CHEVROLET · vehicle model

CHEVROLET CRUZE

5,702 NHTSA complaints and 26 safety recalls across model years 2010–2019.

Complaints: 5,702
Recalls: 26
Model years: 10

The CHEVROLETCRUZE appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 5,702 consumer safety complaints and 26 recall campaigns across 10 model years (2010–2019). That averages roughly 570 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 57 investigation files tied to this model, with 2 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

Year	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Deaths	Rating
2019	26	5	2	0	5/5
2018	158	27	5	1	5/5
2017	291	11	9	0	5/5
2016	383	28	11	0	4/5
2015	381	30	8	0	5/5
2014	1084	109	28	0	5/5
2013	930	90	15	0	5/5
2012	1343	104	25	0	5/5
2011	1104	67	30	4	5/5
2010	2	0	0	0	-

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 2,673 in 2017-2021 to 889 in 2022-2026, a fall of 66.7%. That is the 30th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

’10

’11

161

’12

232

’13

711

’14

464

’15

489

’16

501

’17

640

’18

709

’19

514

’20

309

’21

293

’22

255

’23

187

’24

140

’25

’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare CHEVROLETCRUZE to Similar Vehicles

CHEVROLETCRUZE vs JEEPCOMPASS → CHEVROLETCRUZE vs DODGERAM → CHEVROLETCRUZE vs SATURNION → CHEVROLETCRUZE vs GMCYUKON →

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen2025-10-23

Loss of motive power due to engine failure

PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed2023-11-29

Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module

PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed2020-10-09

Electric Vehicle Battery Fires

EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed2020-08-31

Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure

PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed2020-07-05

Fuel Line Leak

PE20009Preliminary EvaluationClosed2020-06-01

Momentary Increased Steering Effort

EA19005Engineering AnalysisClosed2019-12-13

Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative

PE19013Preliminary EvaluationClosed2019-09-17

Passenger Sensing System

RQ19003Recall QueryClosed2019-05-28

Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure

AQ18006Audit QueryOpen2018-12-01

Sale of noncompliant school bus

View all 57 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the CHEVROLET CRUZE?▼

The CHEVROLET CRUZE has received 5,702 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2010 to 2019, with 26 recalls. That averages about 570 complaints per model year.

What years of CHEVROLET CRUZE are available?▼

PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the CHEVROLET CRUZE from 2010 to 2019 (10 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.

Does the CHEVROLET CRUZE have safety ratings?▼

NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many CHEVROLET CRUZE model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.

What are the most common CHEVROLET CRUZE complaints?▼

NHTSA complaints for the CHEVROLET CRUZE are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.

How do I check if my CHEVROLET CRUZE has been recalled?▼

Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.

Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. CHEVROLET CRUZE totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.