2018 Chevrolet Cruze Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze report two broad themes: drivetrain complaints (clutch or flywheel, shifting and acceleration problems) and reports of braking that did not stop the vehicle as expected. Many reports arrive at low mileage, with some brake accounts under 30,000 miles and clutch accounts spread from around 12,000 to 65,000 miles, while a cluster of screen-brightness complaints appears within the first few thousand miles. Several complaints describe sudden, unannounced events such as stalling or a hard brake pedal; others describe gradual noise or vibration that grew over time.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Clutch pedal sticks to the floor (manual transmission)

   • 11 complaints (10%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2025

   Owners of manual-transmission cars describe the clutch pedal going to the floor and staying there, so the car cannot be shifted into or out of gear. In some reports vibration was felt through the pedal or throughout the car under acceleration, and a few accounts describe the flywheel or clutch assembly being replaced; one owner noted a diagnostic trouble code was stored after the event. Several owners mention that dealers replaced parts under powertrain warranty, while others say repairs were declined because of mileage. Scattered from roughly 12,000 to 65,000 miles, often during routine driving away from a stop; some reports include a car with no prior warning.

   What to check: On a manual car, work the clutch pedal repeatedly and feel for vibration or a slow return; ask whether the clutch, flywheel or slave cylinder has been replaced and keep paperwork. Check the powertrain warranty status, since several owners report repairs were only covered while in warranty.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving my 2018 chevy Cruze I had multiple instances where the clutch pedal would go to the floor and not release, and the transmission could not be shifted into gear. General motors has a technical service bulletin (TSB) on the issue stating that contamination of the hydraulic fluid causes the issue and it is only a warranty replacement for gasoline cars (the diesel models are not covered by the warranty in the TSB) if the car is still within the 5-year, 60,000 mile powertrain warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11360154, filed 2020-09, 51,000 miles

   “Manual transmission car. Clutch pedal began actuating much power in travel, eventually the pedal sticks to the floor. This prevents the shifter from being taking into or out of gear in normal fashion. Can either leave the car stranded in traffic or hinder efforts to stop in an emergent situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #11374640, filed 2020-11, 77,777 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes hard or brakes fail to stop the car

   • 21 complaints (19%)
   • median 48,350 mi at 2.5 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Complaints describe stepping on the brake and finding the pedal hard, low or unresponsive, with the car continuing forward into the vehicle ahead or requiring the parking brake to stop. A few owners report fluid leaking at a rear caliper or a brake hydraulic component being replaced, and one says the same problem returned after a repair. Owners describe these as happening during normal braking at highway and city speeds. Reported from about 5,000 to 52,000 miles, including cars with recent routine service.

   Recall 18V576000

   What to check: Test the pedal for firmness and travel on a test drive and look for fluid at the rear calipers and along the brake lines. Ask whether the rear brake caliper recall work was completed and whether the brake system has been flushed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was travelling on the interstate at about 50 MPH when traffic came to a sudden stop. I slammed on my brakes in plenty of time, but I rear-ended the van in front of me. At the time I thought I must have skidded into the van, but looking at the collision site later, there were no tire marks.”

   NHTSA complaint #11278566, filed 2019-11, 14,000 miles

   “Went to stop and pedal got hard to push down this has happened on 3 separate occasions the first time it was under warranty the 2nd time it happened I had amechanic fix it the 3rd time I took it to a Chevrolet dealer this shouldn't happen to a vehicle 15 months old”

   NHTSA complaint #11243403, filed 2019-08, 80,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Infotainment screen stays at full brightness at night

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 3,250 mi at 1.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2021

   Owners report the MyLink display staying at maximum brightness at night and not responding to the dimmer, which they say creates glare and reduces night vision. Several describe it resetting only after stopping the car and shifting into reverse to trigger the reverse camera, while reverse camera use also puts the screen at full brightness. A few say the dealer found the screen working normally, and one later report describes the touchscreen freezing on the startup screen. Mostly reported on cars under about 25,000 miles, at night and in dim lighting.

