Second generation (J400)
2016 Chevrolet Cruze
The most reported problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is stalling, with 41 complaints, usually around 54,000 miles.
- 250owner complaints
- 4recalls
- 19involved a crash
- 60,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 17, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Cruze doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2016 model year.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze has 250 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 232 for 2016 sedans on this site. Of the 6 Cruze model years since 2014, it has the 3rd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 23 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs close to the 2017 (20). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Stalling has 41 complaints and misfire has 37, out of 250 in all. A quarter of the 27 owners who gave a mileage for stalling saw it by about 30,000 miles, and half by about 54,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 27 of the 250 complaints (11%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 19 reports mention a crash, 6 mention a fire and 14 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 12 of 19, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as stalling, misfire and overheating. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2020 at 44 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 4. So far in 2026, 8 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine stalls or loses power while driving, 41 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
250 complaints is about the median for a 2016 model on this site and about the median for a 2016 sedan. Among the 5 Cruze model years here it ranks 3rd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet filed 1,332 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. 100 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. 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.
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 5 bulletins · 41 complaints
This Preliminary information communicates A vehicle may have a concern of running poor and stalling. No trouble codes may be set referencing this condition. Fuel trims around -20% may be observed on both banks.
This Preliminary information communicatesIn ambient temperatures 100F (37.7 C)degrees or higher, DTCs P2635 and/or P018B may set.The vehicle may also exhibit a hesitation or stalling condition.Excessively Hot and sustained ambient temperatures over 100F (37.7 ...
3 more on this problem
THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ON THE STEPS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR VEHICLES THAT STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND OR WILL NOT CRANK OVER AND OR THE BATTERY LIGHT OR SERVICE CHARGING SYSTEM MESSAGE BEING ON.
46000 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain 2016 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles may have a loose connection at the battery negative terminal to ground stud.
THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO INSPECT THE G114 GROUND AND REPAIR AS NEEDED TO CORRECT A CUSTOMER CONCERN THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS, WILL NOT START, A/C DOES NOT WORK OR THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY DUE TO A LOOSE GROUND CONNECTION ...
Check engine light or misfire 32 bulletins · 37 complaints
This service bulletin provides procedures to correct customer concerns of Poor Engine Performance in Extremely Cold Weather Conditions, Charge Air Cooler (CAC) Icing - Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated with DTCs P0299, P0234, P0236, P2227, P00C7 ...
This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce ...
30 more on this problem
This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to ...
This Preliminary information communicates information that will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
This Preliminary information communicates the possibility of dtc p0299 p0234 setting due to oil/moisture cndensate freezing in Turbocharger Wastegate Regulator Solenoid Valve (TCV) during cold weather driving
This service bulletin provides diagnostic tips/steps on testing for possible EVAP leaks in the system to correct a customer concern of an MIL Illuminated with DTCs P0442 and/or P0455 Set.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about engine block of possible cylinder bore damage, scoring or out of round as the possible cause of engine oil consumption, misfire, cylinder leakage or blow by.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a Malfunction Indicator Lamp on. The technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0299 or P0234 set.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a rough idle or misfire. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code P0300 set in the Engine Control Module.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Check Engine Light Illuminated, DTC P0606 Set in Engine Control Module.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to correct a condition of an MIL Illuminated with DTC P0446 Set.
This informational bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to ...
Plus 20 older ones not listed here.
Airbag warning light or recall 2 bulletins · 21 complaints
THIS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON LOCATING AND RECONNECTING AIRBAG CONNECTORS THAT ARE NOT FULLY SEATED TO CORRECT A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF AN AIRBAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED, OR ONE, OR MORE, AIRBAG DTC(S) SET.
This informational bulletin provides information on Passenger Presence System (PPS) May Command Seat Belt Reminder Chime and Passenger Airbag Indicator On or Set DTC B101D When Electronic Devices or Conductive Objects are Placed on Front Passenger Seat
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 2 bulletins · 19 complaints
This service bulletin provides information for tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system concerns.
This informational bulletin provides information on installing the correct tires for vehicles with the condition of under hard acceleration at higher speeds, the traction control light will flash.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 46 bulletins · 17 complaints
This informational bulletin provides information on Normal Radio Display Operation ? Display Does Not Remain Off at Times After Being Turned Off in Settings and no parts should be replaced due to this condition.
