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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:
5 / 13
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,624 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze Owner Comments (Page 4 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #183

Jan 262019

Cruze

  • 50,000 miles

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

It's been one year and my Chevy Cruze has overheated twice. The first time the thermostat was wrong along with the thermo pipe that needed to be replaced. And now similar issue is happening where my car smells funny, I turn the heat in and the car will start to over heat and never warm the car.

- Gatineau, MI, USA

problem #182

Jan 152019

Cruze

  • 168,000 miles
While driving on highway a message saying reduced engine power came on and vehicle would not accelerate. Also the service traction control light came on with it and service stabilitrak came on as well.

- Guys Mills, PA, USA

problem #181

Dec 062017

Cruze

  • 82,000 miles
The Chevrolet Cruze's water coolant outlet has cracked three times now. This is a plastic piece that cracks under heat and leaks radiator fluid.

- Clifton, NJ, USA

problem #180

Nov 132018

Cruze

  • 91,500 miles

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

The car engine has shut off twice in 2 weeks while making a right turn on an incline. I slowed down to make the turn/curve and then stepped on the gas and the car died. The dash and radio stay on, but no power to engine. No service lights stay lite on the dash. You have to turn the key off, put in park, open door so radio turns off, give a min and restart. The first time I was pulling off a side road onto a busy road, but I didn't do a complete stop because traffic was clear. I was going 10-15mph. The second time I was on a side road going about 25-30 mph. It was just a mildly sharp curve.

- Nashotah, WI, USA

problem #179

Nov 192018

Cruze

  • 77,150 miles
No reimbursement for same issue, same error code. If I'm being told by different body shops that they continually see the same issue with Chevy Cruze's, being the loss of turbo boost. Shouldn't it be a part of the recall for 2013&14 or at least be made a recall itself. Mine is a 2011 with the same error code read as the recall with 2013's. my turbo was replaced right before thanksgiving. Happy holidays smh!

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #178

Nov 162018

Cruze

  • 80,000 miles
Direct impact with 1200 pound cow while driving on a state highway, the airbag did not deploy. Entire car engulfed in flames as the engine immediately started fire. Totalled. Why didn't the airbag deploy? serious injury. Serious safety issue. I have purchased 2 Cruze's because of the safety features. This is so not safe and so unacceptable

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #177

Nov 022018

Cruze

  • 87,500 miles

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

While driving the engine totally looses power and the entire car is shut off and comes to a stop. Lots of electrical messages show up, and sometimes the key cannot come out of ignition. After an hour, sometimes it will restart. I have had it towed three times to the dealer. At first they thought it was the negative battery cable, but its still has the problem. Starting to not be able to trust this car as its a hazard to drive not knowing when it will cut out and just stop with no power to even have windows roll up.

- Saint Peters, MO, USA

problem #176

Jun 122016

Cruze

  • 120,000 miles
Loosing antifreeze, constantly overheating and may have blown head gasket in motion and sitting still. I am very dissatisfied with the purchase of this car! it has been nothing but trouble and very costly buying antifreeze once a week at $20 a jug for half and half. I hope and pray that this engine will be recalled!!!

- Orleans, IN, USA

problem #175

May 012016

Cruze

  • 65,000 miles
2016 ECM reprogramming recall ever since I brought my car in for the recall in 2016 to have the ECM reprogrammed, I have had severe issues with very rough idling, slow acceleration, and inconsistent fuel usage. Check engine light comes on and lists several sensors that need to be replaced. We replaced all of them and the problem still comes back. Now the codes indicate there is a catastrophic issue with the ECM and Chevy will not cover it even though this issue started from their own recall.

- Crest Hill, IL, USA

problem #174

Apr 012017

Cruze

  • 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to courtesy Chevrolet (1233 E camelback rd, phoenix, AZ 85014, (602) 457-3232) for diagnostic testing where the contact was informed that the intake manifolds and PCV valve needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned that the vehicle had to be repaired twice for this failure within a 45,000 to 50,000 mile range. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #173

Aug 152018

Cruze

  • 104,000 miles

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

We have had an issue with a chemical smell when the defrost is on since we purchased the vehicle in September 2015. When taken back to the dealership, they could not find any reason for the smell. It fogs the windshield with a film, causes headaches and light headedness. It is what I believe to be the smell of coolant burning, but nothing was ever found so we just continued to drive it. On 8/15/2018, the fan kicked on very high, we received the ac was being shut off error due to the temperature and the check engine light came on. The very odd thing about this is that the temperature never showed it was high. The gauge showed 1 line over half towards the hot side. Got it home and let it cool down and realized the coolant reservoir was empty. I refilled it and the fan went back to running as it normally would. I decided to check it again today and the reservoir was empty again. I have not had it looked at again yet, but I think maybe the initial coolant issue just became a larger one. I have seen multiple people complain of both of these issues. Has there not been any recall for this? I am going to have it looked at again but I feel like for the amount of people with these issues with this year of Cruze something should have been done by now to resolve this.

- Christopher, IL, USA

problem #172

Jun 042018

Cruze

  • 109,000 miles
I put $20 in gas in the vehicle on my way to work. When I pulled out into traffic, the car jerked violently, then proceeded to buck and idle funny all the way till I got to work. From that day till now, everytime I stop at a red light or stop sign, it stalls unless I keep gas petal pressed down.

