2011 Chevrolet Cruze Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,115 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 89/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 64,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2018–2019.
Avoid
Where 2011 sits among all Cruze years
What owners report
“My car is hard shifting and no gm dealer can figure it out they say nothing but take my money and my car will alert transmission hot idle engine very scary has even up and stopped going 35 miles in my hometown”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Cruze
“Noticed a very hard transmission shift when accelerating from approximately 35 to 40 mph. Hard shifting in this vehicle has been observed over the past year. Milage is approximately 60,000 miles.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Cruze
“The key fob holding the key in the ignition broke, leaving the key in the ignition, unable to turn off or turn on the vehicle.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Cruze
“Code p1101 sitting in a parking lot in check engine light came on within 24 hours of buying the car”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Cruze
“Traveling behind passenger car; car in front applied brakes. I applied my brakes but car did not stop. Struck back of vehicle.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Cruze
“The car cuts out and jerks (has no power) (no warning lights) when accelerating or staying at a steady speed with engine light coming on or flashing. I've reported to dealership. So far, Don't know the cause of problem.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Cruze
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 836 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 59,937 miles. Half of those reports fall between 33,000 and 94,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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…
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…
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with 1.4L DOHC gasoline turbo engines and 6T40 front wheel drive automatic transmissions and equipped with an electric vacuum pump to provide supplemental vacuum…
Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace a microswitch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet…
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 14, 2012. ATTACHMENT WELDS FOR THE FUEL TANK STRAP SECONDARY BRACKETS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED.
Fix: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR MISSING WELDS. IF THE VEHICLE IS MISSING WELDS, DEALERS WILL SECURE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENTS WITH FASTENERS. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED…
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 31, 2012. SPILLED OR DRIPPING OIL (SUCH AS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE) MAY COLLECT IN THE ENGINE SHIELD (BELLYPAN) NEAR HOT…
Fix: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ENGINE SHIELD TO PREVENT FLUID FROM CONTACTING THE SHIELD. ALSO, ON VEHICLES WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, DEALERS WILL APPLY A PROTECTIVE TAPE TO…
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 6, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 27, 2011 AND EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102,…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE FOR CORRECT INSTALLATION AND ADJUST THE SHIFT LINKAGE SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 23, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 21, 2011. THE BOLT ATTACHING THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF REQUIRED, REPAIR THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT/STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY TO ASSURE THE BOLT IS FULLY SEATED AND THE SHAFT PROPERLY ASSEMBLED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE…
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES. DURING MANUFACTURING THE STEERING WHEEL COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FASTENED AND MAY DETACH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS ASSEMBLED PROPERLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FOR YOU FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 12V288000.
Technical service bulletins
1,656 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze drew 1,115 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 89/100, scored against the model's worst year (2012).
What are the most common 2011 Chevrolet Cruze problems?
The top reported problems for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze are engine (296 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (193), and other (169).
At what mileage do 2011 Chevrolet Cruze problems show up?
Owners most often report 2011 Chevrolet Cruze problems around 59,937 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 33,000 and 94,000 miles.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.