2015 Chevrolet Cruze problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze, most often about engine. There are 4 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 99
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 9
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Median mileage
- 83,465 mi at time of problem
Key facts
- Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 57 of 99 complaints (58%).
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion (14) and electrical system (13) follow.
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 83,465 mi.
- Owners reported 9 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries.
- The 2015 Chevrolet Cruze has 4 recalls on file.
- It ranks 8th of 9 Chevrolet Cruze model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
- That is 61% fewer complaints than the 2014 model year (252).
2015 Chevrolet Cruze problems by category
- Engine · 1 crash57 complaints
- Other / Unknown · 1 crash20 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion · 1 crash14 complaints
- Electrical System13 complaints
- Transmission & Drivetrain · 1 crash12 complaints
- Airbags · 7 crashes7 complaints
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech · 1 crash7 complaints
- Steering · 1 crash6 complaints
- Visibility & Wipers6 complaints
- Brakes · 1 crash4 complaints
- Seats & Seat Belts · 2 crashes2 complaints
- Acceleration & Cruise Control2 complaints
- Body & Structure · 1 crash1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 52 |
| Unknown or other | 20 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 |
| Power train | 12 |
| Electrical system | 12 |
| Air bags | 7 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 6 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2015 Chevrolet Cruze recalls (4)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
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 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured September 24, 2014, to May 29, 2015. In the affected vehicles, one of the driver-side seat belt assembly bolts may not be properly tightened.
Risk: An insufficiently torqued bolt may prevent the seat belt from holding the required load in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2016 Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15777.
- STEERING
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.
Risk: Separation of the tie rod from the steering gear could result in the loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15386.
- PARKING BRAKE
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured February 4, 2015, to February 9, 2015. The left-rear or right-rear parking brake cable brackets may not have been properly fastened during the assembly process. As a result, the fastening bolts may back out completely, causing the parking brake bracket to separate and the parking brake to not hold the vehicle in place. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: If the parking brake bracket separates, the parking brake may not hold the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll away and a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left-rear and right-rear parking brake brackets bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15135.
Recent 2015 Chevrolet Cruze complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Sep 20, 2026WVEngineOther / Unknown
It started over heating and I had to replace multiple coolant lines/hoses from the thermostat, heater core, the reservoir, radiator. Ive replace the intake diaphragm. Thought since all the pieces that got hot and cracked or broke got replaced that the issue was gone. Then one day I drove 8 mins into Ohio and it started smoking so I pulled off the road and had to have a tow truck come get it. It had blown a head gasket at least I thought but found out it had water in the oil…
NHTSA complaint #11765699 · source - Filed Jun 13, 2026INEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
I have replaced my whole engine and the cars fuel system.. my gas was backing into my oil along with the engine failing .. has happened again. This car has been a nightmare and just keeps failing. Strong gas and oil burning smell then car starts smoking. Had to shut it off in the middle of the road.
NHTSA complaint #11743926 · source - Filed Jan 29, 202690,000 miOHEngine
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was leaking oil from the top of the engine onto the drive belts. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V288000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #11714257 · source - Filed Jan 8, 2026113,000 miKYTowedDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the “Service Stabili-trak” message was displayed. The warning light turned on and off, and the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that the vehicle started jerking and rolling while on the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the…
NHTSA complaint #11709650 · source - Filed Dec 16, 2025OHOther / Unknown
Radiator leaks, car overheated. Looking online it is obvious that a lot of people have had this same issue, so why no recall. It's a peice of crap car, that is dangerous to drive.
NHTSA complaint #11705439 · source - Filed Jun 25, 2025TXElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionOther / Unknown
I understand this vehicle is over 10 years old. I bought this vehicle pre-owned and have only had it for less than 6 months. This vehicle has 71,000 miles on it and isn't very good condition cosmetically besides the gloss paint. As a widow, I needed a dependable vehicle for work purposes. Since I've had this vehicle I've had to replace the thermostat, I've had continued overheating issues, issues with the catalytic converters, the hoses and connectors becoming brittle and…
NHTSA complaint #11669241 · source - Filed May 12, 2025KYEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
I have had car repairs done identical with the 2014 models with the same exact issues described in those year recalls, car hesitant and jerking, breaking down on numerous occasions and replacing gaskets hoses and many codes common with fuel and traction control and finally engine blown!
NHTSA complaint #11660519 · source - Filed Mar 5, 2025WAEngine
I have had to replace the turbo 3 times now. My car was leaking oil where the the oil filter is so I replaced that whole part. I watched a video how to replace the part. And it said in the video to remove the plastic piece from the engine oil cooler filter housing if you have a turbo because it feeds oil to your turbo. Well my car had the original part on it and the plastic piece wasn't removed causing no oil to get to the turbo. And the turbo has glowed red hot almost…
NHTSA complaint #11646618 · source
Compare the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze with another vehicle →
Other 2015 Chevrolet models
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology