Chevy Cruze Reliability [How Reliable Are They?]

In terms of quality and reliability, the Chevy Cruze is one of the popular compact cars from General Motors Company. It has everything you need in a car – superb fuel economy, safety features, and a reliable track record. But how reliable is a Chevy Cruze?

The 2019 Chevy Cruze scores 85 out of 100 when it comes to quality and reliability, based on the data released by J.D. Power. It scores 83 out of 100 both in driving experience and in-dealership experience. In terms of depreciation forecast, it scores 78 out of 100. Overall, it has a favorable rating of 83 out of 100.

Read on to learn more about how reliable the Chevy Cruze is, including its pros and cons.

Chevy Cruze Reliability [How Reliable Are They?]

Chevy Cruze Reliability

According to the data released by J.D. Power, the 2019 Chevy Cruze scores 85 out of 100 when it comes to quality and reliability.

It scores 83 out of 100 both in-dealership experience and in the driving experience. In terms of depreciation forecast, it scores 78 out of 100. This makes its overall rating 83 out of 100.

Pros of Owning a Chevy Cruze

Chevrolet has always been a reliable automotive brand, and the Chevy Cruze is one of its popular products. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that contribute to the reliability of the Chevy Cruze. These include the following:

  1. Fuel Economy
  2. Cabin and Seats
  3. Diesel Engine Option
  4. Spacious Trunk
  5. Safety Features
  6. Infotainment System
  7. Size Convenience
  8. Style and Comfort
  9. Steering and Handling
  10. Affordability and Reliability

Let’s briefly discuss each item:

1. Fuel Economy

4-cylinder, Turbo, Gas Engine

If your top priority when buying a car is fuel economy, then you will never go wrong with the Chevy Cruze. It features a 4-cylinder, turbo, gas engine. This delivers 28 mpg when city driving and 38 mpg on the highway.

Diesel Engine

With the diesel engine, you will experience 31 mpg when city driving and 48 mpg when on the highway. The Chevy Cruze is a reliable car in terms of fuel economy.

2. Cabin and Seats

The cabin and seats of this Chevy vehicle are spacious and comfortable. Even the rear seats have spacious headroom and legroom. This allows the driver and passengers to enjoy their travel, whether short or long trips.

3. Diesel Engine Option

The Chevy Cruze is available with a gas and diesel engine. This option makes the Chevy Cruze stand out from other compact cars.

The diesel engine allows the Chevy Cruze to have a more efficient, more durable, and more reliable option. It has better acceleration and better fuel economy.

4. Spacious Trunk

For a compact car, it is impressive that the trunk or the hatchback area of the Chevy Cruze has a spacious cargo area. It can comfortably seat five passengers. There’s even enough room for tall and large adults.

5. Safety Features

Ten Airbags

The Chevy Cruze is one reliable, compact car with safety features. First, all models have ten airbags each.

StabiliTrak System

Second, all models have a StabiliTrak system. It offers not only stability and rollover protection. But it also has traction control.

Rearview Camera and Anti-lock Brakes

Third, the Chevy Cruze models have a rearview camera and anti-lock brakes. Upgrading the trim level will allow you to enjoy other perks, including:

  • Rear cross-traffic alert
  • Forward collision detection
  • Blind zone alerts
  • Parking assist

Additional Features for Premier Package

Also, if you will get the Premier package, your car will have additional features such as the following:

  • Distance indicator
  • A front pedestrian braking system
  • Lane-change alert

6. Infotainment System

The infotainment system is a standard feature of all Chevy Cruze models, consisting of the following:

  • WiFi hotspot
  • Bluetooth
  • 7-inch touchscreen

This system is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

7. Size Convenience

The size of the Chevy Cruze is just right. It is not bulky for a sedan, making it convenient to maneuver. Its size also makes it easy to fit in parking spaces.

Has Comfortable Interiors

Despite being smaller than other sedans, it still has comfortable interiors. At the same time, it has enough cargo space.

Size Varies

Its size varies, depending on the body style. But its length ranges between 175 and 184 inches to give you an idea. Its height ranges between 57 and 58 inches, while all models are 71-inch wide.

8. Style and Comfort

Excellent Suspension System

The comfort of riding the Chevy Cruze does not only result from its well-designed cabin. But it also has an excellent suspension system and smooth-running engine.

Modern and Sleek Interiors

The interiors are stylish, including the dashboard and the controls. Everything about the interiors is modern and sleek. There’s no denying that you will enjoy riding this car.

9. Steering and Handling

Turns and corners are convenient to handle with the Chevy Cruze. At the same time, steering is tight, responsive, and fun. It’s as if you are driving a sports car as you drive down the highway.

The diesel engine gives you that ultimate driving experience. It accelerates more efficiently and allows you to drive using a manual transmission system.

10. Affordability and Reliability

Chevy has been a reliable brand for so many years. That’s why the public has never been doubtful of the capabilities of the Cruze. Not to mention that the Cruze is not costly at all. This only means that you will get great value for money if you buy this compact car.

Again, is the Chevy Cruze a long-lasting, reliable car? The Chevrolet or Chevy Cruze has a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, putting it in 26th place out of 36 compact cars. Its average annual repair cost is $545. Also, it has average repair needs than competitors.

