There are 40 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruzein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
As I was on the highway, I was unable to pick up speed without feeling resistance! After awhile I couldn’t go past 25 mph and my car eventually gave out before I made it home. I had to call a tow to have them tow me to my park lot! A couple days went by and my car was able to drive through the parking and park in different spots. I am not sure what the problem may be but I just bought this car and it has been causing unsafe issues for about a year now! Please help!
The car cuts out and jerks (has no power) (no warning lights) when accelerating or staying at a steady speed with engine light coming on or flashing. I've reported to dealership. So far, Don't know the cause of problem.
WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR IT TAKES A MOMENT TO ACTUALLY GO WHICH HAS LEFT ME SITTING IN INTERSECTIONS ETC. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SINCE IT IS A WIRE RELAY NOT A CABLE RELAY SO IT CAUSES A DELAY IN SENDING THE MESSAGE TO THE MOTOR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, WHEN THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAVID STANLEY CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 614 W INTERSTATE 240 SERVICE RD, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73139, (405) 632-3600), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,163. *TR*JB
WELL IT WOULD KIND OF STALL WHEN I BEGAN TO GIVE IT GAS THE RPMS WOULD GO UP N REV BUT IT DIDN'T KICK N GO FOR A MIN THAN IT WOULD BE OK UNTIL U STOPPED JBSTARTED TO GO AGAIN THAN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING N THE DRIVE WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON ME SO IT GOES IN EVERY GEAR BUT WON'T DRIVE
ON OCTOBER 19,2018 MY IN LAWS WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON ROUTE 61 IN PENNSYLVANIA. THEY CAN TO A RED LIGHT AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF A MINIVAN AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THEN WE DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WENT THE LENGTH OF A FOOTBALL FIELD AND THEY HIT A POLE AND MY MOTHER IN LAW DIED INSTANTLY AND MY FATHER IN LAW DIED AT 5:10 AM.MY CONCERN IS WHY ISN'T IT AN INDUSTRY STANDARD THAT ONCE THE AIRBAGS ARE DEPLOYED THE THROTTLE DOESN'T SHUT DOWN. IF THE THROTTLE WOULD HAVE NOT WORKED THEY WAY STILL BE ALIVE.IF YOU CANT HELP ME COULD YOU SEND ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
VEHICLE HAS A VERY ROUGH IDLE WHILE STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL CHANGE ROUGHLY IDLE AND SPEED UP THE VEHICLE. WHILE IN A STOPPING POSITION THE VEHICLE WILL ROUGHLY IDLE AND THE RPM INDICATOR WILL BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING AND SERVICE ESP WARNINGS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN STOPPED POSITION AND THEN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE MOST RECENT ONE REVVED AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, ALMOST HITTING THE CAR AT THE STOPLIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
VEHICLE WAS ON HIGHWAY GOING TO LEXINGTON KY FROM LOUISVILLE KY. CAR BEGIN TO SMOKE. HOSE THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ON RADIATOR WAS RIGGED AND OIL SPILLED FROM THE HOSE CAUSING IT TO GO INTO ENGINE. ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE DIED. HAD TO GET CAR TOWED FROM ONE CITY TO THE NEXT. GOT STRANDED IN ANOTHER TOWN BECAUSE COULD NOT OBTAIN A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE THEY WERE CLOSED. SINCE 2016 I HAVE SPENT OVER $7000 ON GETTING THE SAME ISSUES OR RELATED ISSUES FIXED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $5000 IN RENTAL CARS AND I STILL OWE $9000 ON MY CAR WHICH I PURCHASED FROM BALES AUTOMALL/BACHMAN IN JEFFERSONVILLE INDIANA IN 2014 WITH ON 28,000 MILES. I HAVE KEPT MY SERVICES UP TO DATE ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE DOCUMENTATION FOR THAT. IT SEEMS ONCE I BEGIN TO GET OIL CHANGES AT THIS LOCATION MY CAR BEGIN TO DECLINE. I WOULD BE TOLD THAT I HAD ONE PROBLEM, THEY WOULD FIX IT, AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE WOULD HAPPEN. IN ADDITION, I HAVE A WITNESS WHO IS A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL CAR THAT SHE OWNS. I SEE HER GOING THROUGH THE SAME DOWN SPIRAL STEPS WITH HER CAR AS I DID. IT IS ALMOST LIKE CLOCKWORK. I HAVE READ CONSUMER REPORTS ABOUT THESE VEHICLES AND NONE HAVE BEEN POSITIVE. IN FACT, MANY WHO HAVE A TURBO ENGINE WILL OR HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE. THE CAR IS A LEMON... IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!! IT IS UNFAIR THAT I PURCHASED A CAR THAT WAS NO GOOD AND THAT ONLY RAN GOOD FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE HAVING TO REPLACE THE TURBO TWICE AND THE ENGINE. LET ME REITERATE.. I STILL OWE $9000 ON THIS CAR. AT THIS POINT I AM CLUELESS AND I FEEL AS IF I WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THE BBB;GMC AND OTHER SOURCES THEY LED ME ON FOR WEEKS KNOWING THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN THE MATTER. BECAUSE OF THIS WHOLE FIASCO I HAVE ANXIETY IN WHICH I AM TAKING MEDICATION. PLEASE HELP DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO
