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CarComplaints.com Notes: What’s that smell – it’s a tad sweet with a tinge of chemical toxicity? If you own a 2011 Cruze it’s probably a coolant leak. It’s a widespread and notorious problem for the car and is the subject of a class-action lawsuit filed in the state of New York. And that’s not the only problem 2011 owners face…

Many say the 2011 model year suffers from a throttle lag that is probably due to a fauly electronic throttle control. The problem is signifigant enough that some owners say they are too scared to drive their cars. Those that do get behind the wheel often say their transmission isn’t shifting properly and problems start occuring as early as 15,000 miles.

All of this leads us to say you’re probably better off without this car’s headaches (they’re probably chemically-induced anyway).

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze Owner Comments

problem #9

Aug 292017

Cruze

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The chrome covering over my interior door handles started peeling back. I noticed this when I went to open my drivers side front door and the sharp plating sliced my finger open. After doing some research online this seems to be a common problem, and to me a safety concern. At least it was my finger sliced open rather than one of my children's.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #8

Jan 152017

Cruze

  • 83,000 miles
Accident, on Jan 15 2017, vehicle was turning into a restaurant parking lot from a highway and hit by a F150 pickup on the front end and whole passenger side, going about 15 mph and other vehicle was traveling 50mph, none of the 10 air bags deployed, have shoulder injury 3 days following accident, vehicle was towed to collison, shop & was made aware that the frame of the vehicle from front end to rear was shattered, the vehicle was moving and turning into a business, the insurance company deemed that the vehicle was totaled. No air bags ever deployed, if there were a passenger they would have died.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #7

Mar 102016

Cruze

  • 45,000 miles
The chrome plating on both the front driver and passenger interior door handles started to peel off which created sharp edges on the handles in which I and others have cut ourselves on. I had to chip some of the chrome plating off and wrap the handles with tape to prevent myself and my kids from getting cut on the peeling chrome finish.

- Brook Park, OH, USA

problem #6

Feb 292016

Cruze

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The interior crome overlays of the door handles at the seam overlay is peeling back acusing a sharp and a cutting hazard. Everytime youopen the door it poses a threat to get cut deeply

- Carthage, TN, USA

problem #5

Sep 102015

Cruze

  • miles
I was injured in accident.... hit a stationary vehicle.... there's significant damage to my vehicle...my airbags did not deploy... I am suffering from a severe cervical strain, severe neck sprain with inflation causing severe headaches, a severe upper and lower back sprain with inflammation casing pressure on my sciatic nerve... I cannot lift, bend, stand, sit, lie down for long periods of time, I even have to have help just too bathe.. I believe that had deployed... my injuries were not have been so severe.

- Anderson, SC, USA

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problem #4

Apr 272014

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 29,000 miles
Vehicle was traveling at slow speed coming up to a light when the brakes were applied, and there was no response to the brakes resulting in an accident with two other cars. There was damage done to the car in front due to the collision. We took the car in for a routine maintenance and found that there was a recall on the brakes. They replaced the brake pressure switch and that has fixed the problem. We noticed from the very beginning, that at slow speeds, it required way too much pedal to stop the car. There is a third party involved in the wreck who may seek body injury.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #3

Feb 032014

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 53,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the lift gate would sporadically and independently open. The instrument panel light indicator illuminated each time the failure occurred indicating that the lift gate was ajar. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53000.

- Orange, MA, USA

problem #2

May 172012

Cruze

  • miles
I was involved in a front end (mostly drivers side of car) collision where a person ran a red light. Both of our vehicles where going between 40 to 50 mph. On impact of my car no airbags deployed. My head hit the steering wheel and side window. After having it towed to the dealership where I bought it for repairs I mentioned this to the mechanics. I was told that the car had to be hit in certain spots before the airbags deploy! seriously? I do not feel safe in this car knowing that if I am involved in a serious accident the airbags may not be there to save my life! and to think that is one reason why I purchased the car was the fact it had high safety standards! absurd.

- Ennis, TX, USA

problem #1

Mar 012013

Cruze

  • 72,000 miles
The chrome coating on the inside drivers side plastic door handle is failing. The edges of the chrome where it has separated from the plastic are razor sharp and have caused multiple fairly deep lacerations to my fingers when opening the door. I inquired at the dealer about them replacing the part under warranty because its causing me injury despite my cautiousness while opening the handle, they told me it wasn't covered and would be an expensive fix due to the labor involved. My second complaint is the heat works intermittently and when taken to the dealer, they said I had a cracked thermostat housing which would be covered under warranty. They did not fix it however and simply refilled my antifreeze and said they would call me to have it fixed when the part came in....that was almost two weeks ago.

- Trenton, GA, USA

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