2018 Chevrolet Cruze Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
-The engine experienced internal failure resulting in low compression in cylinder 1. The failure has rendered the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle and engine are currently available for inspection upon request. The issue was diagnosed and confirmed by both an independent mechanic and an authorized Chevrolet dealership. Both identified low compression in cylinder 1 due to internal engine failure. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent mechanic and an authorized Chevrolet dealership at the request of General Motors. The vehicle became undrivable due to the engine issue. There were no significant prior warnings that would have indicated imminent internal engine failure. The check engine light turned on 2/9/26 and was first taken into a shop the next day, 2/10/26.
EGR Cooler issues. Has been confirmed by dealer. CEL light on. I’ve been told GM “has issues” with these…GM should issue recall.
My vehicle would jerk while driving and sometimes not want to even go at a stop light when it turned green. Check engine light has been on. Even when I was at a stop light it would just start jerking forward. I took it to an automotive repair shop after replacing multiple parts on the vehicle. Automotive shop ran a compression test and said it failed. Internal cylinder issue. So the vehicle barely runs and I just got it close to three years ago.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruz. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the ECM. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Product Emission Recall 18239. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 99,000.
About 10 days ago, my check engine light came on. I stopped at O’Reilly Auto Parts to have it diagnosed with a code. It threw a code for the turbo in my 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. It went off later that day. Today, it came back on and sent a message, “Engine power decreased”. I noticed no change in power or anything. Could this just be a sensor?
I noticed oil drips on ground and was having to add oil. Took to dealership for diagnosis and it was found that my lower oil pan was Croated and leaking. Replaced under warranty but still should not happen on a 3 1/2 year old vehicle with 62300 miles on it that is well taken care of. I used 3 quarts in a matter of 3 weeks driving less that 500 miles. 1 quart was used just waiting for repair.
Engine performance dropped noticeably, tire pressure system alert lighted, and stability track turned off. Then within a short period of time, some 30 minutes, the engine warning light activity (steady). All of this happened shortly after the 3-year warranty expired although I was having some engine roughness a few days before three years. Made an appointment at the Chevy dealership and the issue was diagnosed to a misfire on cylinder #1. Apparently, the insulator around the center electrode of the spark plug separated and slipped down. After a bit of research and asking the dealer for Chevy TSB #PIP5657D, NHTSA TSB #10201263, I was startled to find this is a somewhat frequent-enough problem affecting a number of GM models using 1.4L engine as used in my Cruze. I had a forthright conversation with Chevy dealer that this was a warranty issue as my OnStar alerted me to an emissions system malfunction. I also called GM and ACDelco, the spark plug manufacturer, and they claimed nothing or no issues. This is a safety concern to me. Paid almost $400 to have four spark plugs replaced at 3-years and only 7,000 miles; ACDelco warrants the spark plugs for 7-years or 100,000 miles!. Unacceptable.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED, AND LOST POWER WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED OR WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET OF PALATINE (151 E LAKE COOK RD, PALATINE, IL 60074, (847) 359-7700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TURBO LAG. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS RESET AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, THE PROBLEM NEVER STOPPED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,148. *TT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOW BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AS OF 8-21-19. I WAS ADVISED BY LU (A WOMAN), THAT A SENIOR ADVISER WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH WITHIN 2 BUSINESS DAYS, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE AS OF YET. FYI I ENCOUNTERED SOMEONE AT A GAS STATION THAT ADVISED ME THAT HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS CAR (SAME MAKE & MODEL), WHEN HIS AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. HE GAVE ME HIS CONTACT INFO: FERNANDO GARCIA - PH#: (773)949-0922.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, A POP NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND BLACK SMOKE SHOT OUT FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY FLAMES THAT QUICKLY COVERED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. BOTH POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A ROADRUNNER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE GERRY LANE CHEVROLET DEALER (225-366-7962, LOCATED AT 6505 FLORIDA BLVD, BATON ROUGE, LA 70806) WHERE THE DEALER DENIED RESPONSIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND LEFT THE MATTER UP TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,600.
CAR HAD GREATLY REDUCED FUEL ECONOMY AND POWER. SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN. CHEVY DID NOT RESPOND TO MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GET RENTAL. THEY FORCED ME TO DRIVE A CAR THAT WAS NOT OPERATING AS DESIGNED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND THEY AGREED THE CAR HAD ISSUES. 2 WEEKS AFTER DRIVING IT THEY FIGURED OUT TURBO HAS A LEAK THAT THEY FIXED. 2 WEEKS I DROVE A CAR THAT SOUNDED LIKE A JET UPON ACCELERATING AND CHEVY DID NOTHING. DIDN'T EVEN OFFER A RENTAL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO QUIRK CHEVROLET OF PORTLAND (LOCATED AT 1000 BRIGHTON AVE, PORTLAND, ME 04102, (207) 420-8968) AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FAST ON THE HIGHWAY TO CLEAR THE FILTER, WHICH WOULD TURN OFF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 94989017128. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,900.
I WAS LEAVING WORK ON 11-30-18 @ 5P.M. STARTED DRIVING DOWN LA HARPE BLVD, LIKE I DO EVERYDAY AFTER WORK. IT WAS RAINING THAT AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK. I WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. I HAD IT TOWED TO CRAIN CHEVROLET WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. THE GM CERTIFIED MECHANIC CALLED US HALF AN HOUR AFTER THEY OPENED SATURDAY MORNING AND SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED AND THE ONLY WAY HE FOUND THAT OUT WAS JUST STARTING THE VEHICLE UP WITHOUT LOOKING @ THE VEHICLE FIRST. MY HUSBAND AND I WENT UP THERE SATURDAY AFTERNOON JUST TO ASK IF WE COULD TAKE A PEEK AT IT NONE OF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN APART AND HE WAS WRONG ON THREE DIFFERENT THINGS HE TOLD ME AND I WAS ABLE TO PROVE HIM WRONG ON THE SPOT HE JUST CHANGED TOPIC AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY I JUST THINK THERE'S SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON HERE. I BELIEVE IF THE PROPER DIAGNOSTICS WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE HE JUST STARTED UP THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN FIXED BUT WITH GM CERTIFIED MACANIC JUST STARTING UP MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE FORCED EVEN MORE WATER INTO THE ENGINE AND PRETTY MUCH MADE IT DO WHAT IT DID. WE MADE A CLAIM ON DECEMBER 1ST WITH FARM BUREAU & MADE A CLAIM WITH THE GM SENIOR ADVISOR ON THE SAME DATE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER JUST PRETTY MUCH WENT OUT THERE AND TOLD HIM TO JUST TEAR THE VEHICLE APART AND FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT DIDN'T ASK IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IT DONE OR NOT AND NOW ALL THE SUDDEN IT'S ALL TAKEN APART AND TOTALED OUT WE'RE STUCK WITH THE DEPRECIATION VALUE AND DEDUCTABLE AND NO VEHICLE. SENIOR ADVISOR FROM GM JUST GOT BACK TO US TODAY ON THE DEC. 4TH, DALEESA WAS SUPPOSED TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP (CRAIN) AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON WITH MY VEHICLE, INSTEAD DALEESA NEGLECTED TO CONTACT ME OR MY HUSBAND. THERE WAS DIFFERENTLY SOME NEGLIGENT ACTION ON CRAIN'S SIDE AND GM.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2018 Chevrolet Cruze has 12 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.