I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED CAR ON JAN. 2015. SINCE MID-2016 (ONE AND A HALF YEAR SINCE I OWNED THE CAR) I'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON EVERY NOW AND THEN, AND GEAR SHIFTING BECAME SIGNIFICANTLY LAGGING AROUND 30MPH. EVERY SINGLE TIME IN A SERVICE APPOINTMENT (WHICH I TOOK STRICTLY ON SCHEDULE FOR EVERY 3 MONTHS), I WOULD POINT THAT OUT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY WOULD CLAIM THAT THEY TESTED EVERYTHING AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM THEY DETECTED. WHILE LAST WEEK (LATE JUNE 2017, 2 AND A HALF YEARS SINCE I OWNED THE CAR, AND INTERESTINGLY 5 MONTHS AFTER ALL MY WARRANTY EXPIRED), I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE BACK HOME FROM OFFICE VIA THE HIGHWAY. WHILE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND SPEEDUP, I NOTICED THAT MY ENGINE SPEED WENT UPS AND DOWNS IN A SERIOUS, UNCOMMON, RAPID MANNER. THERE WAS ALSO AN UNPLEASANT NOISE COMING OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. MY CAR SERIOUSLY SHAKES, AND ALL GEAR SHIFTING ATTEMPTS BECAME USELESS. THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND WENT TO NEUTRAL GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY--WHICH PUSHED ME TO A VERY DANGEROUS EMERGENCY SITUATION. FORTUNATELY I MADE IT STOPPED BY THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND MANAGED TO CALL THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. MY CAR WAS FINALLY TOWED TO THE CLOSEST CHEVY DEALERSHIP, AND UPON DIAGNOSTICS THEY REPLIED THAT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PART, IT WOULD COST ME $4100. IT WAS THE SAME AMOUNT FOR SELLING THE SAME MODEL WITH GOOD CONDITION !!!! I READ EVERY COMPLAINTS FOR 2011 CHEVY CRUZE REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AND FOUND VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FOR ALL THE CASES. IT ALL HAPPENED ON THE 2011 MODULE, TRANSMISSION SYSTEM GOT FAILED AROUND 50K~60K MILEAGE, AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE PART.
BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH 51K MILES A MONTH AGO. DROVE GREAT THE FIRST WEEK, AFTER THAT LOSES POWERUPON ACCELERATION AND IS SLOW TO GET UP TO SPEED. WHILE DRIVING JUST NOW, THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER SO I DECIDED TO HIT THE GAS HARDER AND INSTEAD OF GOING FASTER THE THE STABILITY TRACK LIGHT CAME ON. I AM STARTING TO WONDER IF I MADE A BAD DECISION PURCHASING THIS CAR. IT HAD TROUBLE GOING UP HILL ON THE HIGHWAY LAST WK. THIS CAR IS TOO COMPACT TO HAVE SPEED ISSUES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER SON. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OR LESS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCED POWER, TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,468.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET, THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. JUST AS IT WAS ABOUT TO MOVE FORWARD AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, IT WENT INTO ENGINE POWER REDUCED MODE AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED. THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. HAD TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC. THE CONDITIONS WERE COLD (ABOUT 20 DEGREES), WITH NO ICE. FURTHER WARNINGS INCLUDED TRACTION CONTROL SERVICING, BUT THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. MECHANIC IS SAYING IT IS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE.
TRANSMISSION JERKS EXTREMELY HARD. WHEN AIR IS ON CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE AT ALL. IDLES ON ITS OWN, JUMPS GEARS ALWAYS. FUEL SYSTEM IS BAD, IT CHOKES CONSTANTLY AND WONT START SOME DAYS. IT VIBRATES EXTREMELY HARD AND I HAD IT SERVICED 1 MONTH AGO FOR SHAFT CASE. THIS IS THE WORST CAR EVER!!!!!!! ITS A DANGER TO DRIVE IT WONT PICK UP SPEED AND WHEN THE AIR IS ON IT WONT MOVE AT ALL. IF STILL AT A LIGHT, IT WILL JERK EXTREMELY HARD TO WHERE IT JERKS ME. WHEN IN PARK IT IDLES ITSELF. IF I'M ENTERING ONTO THE HIGHWAY IT WONT PICK UP SPEED EVEN IF THE AIR IS NOT ON. WHEN I REVERSE AND GO BACK TO PARK IT JERKS EXTREMELY HARD. I HATE THIS CAR!!! SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WANT TO STOP.
