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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:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,803 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze Owner Comments (Page 5 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #85

Mar 172016

Cruze

  • 45,000 miles

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

When I was driving home from work I noticed the check engine light came on.then after that the transmission slipped.this was on a city street.I managed to roll it to the side of the road.after that I put it in park then drive and reverse and it wouldn't grab. So I turned it off and back on after a few minutes and it was fine for the moment but slipped on my twice after that but managed to make it home a mile away.took it to the mechanic the next day, who towed it to transmission specialist, who tells me I need another transmission put

- Elizabeth, NJ, USA

problem #84

Mar 112016

Cruze

  • 59,352 miles
I own a 2011 Cruze it has had a slew of problems, trans cell blown, water pumps replaced, trans reprogramed, turbo replaced and much more, now the valve body in the trans is bad car has less than 60K and I have mentioned the trans issue since 20K in which I was told I was crazy by dealership and no recall has been issued for this. I do not think GM should be allowed to sell the Cruze anymore this car is a death trap waiting to happen just like the cobalt. I am fustrated and fed up. Service department is a joke. And the Cruze has over 24,000 complaints regarding all the same issues and nothing is nothing being done about the trans issue. Dealer opened up my trans today and found clogged 1 and 2 cellinoid and clogged screen as well as broken clip causing hesitation, hard shifting and valve body movement. I think this matter should be further investigated.

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #83

Mar 042016

Cruze

  • 52,123 miles
My car has a check engine light and I took it to dealer they do not know what the code is, its P057C and I was driving on highway going 70 and car all of a sudden loses power went from 70mph to 5mph in a split second almost got rear ended by a semi truck I am afraid to drive my car for my safety. Dealer wants hundreds of dollars just to try and figre out the issue but after diagnostic they still have no clue. So thir plan was to dissect my car like a science project and maybe fix it. They want the car for a week and do not offer any loaner cars. Chevrolet northridge dealership California. Today 03/04/16 driving to work going 40mph and get to a red light, it turned green I hit the gas and the car just revs and wont go more than 5pmh. I had to pull over and turn car on and off 2 times before I could get to work. And got there late because of this. And again almost got rear ended. I press the gas and the car revs as if it is idling. Please make this a recall and help get this fixed. Its going to be a reason why a driver loses their life. This is a true emergency since it just feels like the car has a mind of its own. And dealer does not know what to do. Please please help!

- Woodland Hills, CA, USA

problem #82

Mar 022016

Cruze

  • 140,000 miles

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

My 2011 Chevy Cruze is not shifting properly while accelerating. It is most noticeable while accelerating rapidly on an entrance ramp, it jerks and does not accelerate properly. It makes you wander if it is going to stop working. I have also had a lag in regular shifting. These problems were addressed by my local Chevy three times while under warranty and it resulted in rebuilding my transmission. I am now out of warranty and having the exact same issues that it took them three times to fix. I have had this car at the dealer to often since purchasing it. I have also had the air conditioner compressor and fan replaced and all recalls performed. I will never buy another Chevy Cruze. I do have records of my repairs.

- Marshfield, MO, USA

problem #81

Oct 012015

Cruze

  • 40,000 miles
Driving at 25mph and slow down to go over a speed bump around 5mph when trying to accelerate after the transmission starts to slip trying to pick a gear had transmission service fluid was black not red

- Lacey, WA, USA

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problem #80

Feb 122016

Cruze

  • 58,435 miles
While driving power reduction message flashed, service esp flashed..power was drastically reduced..had to pull off road, shut off vehicle for several minutes and restart.has happened several times.highly dangerous problem

- Verona, PA, USA

problem #79

Dec 092015

Cruze

  • 40,000 miles

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

In addition to two complaints filed about this vehicle already. The U.S has no concern for human life in the U.S and is allowing white supremacy to endanger minority drivers and other drivers. The testing of satellite radiological dispersal weapons and remote control systems involving, hacking, backdoor access, remote control, surveillance and vehicle compromise persists. On 12/10/15 and 12/09/15 the vehicle was halted by force from a satellite tracking the vehicle. Ample evidence of electrical problems in the car, cellphone tracking and home tracking is available. A federal lawsuit was filed and dismissed without reason of cause to further the hate crime. On these two days I was driving the vehicle one again, and lost control over the vehicle steering and throttle. The issue occurs at stop signs to cause an accident there or at a intersection. The vehicle is purposely tampered with during transit to cause loss of control and throttle. The vehicle throttle is gone, the gas peddle goes limp and the engine stops throttle for a duration. The engine then kicks in full force after a series of hard sputters on throttle jerking the car forward up a hill or into to a stop. I was in highland NY leaving a plaza, where this occurs, and other intersections with lights

- New Paltz, NY, USA

problem #78

Aug 172015

Cruze

  • 39,844 miles
Have had repeated issues with service stabilitrak light coming on while driving and then power being reduced to vehicle, causing unsafe driving conditions; following recall to reprogram computer engine fan ran continually for days; car died when startong, dealer replaced computer tried to return with check engine light on, now stabilitrak issue has recurred again. Not confident that dealership has any clue what is really wrong with this car. The dealership's most recent guess is that something is wrong with the transmission but that they are getting a code they don't recognize.

- Lexington, MI, USA

problem #77

Sep 222015

Cruze

  • 39,000 miles
I try to start my car and the car will struggle to start or sometimes not turn over at all and no warning lights on the dashboard pop up. I had recieved a recall notice in the mail a couple of months ago about the power train. When I read up on in it said it may make the car not restart. Now if I turn the ignition to where all the lights pop up & put the car in neutral, the car will start up easier for me. I no longer have the notice and am wondering what I should do. When I type in my VIN # it say it doesnt have any open recalls, yet I recieved a notice.

