Diagsheet

2016 Chevrolet Cruze · symptom sheet

Check engine light or misfire

  • 37owner reports
  • 71,600median miles
  • $2,000median quote
  • 3involved a crash

Newest report Aug 24, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

159 of the 249 complaints on this car are about the engine. 37 of those describe misfire. Only stalling is reported more often on this car.

Tick what matches of 37 reports

7
1
2
4
2
13

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the sensor (6 reports).

Recalls and investigations

2 recalls on the engine cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

18V-304May 10, 2018
Fuel System, Gasoline

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
Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
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.
16V-502Jul 5, 2016
Electrical System:Ignition

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
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.

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 2016 model year.

What owners paid

9 of the 37 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,000 to $6,000.

$1,000$2,000$6,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 59,000 and 90,000 miles, from the 29 reports that gave a mileage.

116
117
318
819
620
921
222
523
124
126

What owners wrote

“My tire pressure sensor keeps coming on even after I had it worked on. 3 of them shows the pressure level but one shows 2 lines but no pressure level but there’s air in the tire. The other problem I’m having is the check engine light is on. Please advise if any issues are recalls or do I need to take my car to a service center. Thank you”

Filed Dec 26, 2024

“Keep having the engine light on. First time it was my Catalyst and now my engine light is on again with code P0420 and keeps leaving from the coolant”

Filed Feb 10, 2023

“When slowing down car just dies out. Not check engine light on and no codes are being thrown. It’s very dangerous when your on the freeway In stop and go traffic and your car just dies with out warning. Everything freezes up the steering and brakes. Thankful car starts back up after a few minutes”

Filed Jul 28, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 3 of 37 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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.

Other problems on this car