NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 109 owner complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. Most complaints involve engine (27) and power train (23). The EPA rates it 31–37 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“Coming to a stop sign or red light the car won’t accelerate or will go in traction control making it difficult to move or not accelerate. Had 2-3 fuel leaks this year also having problems to keep the car going sometimes the max speed it will go is 20-40 miles n won’t go up unless u keep letting it slow down slowly n then accelerating n even after that it won’t make it above 60-70 miles it usually goes with no problem if its down hill since ur not pressing the gas or anything. Turning the air on also makes the car slow down other problems also is the gas running fast could just fill the tank n by the second day it will almost be over. Today the transmission gave up on me now I have no car to move around making it hard for me to go anywhere especially work since that’s how I make my money for living but with no car it’s a big problem.”
“The steering started to shake. The car seat started to shake as well. It felt very unsafe, but there was no serious injury. John from Feldman Chevrolet in New Hudson, Michigan said that there is a "Cylinder 1 misfire code". After the car started shaking, the engine light came on. John told us that the engine should be replaced.”
“The infotainment touchscreen on my 2018 Chevrolet Cruze has become unresponsive and frozen on the startup warning screen. Because of this, I am unable to access basic functions such as Bluetooth, CarPlay, and Android Auto. The radio (FM) still works, but I cannot connect my phone for calls, navigation, or music. This issue is widely reported by many other Cruze owners, yet there is no recall or official fix from the manufacturer. The problem is a safety concern because I cannot use hands-free calling or navigation as intended. The dealer quoted me a $190 diagnostic fee and several hundred dollars for replacement, which feels unfair for what appears to be a common defect. I believe Chevrolet should address this issue through a recall or warranty support. Please investigate as this affects driver safety and usability.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruze Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 47 | 37 | $2,550 | 276 |
| Cruze Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 52 | 37 | $2,550 | 274 |
| Cruze Hatchback Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 45 | 35 | $2,700 | 291 |
| Cruze Hatchback Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 48 | 35 | $2,700 | 290 |
| Cruze Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 40 | 33 | $1,900 | 267 |
| Cruze Premier Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 39 | 33 | $1,900 | 269 |
| Cruze Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 40 | 32 | $1,950 | 277 |
| Cruze Hatchback Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 38 | 32 | $1,950 | 278 |
| Cruze Hatchback Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 38 | 31 | $2,000 | 285 |
| Cruze Premier Hatchback Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 37 | 31 | $2,000 | 287 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 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.
Owners filed 109 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (27), power train (23), electrical system (14). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze at 31–37 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (10 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze 5 out of 5 stars overall.