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2016 Chevrolet Cruze Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 250 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, most often about the engine (43% of complaints, typically around 66,500 miles). It is 6th of 10 Cruze model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2016 Chevrolet Cruze problems
Engine
108 complaints · 43%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine.
Car has 66062 miles sitting turned on the car hoses started leaking and the car started smoking from under the hood. Towed it to the my shop for a pressure test they advised it would have to go the dealer for a coolant hose problem they could not address. Towed it to the chevy dealer. Repairs done water pump…
My 2016 chevy Cruze limited started to lose acceleration and wouldn't go over 40 miles an hour. No code lights are on and none detected. So I drove home and parked the car and waited until it was cooled down and opened the hood to check my oil. I unscrewed the oil cap where you add oil and it completely smelled like…
Electrical
59 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 40,500 miles.
"takata recall" car randomly looses power and shuts off while driving on freeway, electrical outlets won't work, stabilization warning appear, battery leaks acid.
I just purchased this car and several times while I'm driving on the freeway the radio shuts of then turns back on numerous times. Then I usually get a stability's error message. Then the best part. The power steering will completely go out while changing lanes or in mid turn. I have been driving through a round about…
Other or unspecified
43 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles.
I live in colorado, and ever time its cold in the morning when I start up my car it gives me hard time and then does an ant theft system lock. When im home, okay its durable but now its done it while im driving, and when I was at the car wash. Complete lock, steering wheel, key is locked in the ignition. This is super…
When leaving a grocery store, roughly 2 miles, my husband said the gas peddle clicked. Moments later, the car started shifting weird. Would not get past first gear. Second gear made the car super shaky and then it shut off. When restarting, car would drive normal for a minute then act up again. We would put it in…
Fuel system
37 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
Continuing illumination of the "check engine" light. Tied to emission suspect malfunction codes. Has been service for this problem at least five times. Replaced fuel induction system, turbo, fuel induction solenoid and other components. Still no resolution. Problem is made known by illumination of "check engine" light…
"takata recall" car randomly looses power and shuts off while driving on freeway, electrical outlets won't work, stabilization warning appear, battery leaks acid.
Transmission
31 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Continuing illumination of the "check engine" light. Tied to emission suspect malfunction codes. Has been service for this problem at least five times. Replaced fuel induction system, turbo, fuel induction solenoid and other components. Still no resolution. Problem is made known by illumination of "check engine" light…
When leaving a grocery store, roughly 2 miles, my husband said the gas peddle clicked. Moments later, the car started shifting weird. Would not get past first gear. Second gear made the car super shaky and then it shut off. When restarting, car would drive normal for a minute then act up again. We would put it in…
Air bags
21 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles.
I was driving, 55 miles and hour on highway. I was was struck on the driver front side by another vehicle and the airbags deployed. Upon deployment the extreme force of the cars bags knocked me out thereby causing me to run off the road. .
Service airbag light and indicator beep have been present on my vehicle for 1 week now....july 16-23 2019. Still occurring today, july 23, 2019
Brakes
19 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles.
My engine will just shut off randomly, with no warning at all. I have took it into dealer becase it was still covered until powertrain, of course they found nothing after having my car for 4 days. My car shuts off on the highway, in the middle of traffic, or while coming off the highway with cars trailing behind me.…
When stopping, an initial press of the brake pedal would not engage brake like usual. Had to push all the way down to get the vehicle's brakes to engage. This has happened three times, each time the vehicle was in motion, driving under 20mph.
Steering
18 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles.
In the middle of driving home the car was not operable and would not allow me to turn the vehicle and it started doing a scrubbing sound before it stopped turning completely
2016 chevy Cruze ltz faulty battery negative cable causing battery corrosion, while driving car has power steering errors (loss of stable steering capabilities), traction system errors, reduced vehicle power, problems with cruise control (speeds up by itself). Contacted gm and informed them of this issue. They denied…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Chevrolet Cruze recalls
Fuel system: fuel system, gasoline
Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began june 7, 2018. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is 18159.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2016-2018 chevrolet cruze ls vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 301, "fuel system integrity."
Seats: head restraint
Risk: In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on february 28, 2017. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is 17035.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2016-2017 chevrolet cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 202a, "head restraints."
Electrical: ignition
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.
Full defect summary
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."
Lights: headlights
Risk: Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a gm dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on august 11, 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service department at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is 50190.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2016 cruze vehicles manufactured november 5, 2015, to may 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and assoc. Equipment."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (108 complaints, typically around 66,500 miles); electrical (59 complaints, typically around 40,500 miles); other or unspecified (43 complaints, typically around 53,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 10, 2018 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Chevrolet Cruze?
- It is 6th of 10 Cruze model years by number of complaints, with 250 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.