash (including the mechanical gauge) says the car will go from half tank to empty on an 8 mile drive. It has no leaks on the…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 157,454. The contact later discovered that the title mileage was 189,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle also lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic control unit module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,212. The VIN was not available.
Transmission messed up only own the car for 7 months
Vehicle randomly powers up and tries to start with the key in the ignition. Service theft deterrent message displayed at times while trying to start.
I have a powerstop b992l brake shoe and hardware kit. The mfg date is 2023/12/04. The issue is that the drum adjusters are made in a way they do not turn freely, thereby the drums will not adjust. In the diagram pat b will not turn on part a. There are clear witness marks on the inside where the end fits on the ratchet pawl. I have the parts available for inspection as needed and can mail then as well as the box side with their information.
I own 3 Chevy Cruze, a 2012, 2013 and 2016. They all partial power down or decelerate while driving. The local Chevy dealers has no recalls for this issue or any other for that matter. Please advise
MY CAR KEPT SAYING "AC OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE HEAT" EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS NOT READING HOT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEN THE CAR WOULD START SMOKING AND BLOW A HOSE AND LIQUID WOULD BE EVERYWHERE. I HAD A BRAND NEW THERMOSTATE PUT IN AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. ALSO A PREVIOUS RECALL ABOUT HOW THE TIRE COULD SEPRATE "TIRE ROD" IS STILL DOING IT AGAIN. I HAD 3 TRANSAXLE SEALS AND A TRANSMISSION SEAL, A MOTOR BLOWER FOR THE A.C ALL REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR (STILL UNDER WARRENTY) OF OWNING THIS CAR. THE STABILITY TRACK WILL SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN. BUT I'M TIRED OF WORRYING WHEN MY…
2013 Chevrolet Cruze: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 587 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze; the most common categories were engine (212, 36.1%), electrical system (122, 20.8%), power train (113, 19.3%). There are 5 safety recalls. 54 complaints mention a crash, 8 mention a fire, 32 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?
Across 587 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (36.1% of complaints), electrical system (20.8% of complaints), power train (19.3% of complaints), steering (12.6% of complaints), electronic stability control (esc) (10.6% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze; the most recent (campaign 16V502000, 2016-07-05) concerns Electrical System: Ignition. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
62 of the 587 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze (10.6%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Check engine light is on and the low fuel efficiency which will cause the system to fail and the vehicle to shut down while driving." (NHTSA complaint 11654444, April 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze overheat?
58 of the 587 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze (9.9%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "The engine in my 2013 chevy cruze failed due to the head gasket, and it causes the car to overheat. Chevrolet issued a recall on some 2013 and 2014 Cruze models for head gasket problems." (NHTSA complaint 11621806, October 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?
52 of the 587 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze (8.9%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Check engine light is on and the low fuel efficiency which will cause the system to fail and the vehicle to shut down while driving." (NHTSA complaint 11654444, April 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?
20 of the 587 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze (3.4%) describe ABS, traction or stability control warnings or faults. One owner wrote: "Traction control warning pops up and steering stops, even while driving. Motor shuts down and smells like fuel in water res." (NHTSA complaint 11558464, December 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Cruze
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only.