2016 Chevrolet Cruze · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 41owner reports
- 53,825median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 17, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
174 of the 250 complaints on this car are about the engine. 41 of those describe stalling, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Cruze.
Tick what matches of 41 reports
Stalling 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: 2018.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (8 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.
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."
As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
All 4 recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
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 2016 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 30,000 and 80,000 miles, from the 27 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 7 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 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.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on.
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.
N192210240 Special Coverage Adjustment - Certain vehicles shown above, may have a condition that could cause the evaporative emissions purge valve to not fully close. If this condition occurs, the engine could run rough, hesitate or stall at idle speeds.
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 the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze page.
What owners wrote
“Stability Track came on randomly all of sudden car was stalling, running poorly and smell Gas , sure enough leaking Gas Everywhere, very dangerous. Lucky car did not catch on fire. I am still paying for this car. Just thankful no one got injured. THERE IS NO RECALLS FOR THIS VIN ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE.”
Filed Sep 2, 2023
“Was at a red light and my car shut off. It started back up and I was able to get home. I am now afraid my car will just stop while driving and I will crash and die”
Filed Sep 12, 2022
“The car randomly shuts off when driving. It also has problems with accelerating when the AC system is turned on.”
Filed Sep 7, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 41 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Check engine light or misfire 37 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 34 reports