The Lemon Index2017 Chevrolet Cruze.
The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze is better than average by owner complaints: 100 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 51, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 31 to 37 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Cruze year is 2019.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 201 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Chevrolet Cruze year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 14K to 60K miles on the car (114 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 17K–63K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 16K–80K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 15K–50K miles
Recalls 2
- fuel system, gasoline 2018
The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover.
- seats 2017
A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Cruze 5 DR FWD Later Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD Later Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Chevrolet Cruze 5 DR FWD Early Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD Early Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1900–2550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
64,000 miles, car started sputtering, service stabilitrac and check engine lights came on. Dealership said piston ring broke and scored the cylinder wall beyond repair. Need to replace engine.
2017 Chevrolet Cruze owner · NHTSA complaint 11365026
More owner reports
The car caught fire from inside the cab. I'm not sure why or what happened exactly but it burnt. It was a total loss. Luckily it was stationary when it happened
NHTSA complaint 11112224
This particular Model has a auto shutoff feature when idle. But on a hill, when it auto shuts off, the car rolls back when the brakes are released.
NHTSA complaint 11265219
Quick answers
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 51; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Cruze year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2017 Chevrolet Cruze problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (33%), electrical (18%) and transmission & drivetrain (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze have?
2 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze get?
31 to 37 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2017 Chevrolet Cruze problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 14,600 and 60,500 miles. The middle report was at 27,800 miles, from 114 complaints.
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 18% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze cost in fuel a year?
About $1900 to $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze have?
1.4L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
What Chevrolet Cruze year is better than the 2017?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2018 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works