2014 Chevrolet Cruze · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 71owner reports
- 78,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Aug 21, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
224 of the 643 complaints on this car are about the engine. 71 of those describe overheating.
Tick what matches of 71 reports
Overheating on other Cruze years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2018.
What this problem usually is
Most owners in this group notice the coolant before they notice the heat: a reservoir that keeps dropping, a sweet smell, or a bright puddle under the front of the car. Across the vehicles on this site, about four in five of these complaints mention coolant, a leak or a puddle, and roughly two in five mention the temperature gauge or overheating.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the water pump (31 reports), the head gasket (17 reports), the thermostat (13 reports) and the radiator (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2014 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Cruze
Chapman chevrolet / cruze engine recall. Closed oct 20, 2014.
Engine compartment fire. Closed jul 19, 2012, led to recall 12V-288.
None of these investigations covers the 2014 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 50,000 and 115,000 miles, from the 39 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 9 service bulletins or notices for the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
14371B SPECIAL COVERAGE (LABOR CODE REVISED). SOME 2011-2014 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES AND SOME 2012-2014 CHEVROLET SONIC VEHICLES WITH THE 1.4L ENGINE MAY HAVE AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP.
14371A SPECIAL COVERAGE (REVISED WARRANTY INFORMATION). SOME VEHICLES WITH THE 1.4L ENGINE MAY HAVE AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP.
GENERAL MOTORS: 2011-2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE CHEVROLET SONIC/ W 1.4L ENGINE(RPO LUJ OR LUV): SOME MODEL VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE ENGINE COOLANT LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP. THIS COULD REDUCE COOLANT PERFORMANCE AND CAUSE OVERHEATING.
GENERAL MOTORS :2011-2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE, CHEVROLET SONIC W/ 1.4L ENGINE: SOME MODEL VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE ENGINE COOLANT LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP. *LJ SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNERS LETTER *LJ
5 more on the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze page.
What owners wrote
“My car smells like oil burning with white smoke .and the valve cover leaks and the head gasket is damaged I need help still an issue the air bag light on.this car is un safe.”
Filed Jun 9, 2024
“On dash it says 1. engine overheated; idle engine 2. A/c off due to high engine temp 3. Fan will spin in high speed and stays on when you turn off the car”
Filed Jun 29, 2023
“I had tried to enter my address is in Canada not the states⦠I have had to fix my car couple times and issue has not been resolved as I would get a dashboard warning that the oil pressure is low and to turn off the vehicle. The coolant overheat to the point itâs boiling. There is a recall for this issue however not sure why this vehicle does not qualify as itâs a safety hazard”
Filed Apr 12, 2023
“When I took my vehicle to the dealer on 2-24-23 they inform me my head gasket failed the my engine wasnât any good due to overheating the coolant was leaking inside the engine. I took the vehicle to the dealer when antifreeze wouldnât stay in the reservoir and white smoke from the exhaust and as 4-12-23 my vehicle is still at the dealer.”
Filed Apr 12, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 71 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 93 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 77 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 71 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 67 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 66 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 43 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 36 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 34 reports
- Windshield wipers stop working 32 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 30 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 28 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 25 reports