2017 Chevrolet Cruze · symptom sheet

Engine stalls or loses power while driving

26owner reports
36,000median miles
1involved a crash

Newest report Nov 18, 2025 · checked Sep 9, 2026

130 of the 201 complaints on this car are about the engine. 26 of those describe stalling. Only misfire is reported more often on this car.

Tick what matches of 26 reports

it stalled while driving

it stalled at idle or a stop

warning lights came on

it restarted right away

no code was stored

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the engine covers the 2017 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.

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 2017 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 18,511 and 70,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.

217

218

619

520

121

422

523

125

What owners wrote

“The piston in my front cylinder cracked while traveling causing safety issues including, inconsistent speeds, poor acceleration, engine cutting off while driving. While no accident/injury occurred while driving in this instance, it would have been easy for something to happen. The garage I took it took recommended against driving it as it could shut down at any time on the road.”
Filed Sep 28, 2023

“Vehicle had a cracked piston. Now the vehicle is very sluggish while accelerating from a stop. Burns a tremendous amount of fuel. Vehicle is also stalling frequently. Itâs been to Chevrolet twice and a mom and pop shop and nobody can figure out what the problem is.”
Filed Jul 24, 2023

“The car shut down in the middle of the highway which made me pull to the side and not so long after this incident the brakes stopped working for some time causing me to crash.”
Filed Oct 19, 2022

“The car acts as if itâs going to stall at every stop light and stop sign. It is slow to start and several times in the middle of a turn it just acts as if it stops.”
Filed Apr 25, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 26 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.