2015 Chevrolet Cruze Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on engine cooling and drivability problems — coolant loss and overheating, rough running, stalling, and reduced power — with a separate cluster of electrical complaints in which dashboard warnings and accessories flicker, power steering drops out, or the car won't start. Many reports describe the symptoms appearing gradually over repeated trips and recurring after repairs, and several owners say the dealer could not reproduce the problem.

1. 1
   Engine

   Coolant loss and overheating

   • 59 complaints (23%)
   • median 63,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe coolant disappearing from the reservoir, sometimes leaving puddles on the ground, and dashboard messages urging them to turn off the A/C or idle the engine because of high temperature. Some were told the water pump or its housing had failed, and several reports mention thermostat replacement, a leaking hose, or a head gasket after the coolant issue returned. A number of owners question why the water pump issue covered on earlier model years does not extend to their car. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 110,000 miles, often after the car had been in service for a few years.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant reservoir level and look for dried residue or staining around the water pump, hoses and thermostat housing, and ask whether the water pump has been replaced. Confirm the cooling system holds pressure on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving, overheat alarm activated. Arrow on hot. Message said turn off A/C idle engine. I turned off A/C and placed into neutral. Hot arrow went down. I pulled over. Turned car off for 15 seconds. Restarted. Drove home with A/C off for 5 miles with no problems. At home. Engine not hot. Fluid level. Ok. I looked online and found 119 complaints for same issue for same model year and dozens for other years. Why no recall?”

   NHTSA complaint #11218759, filed 2019-06, 80,000 miles

   “Same overheating issues as mentioned in 2011-2014 water pump recall. All 2015+ models need to be included in recall. I have paid a lot to have issue fixed but car is still overheating. Please update and include 2015 models in recall. I don't feel safe driving my car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11324857, filed 2020-05, 107,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Rough running, stalling and loss of power

   • 62 complaints (25%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (50 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe shuddering at stop lights, jerking and sputtering on acceleration, and the engine losing power or cutting out at speed, often with the check engine light on. Reported codes include a lean fuel condition and misfires; owners say mechanics pointed to a leaking PCV valve or valve cover, a faulty turbocharger or bypass valve, or intake and vacuum leaks. Several report repeat visits with the same symptom returning. Spread from about 40,000 to 110,000 miles, with several reports in the 60,000-90,000 mile range.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for any stored engine codes and whether the PCV valve, valve cover, turbocharger or intake parts have been replaced. Feel for hesitation or shaking during a steady-speed and stop-and-go test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car has been shaking, low idle, when at a stop light I have to put it in neutral and push gas pedal to keep it from staling. When light turns green it won't go even though I am pushing the gas pedal. I'm to scared to drive it anymore. I have had to get it fixed too many times to count.”

   NHTSA complaint #11382792, filed 2020-12, 70,000 miles

   “I was crossing a highway when my 2015 chevy Cruze started to shake violently and experienced a loss in power, the engine warning light was then displayed across my dash, I managed to limp it home and then took it to the mechanics the next day. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11322566, filed 2020-04, 56,597 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Flickering warning lights, stalling and no-start

   • 60 complaints (24%)
   • median 42,250 mi at 3.8 yrs old (46 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the radio and interior lights blinking off and on, gauges dropping, and messages such as Service Stabilitrak, Service Traction Control and Service Power Steering appearing intermittently, sometimes with the power steering briefly cutting out. Some owners report the engine dying or a no-start condition that clears after the car sits, and a few say the engine control module was replaced, in one case more than once. Reported from very low mileage (under 10,000 miles) up to about 110,000 miles, with no clear seasonal pattern.

   Recall 16V5020003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery cables and terminals have been checked or replaced, and whether any control module or wiring repairs were done. Watch the dash for flickering lights or stored warning messages during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Stereo blinks on and off, while driving or putting the windows up or down or even sitting at a stop light. Dash lights below the stereo blink on and off. Stabili track light, ABS light blink on and off. Warning lights on the dash flash. Blinkers turn off intermittently. This needs to be a recall!!!!! I'm not the only having issues like this. We don't spend 1000's of dollars for garbage. I can't afford to keep fixing this thing!”

   NHTSA complaint #11363507, filed 2020-10, 93,750 miles

   “Since owning my new 2015 Cruze I have had several concerns which have not been addressed of fixed by the technicians the list is: while traveling down the road my radio system has blacked out; shut off and restarted itself; it happens every other time I am in the car, sometime it happens several time on a long drive. I have also experience drifting of the car when traveling down the highway; when I correct the drift the steering wheel is stiff and causes an over correction pulling me the other direction. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10864569, filed 2016-05, 20,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, delayed or lost drive

   • 40 complaints (16%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the car jerking or shuddering in motion, hesitation when the accelerator is pressed, and occasional loss of drive where engine speed rises without the car moving. In some reports the symptoms came with stability-control or transmission warnings, and dealers were said to attribute the throttle delay to normal operation. Mostly between about 55,000 and 110,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test from a stop and at low speed for shudder or delay, and ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether any shift complaints were diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car acts as if it is going to stall out at 20mph, it is automatic and the car jerks violently when in motion and can be on and off. My first code that popped up was for a misfire, the second for servicing the traction control system. This happens when the vehicle is in motion and goes over 15mph. Once I get to the desired speed it'll stop jerking as bad but if I slow down a little and speed back up it starts all over again and does not feel like pushing the accelerator is making the car move at all. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11344009, filed 2020-08, 83,000 miles

   “Car is in for service for 3rd time -- intermittent electrical problem causing loss of transmission (I.e. Revs then drops in and out of gear); driver display warnings include service stabilitrak, service power steering, service transmission. Power door locks also operate on their own. Instrument cluster gauges will drop towards their off position, then resume normal position during these events. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10846268, filed 2016-03, 6,400 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a collision

   • 18 complaints (7%)
   • median 55,774 mi at 3.9 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2023

   Several owners report that the airbags did not deploy in front-end impacts, including one case where the vehicle was totaled and another where warning indicators suggested deployment had occurred. Complaints describe the collision circumstances and the absence of any airbag warning beforehand; dealers and the manufacturer were not always contacted. Reported at mileages from roughly 16,000 to 56,000 miles, in everyday driving conditions.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag system has been scanned for stored fault codes and whether the vehicle has any open safety campaigns; a pre-purchase inspection that includes an airbag system check is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was rear ended by a driver traveling over 45mph while I was at a full stop. This impact slammed my vehicle into the truck infront of mine, and should have caused the airbags to deploy. Despite the onboard computer alerting me that they had, no airbags in the car deployed. There was however a distinct odor and white powder present, leading me to believe they may have attempted to.”

   NHTSA complaint #11123230, filed 2018-08, 16,191 miles

   “I was driving and was stopped at a stop light. When the light turned green I proceeded to excel forward. The car was only going between 10-15 miles per hour when without hitting or curbing anything my tire blew. Right after the tire blew all (6) six of my airbags deployed. When the airbags deployed the car quickly filled with smoke like air. The airbags caused me to not be able to see and I steered the car off the side of the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11073000, filed 2018-02, 55,774 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic check the cooling system, look for stored engine and body codes, and verify the battery cable and any open safety campaigns before purchase. Owners' reports suggest routine maintenance history and a thorough test drive matter more than mileage alone on this model year.

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.