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 Sep 19, 2026

108 of the 249 complaints on this car are about the engine. 34 of those describe overheating.

Tick what matches of 34 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 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 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 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.

$1,339$1,400$2,919

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 66,050 and 93,868 miles, from the 18 reports that gave a mileage.

116

519

720

421

922

323

124

125

326

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

“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

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.