2015 Chevrolet Cruze · symptom sheet

Engine overheats or leaks coolant

43owner reports
68,648median miles
0involved a crash

Newest report Jul 11, 2024 · checked Sep 19, 2026

103 of the 251 complaints on this car are about the engine. 43 of those describe overheating, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 Cruze.

Tick what matches of 43 reports

the temperature gauge climbed into the red

coolant is disappearing or on the ground

white smoke from the tailpipe

the heater stopped blowing hot

the dealer found a head gasket or cracked block

the engine was replaced afterward

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the water pump (18 reports), the coolant hose or reservoir (10 reports), the thermostat (9 reports) and the head gasket (7 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the engine covers the 2015 model year as of Sep 19, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Cruze

AQ12-002opened Oct 15, 2012

Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2011 to 2012

Chapman chevrolet / cruze engine recall. Closed oct 20, 2014.

NHTSA summary

NHTSA opened AQ12-002 to determine whether Chapman Chevrolet of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C.Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations.The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and, in turn, that a dealer not sell a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed (49 U.S.C. ? 30120(i)). NHTSA issued an information request (IR) letter to Chapman Chevrolet on October 16, 2012.Chapman Chevrolet responded to this request on November 8, 2012.To gather additional information, NHTSA mailed an IR letter to General Motors LLC (GM) on February 25, 2013.GM responded to this request on April 1, 2013.NHTSA then issued a second IR letter to Chapman Chevrolet on July 2, 2013.Chapman Chevrolet supplied their response on July 30, 2013. NHTSA?s investigation indicated that Chapman Chevrolet sold and delivered 23 recalled vehicles that did not have the recall remedy completed at the time the vehicles were delivered to the customers.NHTSA therefore concluded that Chapman Chevrolet was liable for civil penalties for violations of the Safety Act, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. ? 30165.Under a Settlement Agreement dated October 1, 2014, Chapman Chevrolet paid compromised civil penalties in the amount of $50,000.This Audit Query

PE12-010opened Mar 28, 2012

Engine · model years 2011 to 2012

Engine compartment fire. Closed jul 19, 2012, led to recall 12V-288.

NHTSA summary

In a June 21, 2012 letter to NHTSA, General Motors LLC. (GM) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) identifying a defect in approximately 413,148 model year (MY) 2011 through 2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured from October 2, 2009 through May 31, 2012 (Recall 12V-288). According to GM, engine oil change procedures can result in spilling or dripping of oil on the engine shield.Also, manual transmission vehicles with a completely worn clutch may cause hydraulic fluid to be expelled from the clutch housing vent hole.If oil, debris or the burning hydraulic fluid contacts hot engine or exhaust system surfaces, and the engine shield, the shield may ignite and burn, leading to a possible engine compartment or vehicle fire.GM and its engine shield supplier, Hanwha, modified the engine shield to address factors that may contribute to engine compartment fire. The redesigned shields were completely implemented in production vehicles by June 2012.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by GM as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers. In total, there were 25 unique Chevrolet Cruze reports indicating hot surface ignition due to engine oil or hydraulic fluid contacting hot manifold, exhaust surfaces and the engine shield.Four additional fires were identified that resulted from other or unknown causes, including 1 attributed to a missing oil filler cap.Three fires of unknown cause all involved vehicles equipped with 1.4L L4 turbocha

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.

216

117

618

919

520

321

1122

523

124

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 43 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.