2015 Chevrolet Cruze · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 44owner reports
- 68,648median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 20, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
104 of the 252 complaints on this car are about the engine. 44 of those describe overheating, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 Cruze.
Tick what matches of 44 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 (18 reports), the coolant hose or reservoir (11 reports), the thermostat (10 reports) and the head gasket (8 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2015 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 2015 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 59,213 and 87,000 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“87,000 miles on the car. 6 incidences of coolant system failure within the last 2 years/3,000 miles. This car costs me over $1000 in repairs every 3 months. I have replaced the water outlet, water pump (several times), cracked reservoir, and camshaft cover failure (this is covered by a warranty, thankfully).”
Filed Dec 6, 2022 · 87,000 miles
“Coolant leaking, was repaired. Now coolant mixed into oil causing overheating and a blown head gasket. Car now needs major repairs under 100,000 miles. I see recalls for 2013-2014 Models but none for 2015.”
Filed Nov 16, 2022 · 100,000 miles
“Coolant leak and engine overheating from Thermostat housing issue. 2nd time we have taken it in for this problem in 2 months after initial repair.”
Filed Jul 25, 2022
“Leak from passenger side of the engine, next to air items intake,it is a coolant because I see orange color and I put about 6oz every other day”
Filed Jan 29, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 44 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
- Check engine light or misfire 30 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 30 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 29 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 25 reports