   What to check: Try the screen at night or in a dark garage and see whether the dimmer changes brightness; ask whether any software update was applied to the radio.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2018 display brightness issue night time driving the display is way to bright. Dimming lights with dimmer switch has no results. Display brightness is so distracting it blinds occupants of the vehicle. Contacting Chevrolet they displayed ignorance of the problem. A search of the internet provide multiple complaints of this problem on several model in addition to the cruise”

   NHTSA complaint #11142351, filed 2018-10, 5,000 miles

   “When shifting the gearbox from park to drive or from drive to park the infotainment screen will go to maximum brightness and can not be dimmed causing greatly reduced vision during night driving situations. If you stop in reverse and allow the rear camera to activate it will work normally. Dealer reports working normally.”

   NHTSA complaint #11326302, filed 2020-05, 23,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine stalls or cuts out while driving

   • 16 complaints (15%)
   • median 25,730 mi at 2.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning while driving, sometimes at highway speed, with the dash going dark or power steering assist dropping away. Restarting typically works after shifting to park and cycling the ignition, and several owners report no warning lights or stored codes. Others describe stalling while braking for a stop sign or light, and a few report misfiring or knocking traced to fuel injector problems. Mostly between about 11,000 and 47,000 miles, at both highway and city speeds and with no pattern tied to weather in the complaints.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the car has ever stalled or needed a restart, and have a scan for stored codes done even if no warning light is on; check for a security light on the dash at startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was 3 feet from turning left at intersection left lane turn (light had just turned green) through a intersection, when I noticed my engine was off. I rolled across the intersection; attempted to restart the car - car didn't start. The electricity in car was still on and normal. Coolant was at normal temp. Only radio was on low volume. No dashboard lights- nor messages appeared. Car wouldn't restart. Was stuck halfway in right (oncoming traffic) turn lane & half in business driveway. Put car in park & tried to turn on again. Nothing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11302608, filed 2020-01, 45,700 miles

   “While driving on the interstate at 60mph, without warning the engine turned off. The dash went completely dark. No power, no steering. Drifted to shoulder. Put in park, turned key to off then on. Vehicle started. (no warning or service codes) replicated again about 10 mins later. On city street traveling 35 MPH without warning dash went dark and car shut off. Same procedure to start. (no warning or service codes) unknown what caused massive failure. No indicators.”

   NHTSA complaint #11185508, filed 2019-03, 11,015 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shuddering or delayed acceleration when pulling away

   • 25 complaints (23%)
   • median 24,600 mi at 2.6 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the car hesitating or refusing to accelerate from a stop or at speed, then revving high and lurching forward, and some report jerking back and forth while holding a steady speed. Several say dealers found nothing wrong because the computer stored no fault, and one report describes the engine cutting power and the steering wheel shaking at highway speed. Another owner said the dealer diagnosed turbo lag and reset the engine control module without fixing the symptom. Reported from about 5,000 to 59,000 miles, both from a stop and at highway speed.

   Recall 20V668000

   What to check: During a test drive, accelerate from a stop and at steady highway speed and watch for hesitation, lurching or vibration; ask whether the transmission has been serviced and whether the start/stop accumulator recall work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I go to brake at a light, and I release my foot of the break . And my car stalled. I put into park. Than put it back in drive and I tried to accelerate and my car didnt budge... I had to turb my car on and off for it to work again... This has been happening”

   NHTSA complaint #11383270, filed 2020-12, 56,000 miles

   “I have the vehicle service for the 30,000 miles flush on january 21,2019. On january 29th I was on the freeway in morning traffic heading north on the 110 when at 25 miles I made a sudden stop due to the car imfront of me. My car didn't stop and slammed into the car in front of me. My car was reported to be two days later as a total loss. I'm grateful my kids, sister and I weren't injured. Just doesn't make sense after just paying almost $500 a week before for servicing.”

   NHTSA complaint #11181271, filed 2019-02, 28,561 miles

Buying note. Check the clutch pedal feel and the brake pedal on any manual car, since those are the two issues owners report most often, and confirm that open recalls for the rear calipers and the start/stop accumulator have been performed. A scan for stored codes and a night-time check of the infotainment screen take only a few minutes and cover problems that otherwise show up intermittently.

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.