This informational bulletin provides Information on Using Voice Pass-Thru to Access Voice Recognition Commands on Cell Phone and how it does not work on models equipped with IOA and IOB radios.
44 more on this problem
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Navigation radio does not have a global positioning system location but OnStar is able to accurately locate the vehicle.
N172097060 Special Coverage Adjustment. Certain vehicles may have a condition where the Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) modules may fail or malfunction due to water intrusion.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using Bluetooth voice recognition with an iPhone.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the radio will not retain the previous settings and will go to the Home Icon screen when the vehicle is restarted.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the ECM to correct a condition of When Accelerating and/or Coming to a Stop at Low Speed, Speedometer May Suddenly Jump and/or Radio Volume May Suddenly Increase if Speed Compensated Volume Feature is ...
This informational bulletin provides information for the technicians on multi-media infotainment tester (MIT), does not function properly when diagnosing infotainment complaints, which may lead to mis-diagnosis.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to clear the codes and re-evaluate the XM radio channels to correct a condition of audio muting when listening to some Sirius XM channels but if they change channels they will find others that experience normal ...
This preliminary information bulletin provides a procedure on how to check for the customer concern of a blank radio with/without audio, by checking the the wiring harness, ECU and reprograming the HMI software update, if the wiring or ECU are not the cause.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the navigation system will be unable to enter addresses that contain diacritics using the touch screen.
This technical bulletin provides repair information for repairing the IP to body harness connector to correct a customer concern for intermittent Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated with Reduced Engine Power displayed and DTC P2138 set.
Plus 34 older ones not listed here.
Battery dies or the car will not start 6 bulletins · 16 complaints
16147 01 Customer Satisfaction Program. On certain vehicles, the center high mount stop lamp (CHMSL) fasteners may back off over time and cause a water leak, allowing water to flow into the rear compartment battery tub.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to help the dealership technicians perform a parasitic drain test for the OnStar module.
4 more on this problem
16147 Customer Satisfaction. On certain vehicles, the center high mount stop lamp (CHMSL) fasteners may back off over time and cause a water leak, allowing water to flow into the rear compartment battery tub.
50120 01 Customer Satisfaction (service procedure revised). Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the bolt attaching the positive battery cable to the rear fuse block may not be properly attached.
50120 - Customer Satisfaction. Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the bolt attaching the positive battery cable to the rear fuse block may not be properly attached.
This preliminary informational bulletin provides information on a learn procedure on the battery sensor module on vehicles that have conditions of Stop/Start System is Inoperable After a System Repair and No DIC Message or DTC is Set
Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 1 bulletin · 16 complaints
This informational bulletin provides information on Some vehicles may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk noise.
Turbo failure or loss of boost 6 bulletins · 12 complaints
This preliminary informational bulletin provides information on Damaged, Disassembled or Improperly Packaged Turbochargers Returned to Warranty Part Center.
This Preliminary Information is to assist in the isolation of a rattle noise from the turbocharger wastegate actuator rod.
4 more on this problem
16008 - Emission Recall. The ?Jiffy-Tite? fitting on the turbocharger oil feed pipe may not have been tightened to the specified torque. A fitting not tightened to specification may result in an engine oil leak.
This preliminary informational bulletin was created to inform Service Agents or Dealers, they may be charged back for parts and labor due to the turbo-chargers are being returned to the Warranty Parts center damaged, improperly assembled or missing parts and ...
THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT VEHICLES WITH A RATTLE NOISE FROM ENGINE AREA WHILE DRIVING. TECHNICIAN WILL NEED TO CHECK THE TORQUE ON TURBOCHARGER MOUNTING BOLTS.
This preliminary informational bulletin provides dealership personnel with policies and procedures regarding damaged, disassembled or improperly packaged turbochargers returned to Warranty Part Center.
Complaints filed by year
44 complaints came in 2020. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.
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 and remedy
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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: GM will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a GM dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet Customer Service Department at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 50190.
All 4 recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
Stalling, with 41 of the 250 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 54,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Cruze problems start?
Of the 155 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 28,000 miles and half by about 60,000.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has about as many complaints as the 2017: 23 a year against 20.
How many 2016 Chevrolet Cruze complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
27 of them (11%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for stalling on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
No recall on file for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is on the same system as stalling. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.