Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
NHTSA data on file today
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 733 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V502000 Key May Be Removed When Not In Park/FMVSS 114 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V360000 Possible Loss of Braking Assist NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V289000 FUEL TANK WELD SPOTS/FUEL LEAK/POSSIBLE FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V288000 OIL SPILLING OR DRIPPING/ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V273000 AUTO TRANS SHIFT LINK INSTALLATION/FMVSS 102 & 114 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V270000 STEERING GEAR SHAFT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V221000 STEERING WHEEL FASTENER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 257 complaints
- Power Train 193 complaints
- Electrical System 96 complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 75 complaints
- Unknown or Other 75 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 70 complaints
Of the 733 complaints on file, 38 report a crash and 20 a fire; across all 733 complaints, owners report 39 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze receives a below-average rating due to a significant number of complaints, especially in engine and power train components. With seven recall campaigns, including critical safety issues, reliability seems inconsistent. The available data predominantly highlights potential frequent engine and power train issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 80,000–100,000 miles | $1,000–$3,000 | common |
| power train | 70,000–90,000 miles | $800–$2,500 | common |
| electrical system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Tire rotation and balance
- Brake inspection and replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flush
- Battery replacement
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfires or noises
- Transmission slipping
- Electrical flickering or outages
- Unresponsive brakes
- Steering wheel vibration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.