Problems · by component
2011 Chevrolet Cruze electronic stability control (esc) problems
75 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze cite electronic stability control (esc), 10% of all 733 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
75
10% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electronic stability control (esc)
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE 2011 CHEVY CRUZE ECO HAS BEEN HAVING A COUPLE ISSUES FROM THERE BEING A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE IT DRIPS MORE AFTER DRIVING AND ALSO ANOTHER LITTLE LEAK TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR THEN ALSO MY STABLITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL ISSUES KEPT ME FROM GETTING OUT OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY WHEELS DIDN'T MOVE THE WAY I PLANNED TOO, THE RADIATOR FAN ALSO HAS BEEN WORKING HARDER THEN USUALLY IT NON STOP IS BLOWING VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR COOL. LAST UNDER THE CAR THE BOTTOM TRAYS HAVE SOME OIL BUILDING UP AND BUILDING UP”
“TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN, THIS VEHICLE HAS ISSUES WITH STABILTRAK/TRACTION CONTROL. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ROUTINELY THROUGHOUT THE TIME I HAVE HAD IT. THIS VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN AT THE DEALERSHIP UPON RECEIVING THE LETTER FOR THE RECALL, I DO NOT THINK THIS WAS THOROUGHLY INSPECTED. IT WAS UNDER TEN MINUTES, THAT I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM. IN MY OPINION, THIS WAS TOTALLY INCORRECT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED STILL TO THIS DAY. NOBODY REPORTED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY AND I. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. IF THE DEALERSHIP DID SAY THEY THOROUGHLY INSPECTED IT, WHY DIDN'T THEY REPORT THIS MATTER TO YOU, WHICH WOULD BE LANDERS MCCLARTY CHEVROLET, HUNTSVILLE AL. I HAVE DONE MAJOR RESEARCH AND THIS MATTER IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS COMPLETELY IN THE WRONG. NONE OF THIS MATTER WAS HANDLED CORRECTLY, WHY DIDN'T I GET ANY DETAILS OR DOCUMENTATION. WHY WASN'T IT REPORTED?? I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR PAPERWORK, AND THE EXACT DATES WHICH I TOOK IT THERE. I WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH MY LAWYER, AND GET ANY PAPERWORK AND EVIDENCE REVIEWED. THE STABILTRAK LIGHT STAYS ON, AND…”
“ME AND MY BOYFRIEND WERE DRIVING IN CALCUTTA OHIO WE WENT TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING LOT TO GO TO MCDONALD'S AND WE LOOKED BOTH WAYS AND WE WERE CLEAR TO GO AND BY THE TIME WE HIT THE CENTER TURNING LANE AND STARTED TO TURN INTO MCDONALD'S AND A JEEP CAME FLYING OUT OF NO WHERE AND OUR VEHICLES COLLIDED CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN THE CAR. *TR”
“MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE VALVE COVER GASKET WHICH MAY LEAK OIL AND DROP DOWN CAUSING A FIRE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS FIXED UPON TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE OIL WAS DRIPPING DOWN CAUSING SMOKE AND THE PART THAT IT WAS DRIPPING ON WAS RED HOT WHICH WAS THE COIL WIRE. WAS IN FACT NOT FIXED.”
“THE CRUZE SPUTTERS OR HESITATES WHEN BRAKED OR IDLING, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICES STABILITRAK CAME ON ALONG WITH A FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I LOOSE POWER AND FEEL LIKE I'M NEEDING TO PRESS A LOT HARDER ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE.”
“WE PURCHASED A 2011 CHEVY CRUZ WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES. IN THE 2 YEARS WE'VE HAD IT WE'VE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, OIL COOLER, AND ALL THE HOSES. THE FURTHEST WE'VE DRIVEN IT IS 400MILES IN A TRIP. WE HAVEN'T TAKEN IT UP MOUNTAINS, AND WE KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE”
Showing 6 of 75 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.