Problems · by component
2013 Chevrolet Cruze electronic stability control (esc) problems
62 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze cite electronic stability control (esc), 11% of all 587 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
62
11% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electronic stability control (esc)
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY CAR KEPT SAYING "AC OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE HEAT" EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS NOT READING HOT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEN THE CAR WOULD START SMOKING AND BLOW A HOSE AND LIQUID WOULD BE EVERYWHERE. I HAD A BRAND NEW THERMOSTATE PUT IN AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. ALSO A PREVIOUS RECALL ABOUT HOW THE TIRE COULD SEPRATE "TIRE ROD" IS STILL DOING IT AGAIN. I HAD 3 TRANSAXLE SEALS AND A TRANSMISSION SEAL, A MOTOR BLOWER FOR THE A.C ALL REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR (STILL UNDER WARRENTY) OF OWNING THIS CAR. THE STABILITY TRACK WILL SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN. BUT I'M TIRED OF WORRYING WHEN MY CAR WILL WANT TO JUST RANDOMLY BLOW HOSES AND START SMOKING AND LEAVE ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD! I BOUGHT A CHEAP CAR TO GET ME TO WORK AND MY CRUZE IS SITTING!!”
“WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE. HE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. HE WAITED 10 MINTUES AND STARTED THE CAR TO HEAD BACK HOME. WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME LIQUID WAS LEAKING OUT THE CAR AND THE CAR HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AT THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. GM HAD SENT A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL (N202299080), A COUPLE OF DAYS PRIOR. I CALLED THEM ON MONDAY AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER. I CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE RECALL NOTICE. HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND LEFT THE CAR AT THE CHEVY DEALER. ATER THEY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS, THEY EXPLAINED THAT IT WILL BE $2000 TO FIX THE VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE CURRENTLY 4 RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. I CALLED GM SEVERAL TIMES TO ASK HOW ARE THEY GOING TO RECTIFY THIS, WITH NO CALL-BACK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE ABNORMALLY. DURING THE FAILURE, THE STABILI-TRAC AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
“THE STABILITY CONTROL GOES OFF DUE TO A AIR LEAK IN THE AIR VALVE CAUSING LOSE OF STEERING POWER WHICH HAS OCCURED WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN THIS HAPPENS”
“THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR SPUTTERED A BIT THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO MADE A CERTAIN WHINING NOISE. A MESSAGE POPPED UP STATING STABILITRAK SERVICE.”
“I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY TURBO CHARGE SYSTEM(S) FOR A COUPLE YEARS. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LATER I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON SO I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE HE LIGHT WAS ON FOR A DIAGNOSIS. I WAS THEN TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY TURBO BOOST SYSTEM. I HEN ASKED ABOUT THE PREVIOUS REPAIR TO MY TURBO SYSTEM I WAS TOLD THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE. THEN A STABILITRAK/ TRACTION POPS UP PERIODICALLY. ON JUNE 22, MY CAR WOULD NOT START, I COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY, I GOT A JUMP AND PROCEEDED ON MY WAY. WHEN I WAS LEAVING MY DESTINATION, TO HAD TO JUMP START MY CAR AGAIN. THE ENGINE LIGHT ISN'T ON CURRENTLY , SO I AM UNABLE TO GET ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS. THIS HAS BEEN THE WORSE EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CHEVROLET DIRECTLY OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS AND THEY PROVIDED ABSOLUTELY NO RESOLUTION. MY CAR ISN'T GAINING SPEED.. IT SEEMS TO HESITATE OFTEN AND RUNS EVEN WORSE WITH THE AC RUNNING. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY PRODUCT NOR WILL I RECOMMEND THIS MAKE. CHEVY NEED TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. THESE CARS ARE…”
Showing 6 of 62 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.