Cons of Owning a Chevy Cruze

is chevrolet cruze a reliable car

When it comes to the reliability of the Chevy Cruze, J.D. Power gave the 2019 model 85 points out of 100. In the previous years, it even earned 88 points out of 100. But this doesn’t mean that the Chevy Cruze did not receive its share of complaints.

Here are some of them:

  1. Engine Issues
  2. Transmission Issues
  3. Electrical Issues
  4. Coolant Issues
  5. Shifting Issues
  6. Water Pump Issues
  7. Steering Issues
  8. Broken Piston

Let’s briefly discuss them:

1. Engine Issues

Causes of Stalling Engine

Many 2018 Chevy Cruze owners complained of engine problems. They said their car engines would stall while in the middle of the road. There were different reasons why it could have happened. Some of it included:

  • Lack of fuel
  • Faulty sensors
  • A bad alternator

Some 2018 Chevy Cruze units emitted and sputtered smoke from the hood. There were also reports of engine failure.

Causes of Engine Failure

Engine failure may be due to the following:

  • A damaged cylinder
  • Metal shrapnel
  • Wrong fuel
  • A broken head gasket
  • Improper lubrication

2. Transmission Issues

Transmission issues were common with the 2011 Chevy Cruze:

  • Rattling noises before shifting to reverse
  • Car stuck in drive
  • Issues of sudden acceleration and slowing down

Causes

Such issues could be due to many factors:

  • A defective transmission solenoid
  • Low transmission fluid
  • Damaged clutch
  • A bad torque converter

3. Electrical Issues

Electrical issues were common in the 2016 Chevy Cruze. There were reports of units failing to start; some had illuminated check engine lights, while others had defective radios.

Causes

Common causes of these issues were:

  • Worn-out fuse
  • A bad alternator
  • Stuck relay
  • A dead battery

4. Coolant Issues

Reported issues with the 2011 Chevy Cruze included coolant leaks. Other reports involve white smote from the hood and an AC system that suddenly shuts off.

This issue, unfortunately, led to a proposed class-action lawsuit filed in 2014. In 2016, a motion to dismiss it was granted to General Motors.

5. Shifting Issues

Several owners of the Chevy Cruze between 2011 and 2016 complained about shifting issues. They claimed that the transmission would slip or shift hard when they had to change gears. This typically was due to faulty software. It could be easily corrected by resetting and updating the transmission.

6. Water Pump Issues

Chevy received water pump issues involving the 2014 Cruze. This resulted in overheating engines and broken head gaskets. The reasons for having a faulty water pump could be due to:

  • Damaged belts
  • A loose drive pulley
  • Bad seals

7. Steering Issues

With the 2014 Chevy Cruze, the commonly reported complaints involved steering issues. Some said their steering got stuck while driving fast on the highway.

Others noticed their car jerking every time they would return to power assist. What’s even more severe were complaints about total power steering loss.

8. Broken Piston

The 2017 Chevy Cruze had its share of customer complaints. The most common of all was having a cracked piston. This resulted in rough idling or power loss during acceleration.

Piston replacement typically costs $100, exclusive of labor costs.

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Frequently Asked Questions – How Reliable Are Chevy Cruze?

is chevy cruze a good car 2015

If you have a Chevy Cruze or are interested in getting one, here are some frequently asked questions. This will help you know more about the reliability of the Chevy Cruze:

Are Chevy Cruze Good Cars?

The data released by Consumer Reports showed that the Chevy Cruze scored 4.0 out of 5.0 in terms of reliability. This score places it above average in its class.

Is the Chevy Cruze a Long Lasting Reliable Car?

The Chevy Cruze is reliable and can last for more than a decade of service. If appropriately maintained and driven conservatively, it can even last for more than 250,000 miles.

Also, if you drive 15,000 miles every year, you can make it last for 15 years without experiencing any major car issues.

What Year of Chevy Cruze Is Best?

Chevy Cruze year models 2013 to 2015 are considered the best ones. They have more safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring systems and rearview cameras.

These enable them to earn a better reputation in terms of reliability.

Is a Chevy Cruze a Good First Car?

A Chevy Cruze is a powerful and reliable first car and has everything you need.

It is safe to use, has great mileage, and is cool to drive. Most of all, it is way more affordable than other cars in its class.

Why Is My Chevy Cruze Shaking?

There are several factors why the Chevy Cruze shakes at high speeds. It could be due to the following:

  • Loose lug nuts
  • Bad wheel bearing
  • Tire damage
  • Misaligned wheels
  • Unbalanced wheels
  • Faulty tire pressure
  • Worn steering parts
  • Broken suspension parts
  • A bad axle

Conclusion – Chevy Cruze Reliability

J.D. Power gave the 2019 Chevy Cruze an 85 out of 100. In dealership experience and driving experience, the score was 83 out of 100 each. In terms of depreciation forecast, it scores 78 out of 100. This makes its overall rating 83 out of 100.

Though Chevrolet received several customer complaints, the Chevy Cruze has always been regarded as one of the most reliable Chevrolet cars. And if you’re buying a car for the very first time, choosing the Chevy Cruze is not at all a bad decision.