2011 Chevrolet Cruze Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze most often write about engine problems — oil leaks, coolant loss and overheating diagnoses that frequently end in engine replacement — followed by automatic transmission complaints such as harsh or delayed shifting and loss of drive. Reports span a wide mileage range, from near-new cars to well past 150,000 miles, and many owners describe repeated dealer visits and repairs that did not resolve the symptom.

1. 1
   Engine

   Oil leaks from valve cover and engine, burning smell

   • 61 complaints (8%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (47 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners describe oil dripping onto the underbody shield or garage floor, a burning oil odor inside the cabin or under the hood, and smoke from the engine bay. Several say the valve cover gasket or camshaft cover was replaced, sometimes under a special coverage program, but the leak returned. Others report the repair being performed and the smell or drip persisting shortly afterward. Reported from just after an oil change up to roughly 100,000–150,000 miles, with several complaints in the 90,000–130,000 mile range.

   Recall 12V2880002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for oil residue on the belly pan and on the engine block, and ask whether the valve cover gasket or camshaft cover has been replaced and when. Ask specifically whether any oil-leak-related bulletin or special coverage work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle was recalled for the valve cover gasket which may leak oil and drop down causing a fire. I was told by the dealership that this was fixed upon taken it to a mechanic because the oil was dripping down causing smoke and the part that it was dripping on was red hot which was the coil wire. Was in fact not fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11322420, filed 2020-04, 117,000 miles

   “Vehicle's engine has been overheating since the day I got it. Engine leaking oil. I had the transmission, head cover gasket, valve cover and water pump all repaired. Check engine light is still on and no mechanic can figure out why. Vehicle still overheats and leaks oil.”

   NHTSA complaint #11348871, filed 2020-08, 120,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission harsh shifting and loss of drive

   • 220 complaints (30%)
   • median 57,554 mi at 4.8 yrs old (169 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Complaints describe jerking or hard downshifts, high engine revs with little movement, hesitation before the car engages a gear, and occasional refusal to go into drive or reverse. Some owners report the transmission was removed and rebuilt or replaced after metal debris and control-module faults were found. Others say dealers reprogrammed the transmission software or found no codes and could not reproduce the concern. Reported from about 28,000 miles to beyond 130,000 miles, appearing at low speeds and when shifting from a stop or between drive and reverse.

   Recall 11V2730001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive from cold and note how the car engages drive and reverse and whether downshifts feel harsh. Ask for service records showing any transmission reprogramming, fluid service or rebuild, and check for transmission fluid leaks underneath.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my first new car in 2011 and the first year went great then everything changed after that. The car would idle a lot higher then it started jerking when I decelerated and accelerated like it had a hard time shifting into gears. Took it to the dealer in kalamazoo and they ran a diagnostic and came back with nothing. They even kept it for 3 weeks and weren't able to recreate it then as soon as I got it acted up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10511003, filed 2013-05, 28,000 miles

   “On february 17th, 2012 I purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze from a local dealership. Unbeknownst to me by july of 2014 my car would be in two different dealerships on five separate occasions for transmission problems. March 7th, 2013 (32,512 miles); repair: checked for codes, no transmission code; vehicle re-programmed with updated software. September 30th, 2013 (36,623 miles); repair: transmission removed, found metal contaminating pistons, TCM failure, transmission reassembled. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10618542, filed 2014-07, 32,512 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Coolant loss, overheating and engine replacement

   • 107 complaints (15%)
   • median 59,468 mi at 4.3 yrs old (88 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners report the temperature gauge climbing quickly, coolant reservoirs running empty, coolant leaking out visibly and the air conditioning cutting out with a high-temperature message. Mechanics reportedly find coolant mixing with oil, cracked ports or a failed water pump; in several cases owners were told the engine needed replacement. Some had the radiator, water pump, thermostat housing and coolant sensors replaced without the overheating going away. Reported from about 25,000 miles up to roughly 130,000 miles, sometimes within the first few years of ownership.

   What to check: Check the coolant level and its condition when cold, look for residue around the reservoir and hoses, and ask whether the water pump, thermostat housing or coolant sensors have been replaced. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a cooling-system pressure test is worth requesting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The 'AC off due to high engine temp' warning keeps coming on, the AC won't work and the temp gauge goes back to zero. We have had the engine coolant temp sensor replaced and the radiator temp sensor replaced also and we are still having this issue! Along with the dash and power steering goes out randomly while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11337079, filed 2020-07, 160,000 miles

   “Drove about 45 miles and parked vehicle. Noticed engine fan running hard, shut off vehicle and went into store. Returned to vehicle twenty minutes later turned on car, fan still running hard. Pushed onstar button to get diagnostic check. Engine error code found, advised to take to dealer to investigate. Started vehicle about ten minutes into drive, could smell coolant from engine and vehicle slowed and chimes came on with dash reading: engine overheated stop car and turn off engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10854841, filed 2016-04, 59,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Hesitation and delayed acceleration from a stop

   • 167 complaints (23%)
   • median 43,163 mi at 3.8 yrs old (139 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Complaints describe a delay between pressing the accelerator and the car moving, which owners say shows up when pulling out of parking lots or intersections. Some report the car lurching forward suddenly, dropping speed sharply when the accelerator is released, or losing power while driving with traction-control and check-engine lights on. Dealers reportedly replaced oxygen sensors or found no fault codes in some cases. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 130,000 miles, most often at low speed when accelerating from a stop.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During the test drive, note whether the car responds promptly when pulling away from a stop and whether any warning lights appear. Ask whether throttle-body or sensor work has been done and whether fault codes have been read recently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car is hesitating after stopping whether its a light or sign also has while in motion which almost got me hit! !t1here is also a burning smell at times! I have had it looked at within the month and they said it was a sensor , no-one seems to know what to do ! Bou8ght this car from honda in anderson indiana!! Its had problems the whole time I've had it1 ill never buy another Cruze”

   NHTSA complaint #11383175, filed 2020-12, 89,300 miles

   “The Cruze sputters or hesitates when braked or idling, the service traction control, services stabilitrak came on along with a flashing check engine light. I loose power and feel like I'm needing to press a lot harder on the gas to accelerate.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317469, filed 2020-03, 131,468 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pedal requires extra effort or goes to the floor

   • 93 complaints (13%)
   • median 41,397 mi at 3.4 yrs old (80 state mileage)
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2025

   Owners describe the brake pedal feeling firm and hard to depress, or sinking toward the floor before the car stops, in some cases during low-speed reversing or normal driving. Several complaints mention the power brake vacuum pump or booster check valve being diagnosed. Some owners were told their vehicle was not covered by, or had expired from, the brake-assist recall. Reported from near-new mileage up to around 100,000 miles, in everyday low-speed and reversing situations as well as at highway speed.

   Recall 13V360000

   What to check: Ask whether the brake-assist recall work (campaign 13V360000) was completed on this vehicle, and test the pedal feel at a stop with the engine running. Ask a mechanic to check the vacuum pump and check valve.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “New 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. 270 miles on odometer. Entering my garage and stepped on brakes and care would not stop. Release brake and reapplied and car stopped. Took to dealer who tested and found no problem but when technician was taking car into bay to install mudflaps problem re-occurred. Dealership kept car and ended up replacing a power booster check valve.”

   NHTSA complaint #10383221, filed 2011-02, 270 miles

   “The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 45 MPH, attempting to slow down the brakes began to lock. There was smoke coming from the dashboard of the vehicle. The driver pulled over and was able to stop the vehicle by applying excessive pressure to the brake pedal. The driver and the passenger of the vehicle were able to get out of the vehicle by kicking the doors to force them to open. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11320017, filed 2020-04, 188,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws a high volume of engine and transmission complaints, including oil leaks, coolant loss and shifting problems, so service records and a thorough pre-purchase inspection matter more than mileage alone. Check that any open recalls were completed and ask specifically about prior engine, cooling-system and transmission repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.