- Clinton, MD, USA

problem #76

May 122015

Cruze

  • 65,000 miles
It slips out of gear and shifts hard trying to find the right gear

- Perryopolis, PA, USA

problem #75

Apr 062015

Cruze

  • 59,937 miles

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

While driving the vehicle the engine light came on. The car only has $60,000 on it but we took it in because the engine would just randomly stop and the car would stall. The vehicle when brought into the dealership, had been inspected and the car was missing parts. The intake manifold non return valve was missing. There was a vacuum leak at the PCV orifice external port. Water pump was leaking from bolt holes and cover plate. Coolant leak was found even though a few months prior to the leak, Chevy "fixed" the recalled item. I believe that the vehicle has many faulty parts and this is the second time I have written a complaint about this company using faulty parts in there manufacturing process.

- Gilberts, IL, USA

problem #74

Feb 112015

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
Never had any problems with this vehicle indicating that this would suddenly happen but it did. I would heat up my car in the morning and the reduced engine light would come on, I would turn the car off and then back on in a couple of minutes and it would drive fine. This happened a few times but then I was driving about 55 mph and then all of a sudden the engine and stabilitrac light comes on and says reduced engine power and the car slows down about 5 mph immediately. This occurred 3 times on my way home that is normally only a 10 minute drive, the very next morning it did it again when starting it up in the morning to take it to the dealership. This happens in the middle of traffic and thankfully did not cause an accident but it could if this would of happened on the expressway. There are several complaints on this issue with the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze on the complaint forums about the throttle body (dealership confirmed this issue). This is very dangerous!

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #73

Feb 212015

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 119,981 miles
My Chevrolet dealer informed me that my 2011 Chevy Cruze has a leak in the transmission oil cooler lines. Is there or will there be a recall for this problem. I noticed (NHTSA campaign number:14V152000) the Chevy Silverado, Suburban, Sierra, Tahoe, and Yukon had a recall for transmission cooler line issues. Please let me know if/when Chevrolet will reimburse for the replacement and repair for this health and safety issue(potential vehicle fire). Thank you for your attention regarding this matter.

- Hillsborough, NJ, USA

problem #72

Feb 032014

Cruze

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that after reversing and putting the vehicle into drive, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.

- Salem , AR, USA

problem #71

Feb 192015

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact also stated that the lost power, the electronic stability control, and the service traction control warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the throttle body control needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000. Updated 04/10/15 the consumer stated the dealer advised the throttle body needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted but did not offer any assistance. Updated 11/5/2015

- Girard, PA, USA

problem #70

Feb 062015

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
The vehicle stopped moving while cruising on the highway. The clutch and the flywheel stopped working randomly causing the vehicle to stop accelerating. Brought to two separate dealers who say we have to replace the parts. Very concerned this is a faulty part, not worn out from the driver.

- Gilberts, IL, USA

problem #69

Feb 052015

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 53,480 miles
While driving I lost engine power and had no foot throttle. The check light came on that stated reduced engine power and check stabilatrak. Shutting car off and restart did not fix. My car would not go over 4mph and I was nearly rear ended.

- Farmdale, OH, USA

problem #68

Jan 012015

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 28,000 miles
The Chevrolet Cruze 2011 is compromised by hacking and tampering and allows for the endangerment of the drive, other motor vehicle drivers or pedestrians. The radio antenna will sound off and constantly make a roaming noise as if being accessed. This is at every stop sign and every stop light or every destination reached by gps markers. The Cruze system is allowing the 24/7 tracking when it is used and tampering with the intent to cause malfunction or annoyance. The throttle is being cut off deliberately at stop signs, and traffic lights and destinations, the radio antenna will constantly make a roaming noise "searching or access". the vehicle is deliberately being used for stalking blacks for hate crimes while testing out vehicle halting systems by clearly satellite. This has happened 100 or so times in the 3 year I have had the vehicle and there is no remedy. When other persons use my own vehicle these issue do not arise and I have confirmed this with other owners, my vehicle is a unique occurrence that involves also a hate crime in public, police stalking, law enforcement stalking, home stalking and tampering of all electronic devices I own or use in my home. This car is not safe and the throttle cut offs are deliberate and specific. The throttle as I said already is cut off at a stop sign or mid acceleration with the intent to remove operator control and halt the vehicle. The lights are turned on and off on their own on one occasion. I have had other people test the car, these things do not occur even while I am in the passenger side. Only when I am the sole individual driving the vehicle alone is the throttle cut off and the lights tampered with including the antenna for stalking and tracking where I go. This is my second filing to address white supremacy under the color or law that interferes with personal property and use and control of property.

- New Paltz, NY, USA

problem #67

Oct 152014

Cruze

  • 101,300 miles
I was pulling out of a gas station, use to my normal power and almost got hit because my car wouldn't go over 15mph floored. Then looked down and saw a engine power is reduced, service stabili trak and service traction control. So I took to a mechanic he hooked it up and the code showed up as my throttle body position sensor. They replaced it and drove it and it drove fine for about two weeks. I was just going down the road then all of a sudden my car did the same thing. I lost power so fast that I about got rear ended. Took it back to the body shop and showed the same code so they replaced the part again. And two days after all this my car is doing this again. This is extremely dangerous at how it looses engine power. It looses it so fast that someone can get hurt extremely bad.

- Rutledge , TN, USA

problem #66

Oct 182014

Cruze

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle started jerking and the contact was unable to shift gears. The engine stalled and was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

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