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Chevrolet Cruze.

The best Chevrolet Cruze years are 2019, 2018, 2015. Years to avoid: 2012. Across 2011-2019, it has a Lemon Index of 79, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2011 to 2019.

79Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2011-2019: 1.3× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2019 · Worst year 2012

Chevrolet Cruze
Photo shows a Chevrolet Cruze. Alexander Migl, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2011100about average20121401.4× the complaints2013761.3× fewer complaints2014821.2× fewer complaints2015412.4× fewer complaints2016561.8× fewer complaints2017512× fewer complaints2018392.6× fewer complaints2019224.5× fewer complaints

Best years to buy

2019.

2019224.5× fewer complaints than average2018392.6× fewer complaints than average2015412.4× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2012.

20121401.4× the average car's complaints

Compare the Chevrolet Cruze.

Chevrolet CruzeFord Focusvs Ford Focus

vs Ford Focus

Quick answers.

Is the Chevrolet Cruze a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2011-2019: Lemon Index 79; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2019 and the worst is 2012.

What are the best Chevrolet Cruze years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2019, 2018, 2015.

What Chevrolet Cruze years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2012.

How many recalls does the Chevrolet Cruze have?

44 safety recalls across the 9 model years we track. Most: 2014 (10), 2011 (7), 2012 (7). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Chevrolet Cruze problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name engine, electrical and transmission & drivetrain most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2011100about average308transmission & drivetrain (28%)7★★★★★26–32
20121401.4× the average car's complaints382electrical (29%)7★★★★★26–32
2013761.3× fewer complaints than average232transmission & drivetrain (28%)5★★★★★26–32
2014821.2× fewer complaints than average244electrical (22%)10★★★★★26–32
2015412.4× fewer complaints than average97electrical (24%)4★★★★★26–32
2016561.8× fewer complaints than average112electrical (34%)4★★★★★26–34
2017512× fewer complaints than average100engine (33%)2★★★★★31–37
2018392.6× fewer complaints than average62engine (21%)3★★★★★31–37
2019224.5× fewer complaints than average11speed control (18%)2★★★★★31–37

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Chevrolet Cruze transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data