Lemon Law Check › 2016 Chevrolet Cruze

2016 Chevrolet Cruze Problems, Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 246 owner complaints filed with federal regulators, with complaints concentrated in engine. Owners whose Cruze has needed repeated repairs for the same warranty problem may qualify for a buyback or compensation under state lemon laws.

Most-reported problem areas

Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 246 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze:

Engine48 complaints
Electrical system46 complaints
Power train31 complaints
Unknown or other29 complaints
Air bags19 complaints
Steering18 complaints

What owners told federal regulators

"My cars cam shaft was replaced six months ago, and it was still under warranty. now i'm having a bunch of other issues some of the problems are because the chevy dealership, that replaced it my cam shaft wheel they had to to take parts off and back on to fix it now those parts…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2020
"Paid thousands of dollars into getting a thermostat housing and thermostat leaking antifreeze a couple months ago started leaking antifreeze again just now"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/29/2022
"While the engine is running, the transmission suddenly and without warning fails. car is in gear but doesn't move. first occurrence was when car was parked in the morning and put into reverse to blackout and second occurrence was a couple weeks later when stopped at a red ligh…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/27/2018

NHTSA recall campaigns (4)

Fuel system, gasoline
10/05/2018 · 18V304000
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 roll…
Seats:front assembly:head restraint
26/01/2017 · 17V057000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the e…
Exterior lighting:headlights
01/07/2016 · 16V498000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. …
Electrical system:ignition
05/07/2016 · 16V502000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 20…

Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.

Has your Cruze been in the shop repeatedly?

If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Cruze has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?

Based on 246 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze are engine, electrical system, power train.

How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze a lemon?

A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Cruze has had engine or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.

Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze.

All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.