AutoDefect IQ

2014 Chevrolet Cruze problems, complaints & recalls

Most-reported problem areas: Engine (118) · Steering (80) · Power Train (72)

🧭 Reliability snapshot

62 /100
⚠ Buy with caution

Compared against other Chevrolet Cruze model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →

🛣️ Complaints by mileage

<25k miles: 128 complaints 128 <25k 25–50k miles: 92 complaints 25–50k 50–75k miles: 120 complaints 50–75k 75–100k miles: 79 complaints 75–100k 100–125k miles: 43 complaints 100–125k 125–150k miles: 12 complaints 125–150k 150k+ miles: 9 complaints 150k+

483 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.

703
Complaints
10
Recalls
1,919
Service bulletins
70
Crashes reported
17
Fires reported
0
Deaths

Safety recalls (10)

Air Bags:side/Window 2025-11-06 · campaign 25V764000 · 2,099 vehicles

Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators located on the roof rails above the headliner, may rupture at the inflator weld joint.

Risk: An inflator that ruptures may partially inflate the air bag and cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of an injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252530830. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 23V674 and 23V870.

Air Bags:side/Window 2023-12-21 · campaign 23V870000 · 20,712 vehicles

Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators may rupture at the inflator weld joint. This recall is an expansion of Recall 23V-674.

Risk: An inflator that ruptures may partially inflate the air bag and cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of an injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 22, 2024. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232425640.

Air Bags:side/Window 2023-09-20 · campaign 23V674000 · 9,264 vehicles

Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators located on the roof rails above the headliner, may rupture at the inflator weld joint.

Risk: An inflator that ruptures may partially inflate the air bag and cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of an injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2024. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232408490.

Electrical System:ignition 2016-07-05 · campaign 16V502000 · 8,367 vehicles

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 lever

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

Fix: 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.

Steering 2015-07-10 · campaign 15V442000 · 10 vehicles

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.

Fix: 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.

Equipment:electrical 2014-07-02 · campaign 14V417000 · 2,990 vehicles

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can beco

Risk: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

Air Bags 2014-06-26 · campaign 14V372000 · 29,019 vehicles

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's front air bag inflator may have been manufactured with an incorrect part.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike and potentially seriously injure the vehicle occupants. Additionally, if the air bag does not inflate, the driver is at an increased risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14305.

Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft 2014-03-31 · campaign 14V151000 · 174,046 vehicles

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with a 1.4L turbo engine, and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and March 7, 2014. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.

Risk: If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right half shaft, as needed, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. GM will send an interim letter to owners in May 2014. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's number for this recall is 14079. This is an expansion of recall 13V-452. NOTE: Some vehicles subject to this recall were subject to the recall campaign initiated i

Power Train:automatic Transmission 2014-02-21 · campaign 14V092000 · 355 vehicles

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transm

Risk: If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the ve

Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Buick owners at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC owners at 1-800-462-8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.

Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft 2013-09-23 · campaign 13V452000 · 3,161 vehicles

Defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) and manufactured January 24, 2013, through August 1, 2013. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.

Risk: If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: General Motors has notified owners. Dealers will replace the half shaft assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 15, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300. This is General Motors campaign number 13276.

Service bulletins (1,919)

Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.

Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.

Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.

Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.

Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.

Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.

Showing the 6 most recent of 1,919 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.

What owners report

2026-10-26 · Power Train

“it happened on [xxx] where the service engine light was on and died in the middle of traffic. this light was on after we purchased the vehicle but not on when we test drove it. i think the dealership knew about and are not wanting to fix it. not the car want start at all. my son spent his hard earned money to purchase a car. we had to have it towed…”

2026-08-21 · Power Train

“for the first question, i’d strengthen it to: the vehicle has experienced repeated engine and engine-cooling system failures, including recurring overheating and coolant loss. over approximately the past year, i have had to replace or repair numerous components, including the radiator, thermostat housing, temperature sensor, water outlet, turbocha…”

2026-08-14 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash

“my transmission blew up. my airbags did not deploy. and neither of my brakes or emergency brakes worked. i was in a car accident where i hit another car in a tree and was admitted into the hospital as i am pregnant.…”

2026-08-13 · Power Train · 45,000 mi

“the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that while attempting to move the gear shifter, the vehicle hesitated while shifting into neutral(n) or drive(d) as intended, and there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. no warning light was illuminated. the contact stated that the failure had reoccurred. the vehicl…”

2026-08-06 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 14,302 mi · 💥 crash

“the contact owned a 2014 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, a chevrolet impala crashed into the rear of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to fishtail and flip over several times and land upside down in the woods. the contact stated that the air bags deployed and exploded. the contact stated that the air bags obstructed th…”

2026-06-17 · Engine

“engine replaced turbo charger. purchased the vehicle on 5/16 and a week later the engine light came on. took the vehicle to autozone and received a code of p0299. call the dealership and got no response from the salesperson so i made an appointment for 5/27. problem was dismissed as the engine light was no longer displayed. told to return when…”

2026-06-01 · Electrical System · 82,000 mi

“the contact stated that the key-fob failed to lock and unlocking of the failed intermittenly. the key fob was the original manufactured key fob. the dealer had been contacted, and the key fob was reprogrammed. the failure persisted. the dealer was contacted again, and it was diagnosed that the circuit board would slip inside the key fob itself, cau…”

2026-05-27 · Air Bags

“the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for nhtsa campaign number: 25v764000 (air bags). the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the contact had not experienced a failure. …”

2026-05-26 · Structure:body · 🔥 fire

“on may 25, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m. central time, after the vehicle had been operated under normal conditions and subsequently parked, a fire originated within the vehicle’s engine compartment and/or under-hood area. personnel from the milwaukee fire department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. an official fire investigatio…”

2026-05-21 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:crank/Camshaft Position Sensor · 82,000 mi

“the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. the contact stated that while driving the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was able to restart. the vehicle began jerking motions and misfiring. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a cam shaft failure and diagnostic codes p0016, p0101. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. the a…”

Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.

Other Chevrolet Cruze years