Compact cars · model years 2014 to 2018
Chevrolet Cruze vs Toyota Corolla: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Cruze looks better on 4 and the Corolla on 2, with 1 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2018 | Cruze | Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 8.8% | 26% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 2.4% | 1.0% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 4.5% | 16% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 55,000 | 34,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 3.4 | 1.0 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 0 | 2 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Cruze owners complain about most is engine; for the Corolla it is airbags. Complaints citing engine make up 35% of all Cruze complaints, against 7.2% on the Corolla. The Corolla leans the other way on airbags: 29% of its complaints, against 8.5% for the Cruze.
Chevrolet CruzeToyota Corolla
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Cruze is stalling (14% of its complaints). On the Corolla it is airbag problems (29% of its complaints), against 8.5% on the Cruze.
| Problem | Cruze | Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| Airbag warning light or recall | 8.5% 123most in 2014 · 56k mi | 29% 278most in 2014 · 38k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 14% 199most in 2014 · 57k mi | 4.5% 4424k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 6.7% 97most in 2014 · 40k mi | 10.0% 97most in 2016 · 19k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 13% 184most in 2014 · 69k mi | 2.2% 2165k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 9.6% 140most in 2014 · 54k mi | 4.0% 39most in 2014 · 61k mi |
| Seat belt or seat problems | 1.9% 2873k mi | 8.5% 83most in 2016 · 36k mi |
| Engine overheats or leaks coolant | 10% 149most in 2014 · 73k mi | 0 |
| Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on | 8.5% 124most in 2014 · 63k mi | 1.2% 12 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Corolla owners report problems earlier. Half the Corolla complaints that give a mileage come before 34,000 miles; for the Cruze the halfway point is 55,000. 44% of Cruze reports and 65% of Corolla reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Chevrolet CruzeToyota Corolla
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 961 for the Cruze and 576 for the Corolla.
Worst and best years
The 2014 Cruze draws 2.4 times the complaints of a typical Cruze year for its age. The 2020 Corolla draws 2.2 times the complaints of a typical Corolla year for its age.
Chevrolet CruzeToyota Corolla
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Cruze draws more recalls: 3.4 campaigns per model year against 1.0 for the Corolla. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Chevrolet Cruze
17 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (4), airbags (4) and electrical (1).
- 16V-502 (electrical) covers 3 model years
- 18V-304 (fuel system) covers 3 model years
Toyota Corolla
5 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: visibility (1), airbags (1) and equipment (1).
- 20V-024 (airbags) covers 5 model years
- 19V-503 (equipment) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
- EA19001: Electrical overstress (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Corolla complaints report a crash: 26%, against 8.8% for the Cruze. Fire reports: 35 for the Cruze and 10 for the Corolla. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Cruze and 2 in the Corolla for these model years.
Chevrolet CruzeToyota Corolla
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Chevrolet Cruze or the Toyota Corolla more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Cruze looks better on 4 and the Corolla on 2, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Cruze has 1,455 complaints and the Corolla 972 for model years 2014 to 2018, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Cruze or the Corolla?
The Cruze has 17 recall campaigns and the Corolla 5 across model years 2014 to 2018. The Cruze draws more recalls: 3.4 campaigns per model year against 1.0 for the Corolla.
What are the most common problems on the Cruze and the Corolla?
The most reported problem on the Cruze is stalling (14% of its complaints). On the Corolla it is airbag problems (29% of its complaints), against 8.5% on the Cruze.
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