2011 Chevrolet Cruze Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

257Engine complaints

35.2%Of all 731 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE257 · 35.2%

POWER TRAIN173 · 23.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM90 · 12.3%

Unspecified / other75 · 10.3%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)75 · 10.3%

Share of the 731 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze overview page.

What owners report

“HESITATION AT ANY SPEED, HAD TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME THING AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE, TOOK TO DEALER ON OCT 4TH AND DEALER…”NHTSA complaint 10480903 — filed 10/17/2012

“ONCE AGAIN MY CAR HAS AN ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE FIRST WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I WAS…”NHTSA complaint 10475871 — filed 09/18/2012

“I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AS A PRESENT FOR MY FATHER. AFTER GETTING IT HOME, (DRIVING IT HOME WAS ALL HIGHWAY), HE DROVE IT AROUND THE…”NHTSA complaint 10471315 — filed 08/17/2012

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze: 257 of 731 complaints on file (35.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze have in total?

731 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 38 involved a crash, 20 involved a fire, 39 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.