The best and worst Chevrolet Cruze years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Chevrolet Cruzes old enough to judge (2010–2020), the 2018–2020 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2010–2012 and 2014 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2020 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2010 Chevrolet Cruze · 38.8 per 10,000 sold (3.0× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Harsh, delayed or erratic shifting, typically around 30,000 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze · 31.5 per 10,000 sold (2.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Harsh, delayed or erratic shifting, typically around 46,600 miles; then body control and other modules.
2012 Chevrolet Cruze · 33.5 per 10,000 sold (2.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Body control and other modules, typically around 51,000 miles; then cooling system: radiator, water pump, thermostat, fan.
2014 Chevrolet Cruze · 25.7 per 10,000 sold (2.0× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Body control and other modules, typically around 61,000 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
Years with the fewest complaints
2018 Chevrolet Cruze · 7.6 per 10,000 sold (0.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Stalling and no-start, typically around 45,700 miles.
2019 Chevrolet Cruze · 4.4 per 10,000 sold (0.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 91,000 miles.
2020 Chevrolet Cruze · 0.0 per 10,000 sold (0.0× this model’s typical year)
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Chevrolet Cruze year: 13.0 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Chevrolet Cruze?
Among Chevrolet Cruzes old enough to judge (2010–2020), the 2010 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 38.8, about 3.0× a typical Chevrolet Cruze year. The 2011–2012 and 2014 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Cruze?
The 2020 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Chevrolet Cruzes from 2010–2020: 0.0, against 13.0 for a typical year. The 2018–2019 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2010 Chevrolet Cruze?
The most-reported problem on the 2010 Chevrolet Cruze is harsh, delayed or erratic shifting, typically around 30,000 miles.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.