Problems · NHTSA complaints
2017 Chevrolet Cruze problems
Owners filed 203 complaints about the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze with NHTSA between Oct 2016 and Nov 2026. The most-cited component is engine (73).
Complaints
203
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine73
- Power train40
- Electrical system33
- Service brakes18
- Structure16
- Fuel/propulsion system15
- Exterior lighting12
- Vehicle speed control10
- Air bags7
- Electronic stability control (esc)7
- Seats6
- Steering6
- Visibility/wiper4
- Suspension4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
10
21
33
34
15
22
26
16
17
7
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 33 |
| 2020 | 34 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 26 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 17 |
| 2026 | 7 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
73 reports1 crash3 fires
“THE ENGINE HAS EXCESSIVE BLOW BY FROM THE OIL FILLER CAP. HAVING A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER NUMBER 1 AND IDLING ROUGH. THERE ARE SEVERAL THREADS ONLINE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE BEING CAUSED BY WORN PISTONS AND PISTON RINGS.”
Power train
40 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Cruz. The contact stated that on several occasions while depressing the clutch pedal, the pedal went to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the clutch actuator and clutch assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: PIP5558C. The failure mileage was 61,000.”
Electrical system
33 reports2 fires
“The 3rd brake light is known to leak on Chevy cars, which I found out when searching up the issues, which allows water inside trunk without your knowledge and does water damage to the battery and other electrical components that are located in the trunk that controls the dashboard, a/c, radio, power steering and probably even more. Safety risk: makes your dashboard stop working along with the power steering, while driving. There is another vehicle at the same dealer as mine right now with water in the trunk, it’s an impala. When you search up on the internet about dashboard not working along with radio and a/c there are quite a few different people pointing to the leaking 3rd brake light and water in the trunk damaging the electrical components in the trunk. The vehicle is at a Chevrolet dealer right now being fixed. No warning messages before it happened. I have only owned the car for 1 year bought it used June 2024. The bill I included is so far what they are saying needs to be fixed but I’m sure more to come as they get some components working.”
Service brakes
18 reports1 crash1 fire
“The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while attempting to reverse, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.”
Structure
16 reports1 crash
“Paint bubbling and rusting alone the car even though it’s washed and is no where near salt never even been hit there are tons of issues with GM paint yall need to fix these and recall every gm car with this issue and wipers are very rough scratching windshield”
Fuel/propulsion system
15 reports
“Car is currently not drivable due to strong smell of gas coming from under the hood. Findings, gas is leaking into the engine and car will not crank. Diagnostic machine indicates poor fuel to fuel injector causing a gas leak within the engine.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.