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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine73
  2. Power train40
  3. Electrical system33
  4. Service brakes18
  5. Structure16
  6. Fuel/propulsion system15
  7. Exterior lighting12
  8. Vehicle speed control10
  9. Air bags7
  10. Electronic stability control (esc)7
  11. Seats6
  12. Steering6
  13. Visibility/wiper4
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20162
201710
201821
201933
202034
202115
202222
202326
202416
202517
20267

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.

03 —Owner reports

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2026EngineODI 11739100

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2026Power trainODI 11774636

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2025Steering, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11679586

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2024Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11616229

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2026Structure, Visibility/wiperODI 11711931

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2026Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11708707
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.