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #171

Apr 172018

Cruze

  • 100,000 miles
Vehicle was on highway going to lexington ky from louisville ky. Car begin to smoke. Hose that was supposedly fixed on radiator was rigged and oil spilled from the hose causing it to go into engine. Engine overheated while driving on highway. Engine died. Had to get car towed from one city to the next. Got stranded in another town because could not obtain a rental car because they were closed. Since 2016 I have spent over $7000 on getting the same issues or related issues fixed. I have spent over $5000 in rental cars and I still owe $9000 on my car which I purchased from bales automall/bachman in jeffersonville Indiana in 2014 with on 28,000 miles. I have kept my services up to date on the vehicle and have documentation for that. It seems once I begin to get oil changes at this location my car begin to decline. I would be told that I had one problem, they would fix it, and then something else would happen. In addition, I have a witness who is a family member who is experiencing the same problems with the same year and model car that she owns. I see her going through the same down spiral steps with her car as I did. It is almost like clockwork. I have read consumer reports about these vehicles and none have been positive. In fact, many who have a turbo engine will or have experienced this same issue. The car is a lemon... it needs to be recalled!! it is unfair that I purchased a car that was no good and that only ran good for two years before having to replace the turbo twice and the engine. Let me reiterate.. I still owe $9000 on this car. At this point I am clueless and I feel as if I was taken advantage of. When I reported this to the BBB;GMC and other sources they led me on for weeks knowing that they would not assist in the matter. Because of this whole fiasco I have anxiety in which I am taking medication. Please help dont know what to

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #170

May 082018

Cruze

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. When releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle abruptly jerked and shook. When the brake pedal was completely released, the vehicle jerked with force and shook. The contact had to wait a few seconds for the vehicle to stop jerking and shaking in order to engage the accelerator pedal. The failure was experienced everyday and the stability control, traction control, and check engine indicators illuminated during the failure. The failure normally occurred when the vehicle was driven 42 mph or less. However, when driving 55 mph or more, the failure was not experienced. After the jerking and shaking would end, the vehicle took a few minutes to reach 55 mph or more. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.

- Farrell, PA, USA

problem #169

Mar 082018

Cruze

  • 81,569 miles
My 2011 Chevy cruz the turbo went out on it replace the turbo replace the manifold replaced the line that goes into the oil pan I have a vacuum leak somewhere I can't find a vacuum leak there sounds like something is burning underneath the seats and sometimes it is hard to shift it doesn't shift right.also the lights on the front they flicker and blank the seatbelts don't like to come out when you clicki was driving down the road one day I was trying to get out on the expressway coming off of the ramp trying to get spayed and there was no power and didn't want to go any faster by the time I got home it sounded like it was whistling and no power at all the turbos fix brand new the manifold brand new it's all brand new white next to his car is giving me a problem after problem

- New Castle, PA, USA

problem #168

Feb 092018

Cruze

  • 31,000 miles
It's been going off and on every since I first got the car I smell a burning smell and it loses power is stalls and the dealership keep telling me it's just air getting into it but I know it's my turbo because my neighbor has one her turbo went out and I have two other friends that has one and both their turbo went out and now it's making a knocking noise and everyone that I have look at it say it's the turbo it's the wastegate I don't drive my car much and only has 26,000 miles on it because I'm afraid to drive it I've had it fixed more than 10 times it had a oil leak where would catch on fire but the dealership put turbo fans in instead of giving me a new motor so it's still flames up from the oil pan but they say the turbo fans is going to blow the fire out so it's not going to hurt me but I don't drive it far because I'm scared when it gets hot that's going to catch on fire and nobody would give me anything for it that's why I still have the car but I'm willing to just take a big loss and just let them have it back the doors open without touching the car with the electrical system the lights are just go out in the dash just random so I can't drive it at night I hope you can see the oil on the pictures it just shoots all over the place and when I take it to the dealership they say the recall is not on my car they have a recall on the turbo and the vacuum system but they run my VIN number and say it's not on my car when I first got this car it was quiet it caught on fire from an oil leak they fixed it now it sounds like a truck you can hear it three blocks away is stalls all the time and they tell me it's the gas I'm using I switch to premium gas and it still does it this car is junk I hope nobody ever buys it Chevy should be shut down

- Waterloo, IA, USA

problem #167

Dec 152017

Cruze

  • 126,255 miles
The oil filter hausing is liquidating oil every time that I make a oil change

- Hyattsville, MD, USA

problem #166

Mar 242016

Cruze

  • 140,000 miles
I bought the 2011 Chevrolet cruz in 2014, I used the car primarily for work so throughout the first few years I didn't notice anything strange as it remained parked most the time. When I did start driving it as a primary vehicle the first issue I had was the clutch and gear system seemed to be touchy when the car was in park, resorting to me using the emergency brake every time I would park it. At the time it didn't seem to be a big issue as it became a habit. In 2016 shortly after this my oil consumption and turbo failed, and the vehicles exhaust started blowing blue smoke and the car lost all power. As this was a new car I took it to a mechanic and had vehicles turbo replaced. Just over a year later in 2018 the vehicle is exhibiting the exact same effects such as removing and replacing the eco,1.4L engine, turbocharger, evacuate and replace air conditioning system, and transfer of the fuel and electrical assemblies and engine mounts. I'm almost certain this car is defective and needs to be recalled.

- Glenwood City, WI, USA

problem #165

Oct 012013

Cruze

  • 48,000 miles
Mil P0171 code, replaced 3 valve covers because of the PCV and now I've been informed the intake manifold is defective.

- Monee, IL, USA

problem #164

Feb 172018

Cruze

  • 120,000 miles
Smells like it's burning, smokes into the inside. It's been numerous times in the shop but it keeps doing the same. Electrical problems with the driver seat and lighting also

- Louisville, KY, USA

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