CAR WILL SLOW TO 2 MPH WITH THE WARNINGS "LOW ENGINE MODE" AND "SERVICE STABILITRACK". CAN BE GOING ANY SPEED AND THIS HAPPENS. HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED 3 TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. EACH TIME THEY TELL US IT IS ANOTHER PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE. WE HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $2,000 ON REPAIRS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT MY [XXX] YEAR OLD SON WHO DRIVES THIS VEHICLE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY WITH A SEMI BEHIND HIM, THE SEMI WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO THAT SPEED THAT FAST AND WILL RUN RIGHT OVER HIM. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE ON 2011-2015 CRUZE VEHICLES THAT YOU CAN FIND ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET (EVEN ON GM FORUM). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE FROM THIS ISSUE BEFORE A RECALL IS MADE ON THESE VEHICLES? *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC
WHIFE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON SLOWS DOWN TO ABOUT 20 VERY DANGEROUS 4TH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO HER.CHEVY DEALER FIXED IT SAID IT WAS ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DID IT AGAIN. ON THE WAY HOME AND TO WORK
STABILITY TRAC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. EXPERIENCED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES. DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER I WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY A BIG RIG. DEALER CAN NOT IDENTIFY CODES ONLY CODE THAT APPEARED WAS PO171,FUEL TRIM LEAN CODE WAS ADDRESSED BY DEALER, DEALER CLAIMS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT WAS TIED TO THE P0171 CODE. WHILE DRIVING HOME EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND ROUGH SHIFTING. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS APPEARED. VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE BURNT OIL, AND NOTICED A LOUD TICKING NOISE. NOTIFIED DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT IS NORMAL VEHICLE WILL BE FINE AFTER 400 MILES OF DRIVING. MY FAMILIES LIFE WILL BE PLACED IN JEAPORDY FOR THE NEXT 400 MILES. THE UNRESPONSIVE ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
ALMOST TO INTO A HUGE ACCIDENT DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY AT A SPEED OF 35MPH WHEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE GAS. IT FELT LIKE MY GEARS WERE SHIFTING WITHOUT ME SHIFTING THEM. I REALLY DON'T KNOW TO MUCH ABOUT CARS BUT I KNOW THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INTO AN BUSY INTERSECTION, I FLOORED MY CAR AND QUICKLY REALIZED MY ENGINE HAD DRASTICALLY REDUCED POWER. THE CAR WAS HARDLY MOVING. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING, JUST NO ACCELERATION. LUCKILY, THE DRIVER BARRELING UP BEHIND WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER INTO THE OTHER LANE OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
PRACTICALLY EVERY DAY I DRIVE MY CAR, I EXPERIENCE EXTREME SHIFTING AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES. SPECIFICALLY, I HAVE TO FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL FOR THE CAR TO MOVE FROM 2ND TO 3RD SHIFT. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC CAR, AND IT DRIVES LIKE A POORLY SHIFTING MANUAL. IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL, RATHER THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH AND LOUDLY, YET THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. IT ALSO HAS MADE LOUD POPPING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR FILLS WITH AN EXHAUST SMELL, AND DURING THE WINTER COOLANT SMELL IS OBVIOUS IN AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING-AND FEEL UNSAFE-DRIVING THIS CAR AND IT IS ALMOST FOUR YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES! I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THE BELOW DATES AND THEY CANNOT ?DUPLICATE THE ISSUE?, THUS HAVE NOT FIXED IT. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR 3-WEEKS! I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE DEALERSHIP IS EVEN DAILY TESTING, OR DRIVING, THE CAR. I DO KNOW, HOWEVER, IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE SHIFTING AND ACCELERATING IS UNRELIABLE AND WILL MOST DOUBTABLE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT INJURING MYSELF AND/OR OTHERS. I HAVE ALSO CALLED GM AND NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE VERY UNHELPFUL, STATING THEY NEVER HEARD OF A SHIFTING/TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE CHEVY CRUZE, WHEN IN FACT THE 2011 CHEVY CRUZE WAS RECALLED FOR SHIFTING LOCK CABLE. I HAVE RECEIVED, UNSOLICITED; A LETTER FROM A LAWFIRM TO SUE GM NOTING THIS EXACT ISSUES SHIFTING/POWER ISSUES (AMONGST FAULTY WATER PUMPS, WHICH I ALSO HAD REPLACED AFTER ONLY OWING THE CAR 2-YEARS), SO CLEARLY THERE ARE MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES. DATES BROUGHT MY CAR TO (SULLIVAN'S ONEILLS IN AVON, CT) 1/16/2015; 5/2/2015; 5/09/2015;5/13/2015; 6/24/2015; 7/17/2015 MY GM SERVICE TICKETS ARE 71-1490864298 & 71-1490864298. THE CAR IS EITHER A LEMON, OR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR SHIFTING/TRANSMISSION ISSUES.
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HOME FROM WORK AT THE END OF JANUARY, I FELT IT SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. I HAD A MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY TO SERVICE STABILITRAK AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I HAD NO POWER TO THE CAR AND HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I TURNED MY CAR OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THEN BACK ON, IT STARTED AND RAN FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. THEN AGAIN TODAY, FEB. 24TH, 2015, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING. I HAD TO MOVE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN EARLY MORNING TRAFFIC (NOT AN EASY THING TO DO!), AND TURN MY CAR OFF. I WAITED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, STARTED IT AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY INTO WORK WITHOUT PROBLEMS. AFTER READING THE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME SITUATIONS, I WOULD THINK IT'S TIME FOR A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT DUE TO THE SUDDEN REDUCTION OF POWER!! *JS
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Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026