2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE Complaints

View complaints related to 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 710 complaints submitted for the 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
    - Tonganoxie, KS

    The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the RPM increased and there was a burning oil odor on the interior of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stopped and parked the vehicle. The contact performed an inspection under the hood and when the oil cap was removed, the contact noticed a whistling sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed intake manifold. The contact was informed that the intake manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
    - East Palatka, FL

    The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the brake lights, power locks, and windshield wipers were inoperable. The contact stated that the ignition key failed to disengage after turning off the vehicle. The contact had to hold a button underneath the steering panel to be able to remove the key. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the Body Control Module (BCM) needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
    - Pleasant Garden, NC

    Vehicle does not shift gears, jumpy, sluggish, disengages then jerks back into gear. Hazard when trying to pickup speed to accelerate into highway traffic. Does not engage in reverse gear at times, have to turn vehicle off, wait a few minutes then turn vehicle back on for reverse gear to engage. Sometimes when vehicle is in park, vehicle will not start, have to fidget with gear and key, sometimes for several minutes before it will register in park and allow you to start the vehicle. When on highway transmission will jolt and jerk making you think you have lost your transmission on the roadway. This is a major hazard for my daughter who drives this vehicle to college. I am aware of a lift plate that can be installed to fix this problem that has existed in all 2011 Chevy Cruze s since they were manufactured. NHTSA Bulletin issued Oct. 10, 2024 NHTSA ID#11010651 Manufacture Communication #24-NA-223 Bulletin to all technicians for an alternative procedure for a lift plate that can be installed into the transmission to correct this problem. This needs to be a nationwide issued RECALL because of the endangerment people are being put in while driving these unsafe Chevy Cruze with faulty transmission issues.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
    - Independence , MO

    I was hit side impact my airbags didn’t deploy in the car they deployed under the hood I was hit by a vehicle doing approximately 50 miles an hour the airbag that was supposed to go off went off under the hood instead of in the car

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
    - GREENVILLE, WI

    Watery oil looking liquid making puddles under car. Orange fluid seen pooling from above. Head gasket blown?

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
    - Saint Peters, MO

    While driving home on the interstate after work, I was travelling at around 65 miles per hour, with the cruise control set at that speed. In an instant I lost all engine power and began to slow down very rapidly. A quick look to the rearview mirror to ensure nothing was approaching the rear of my vehicle, I found that I could see nothing except grey and white smoke behind me from all three mirrors. I was forced to remove myself from the highway for fear of causing an accident by blinding drivers with the smoke coming from my exhaust, and I was able to use the service road to get to the next fueling station. Upon arrival, I opened the hood and found that oil had sprayed out of every available portal in the engine, it exited through the vacuum lines, pressure sensors onto my alternator, saturated my serpentine belt as well as everything else ion the engine compartment. I noticed most of the oil came from a round hole behind the oil filler cap through a busted vacuum diaphragm that had blown out instead of regulating vacuum, indicating extreme positive pressure in the crankcase. As this was my MOS in the Army, I am experienced with dangers and risks involved in these situations, and I will give warning that if this happens during the right traffic situations, lives will be lost as a result of the smoke screen developimg when the oil hits the catalytic convertors combined with the rapid decline in speed without warning of any kind, and when it does happen, and it will, since there are 8 million of these vehicles on the road and counting, this complaint should serve as proper and fair warning od the damgers and risks with allowing this engine to remain in use without a warning system to indicate the tiny plastic check valve has been released from its position. I was fortunate enough that I only suffered a few curse words and horns blowing and flipping me the bird, but i have to admit I was afraid for my life and someone with less driving experience will have a bad outcom

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
    - Glenville, WV

    The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruz. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was hot (H). Upon checking the coolant level, the contact discovered that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir; however, the failure returned, and the coolant immediately leaked out of the vehicle. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir a second time and drove to an independent mechanic. A diagnostic test was performed that showed that a cracked tube under the coolant had caused a gasket to blow, leading to the coolant leak. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
    - Owensboro, KY

    The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while attempting to leave a parking lot, the gear shifter was shifted to drive but the transmission remained in reverse. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The VIN was not available.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
    - Muskegon, MI

    Since I’ve brought the car there is always an issue with the car overheating and something with the cooling system that needs to be repaired. It happens frequently and I’ve spent more in repairs than what I paid for the car. It’s always something with the coolant system that causes it to overheat which is dangerous.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
    - Flagstaff, AZ

    I bought my car used. I have replaced the Brake Pedal Position Sensor 3 times on my own and 1 time by Anderson General Tire. Sometimes when I go to brake, there is no brake and I have to push real hard with my foot and finally the car will brake. It feels as if my brakes go out and sometimes I have to pump the brake pedal. It happens also when I start my car after it's been sitting and I brake to shift into drive. My car says it doesn't have any recalls but I have been having this problem. My car has been serviced numerous times by Chevrolet immediately after buying it. I only had to stop taking it there because my warranty ran out and then they wouldn't cover the costs anymore. Codes that come up are P057D and U0140-71: Brake Pedal Position Sensor Circuit High and Brake Pedal Position Sensor Circuit High Voltage and Anti-lock Brake System (although this does not show on the dash).

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE