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Research · Midsize Cars

2013 Chevrolet CruzeRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 587 owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. Most complaints involve engine (212) and electrical system (122). The EPA rates it 26–32 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
26–32mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Jul 2016
Owner complaints
587
Top: engine
Fuel cost / yr
$1,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

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 Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Electrical systemReported Jul 5, 2016NHTSA 16V502000

Equipment: electrical

Free remedy

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 become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

EquipmentReported Jul 2, 2014NHTSA 14V417000

Air bags

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jun 26, 2014NHTSA 14V372000
See all 5 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

587 complaints filed with NHTSA · Feb 2013 – Oct 2026
  1. Engine212
  2. Electrical system122
  3. Power train113
  4. Steering74
  5. Electronic stability control (esc)62
  6. Air bags49
  7. Service brakes45
  8. Vehicle speed control39
  9. Fuel/propulsion system29

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Cruze model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2011732
2012865
2013587
2014702
2015254
2016250
2017203
2018109
201923
Crashes reported
54
Fires reported
8
Injuries reported
32
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine

212 reports8 crashes7 fires
“I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH MY STUDENT FINANCIAL AID MONEY AS SOON AS I GOT 5 CAR A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AND THE CAR STARTED BOILING.THEN THE KEY IGNITION SYSTEM SAID USE POCKET TRANSMITTER THAT DIDN'T WORK .I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY I HAVE A MECHANIC THAT'S WHY I PURCHASED THE CAR I WAS CONFIDANT JE COULD FIX IT NO MATTER WHAT THE CAR WAS3 VERY UNSAFE NO WARMING ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE THEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IT STOPPED SUDDENLY AND I CHECKED THE FLUIDS PUT ANTIFREEZE AND OIL THE CAR ENGINE WAS SO HOT IT DAMAGED THE HEATER BYPASS HOSE.I REALLY NEEDED MY TRANSPORTATION I GO SCHOOL WAS A OUT TO GET A JOB I'M HOMELESS I WAS GOING TO A SHELTER FOR HELP BUT IF I GET A JOB I CAN AFFORD RENT.I AM GOING THROUGH IT. I AM DEPRESSED THE DEALER SAID HE DON'T KNOW WHY THE CAR KEEPS GETTING HOT THEN MY MECHANIC SAID THE WASN'T COMING ON IN TIME . THERE WERE No leaks but antifreeze disappeared.THEN WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND IN SECONDS THE CAR VINDICATES IT WAS OVER HEATING WHEN THE CARS FLUID WERE CHECKED I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY THE LUGHTS AND RADIO WORKED BUT THE KEY IGNITION SYSTEM WAS DEAD AND SAID USE POCKET TRANSMITTER.THE DEALER SAID CAR IS SOLD AS IS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2026Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11768211

Electrical system

122 reports4 crashes2 fires
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 157,454. The contact later discovered that the title mileage was 189,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2025Electrical systemODI 11680644

Power train

113 reports1 crash
“I own 3 Chevy Cruze, a 2012, 2013 and 2016. They all partial power down or decelerate while driving. The local Chevy dealers has no recalls for this issue or any other for that matter. Please advise”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2024Power train, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11593075
All 2013 Cruze problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
1.4L 4-cyl turbo · 1.8L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 6-spd · Automatic (S6) · Automatic 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Cruze Eco
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
284032$1,950273
Cruze
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
263630$2,100300
Cruze
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
263730$2,100298
Cruze Eco
Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
263730$2,100295
Cruze
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
253529$2,150309
Cruze
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
223426$2,400336
  • Cruze Eco
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo
    28 city · 40 hwy · $1,950/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Cruze
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo
    26 city · 36 hwy · $2,100/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Cruze
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo
    26 city · 37 hwy · $2,100/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Cruze Eco
    Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo
    26 city · 37 hwy · $2,100/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Cruze
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    25 city · 35 hwy · $2,150/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Cruze
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    22 city · 34 hwy · $2,400/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
10.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 7358
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2013 Cruze questions

How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2013 Chevrolet Cruze problems?

Owners filed 587 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (212), electrical system (122), power train (113). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze get?

The EPA rates the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze at 26–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

How safe is the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026