2016 Chevrolet Cruze · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 34owner reports
- 73,000median miles
- $1,400median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
108 of the 250 complaints on this car are about the engine. 34 of those describe overheating.
Tick what matches of 34 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 coolant hose or reservoir (8 reports), the water pump (5 reports), the thermostat (5 reports) and the head gasket (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2016 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 2016 model year.
What owners paid
6 of the 34 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,339 to $2,919.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 66,050 and 93,868 miles, from the 18 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“car has been overheating run while i take the keys out doors will lock with keys in the ignition lots of lights will come on car will slow way down constantly adding antifreeze in it heat and air will stop working i have had trouble ever since i bought this a year ago”
Filed Aug 27, 2026
“The turbo has gone out twice, it was replaced under an extended warranty policy and it has gone out again and is out of warranty, also the plastic intake manifold has gone bad again. also there is a plastic piece that comes off the engine and distributes coolant to the heater core etc...it has gone bad as well and is common on all 1.4 turbos..”
Filed Nov 22, 2024
“It suddenly come up with ac off to keep engine feom overheating on message .I have had 4 theromstat housings put on in the last month and it is still leaking around housing and leaking coolant out onto ground and thit has only 73000 miles .Yes it will be available to inspect if in local area afraid to drive to far and i still owe a year on this car.”
Filed Jun 4, 2023 · 73,000 miles
“Paid thousands of dollars into getting a thermostat housing and thermostat leaking antifreeze a couple months ago started leaking antifreeze again just now”
Filed Dec 29, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 34 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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 41 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 37 reports