The Lemon Index

All cars · Chevrolet Cruze · 2015

2015 Chevrolet Cruze. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index41100 = average car
Complaints97NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold226,602U.S. model year
Per 100K sold43complaints
Year rank#3 of 9#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 6

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
1.4L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)FWD26 / 36 / 30Regular$2,100
1.4L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdFWD26 / 37 / 30Regular$2,100
1.4L 4-cyl turboAuto 6-spdFWD26 / 37 / 30Regular$2,100
1.8L 4-cylManual 6-spdFWD25 / 35 / 29Regular$2,150
1.8L 4-cylAuto (S6)FWD22 / 34 / 26Regular$2,400
2.0L 4-cyl turbo dieselAuto (S6)FWD27 / 44 / 32Diesel$2,950

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 26,300 and 80,600 miles. Median 55,000, from 173 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Engine63,50040,500–83,30062
Electrical50,40024,800–82,10037
Transmission & drivetrain59,20021,500–82,10027
Stability control58,30038,200–77,50026
Steering35,00019,000–69,40017

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Electrical24%
Engine22%
Transmission & drivetrain15%
Steering12%
Brakes11%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
2522049018

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 4

  • 16V502000 Jul 2016 Electrical System / Ignition

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Sta

    Risk. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

  • 15V876000 Dec 2015 Seat Belts / Front / Anchorage

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured September 24, 2014, to May 29, 2015. In the affected vehicles, one of the driver-side seat belt assembly bolts may not be properly tightened.

    Risk. An insufficiently torqued bolt may prevent the seat belt from holding the required load in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2016 Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15777.

  • 15V442000 Jul 2015 Steering

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.

    Risk. Separation of the tie rod from the steering gear could result in the loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15386.

  • 15V113000 Feb 2015 Parking Brake

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured February 4, 2015, to February 9, 2015. The left-rear or right-rear parking brake cable brackets may not have been properly fastened during the assembly process. As a result, the fastening bolts may back out completely, causing the parking brake bracket to separate and the parking brake to not hold the vehicle in place. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

    Risk. If the parking brake bracket separates, the parking brake may not hold the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll away and a crash.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left-rear and right-rear parking brake brackets bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15135.

Manufacturer communications 1556

Chevy filed 1556 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • OnStar Module Battery Drain
  • Buick/chevrolet: vehicle powers up, whether key in ignition or left in ignition, with cranking…
  • Buick/cadillac/ gmc/ chevrolet: see document search button for owner letter

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

YouTube repair topics

100 videos about the 2011–2016 Chevy Cruze, 23.0M views.

TopicVideosViews
Oil changes & service41.8M
Heat, A/C & blend door3956K
Cooling system7871K
Infotainment, battery & electrical5841K
Oil leaks & gaskets5780K
Intake, EGR & engine sensors3452K
Windows, doors & mirrors3437K
Transmission & shifter2294K

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2012140382237,758Electrical
201376232248,224Transmission & drivetrain
201482244273,060Electrical
20154197226,602Electrical
201656112188,876Electrical
201751100184,751Engine
20183962142,617Engine

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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