Wrench.Pro

2013 Chevrolet Cruze Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2013 Chevrolet Cruze carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering ignition and electrical. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Engine overheating and coolant system leaks.” Chevrolet vehicles use the GM Oil Life System (OLS) — a percentage-based monitor that calculates oil life from driving conditions, not fixed mileage. When the OLS drops to 0%, oil and filter are due. The schedule below reflects GM's Normal Use intervals for everything else.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Campaign #16V502000 · May 7, 2016

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Campaign #14V417000 · Feb 7, 2014

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

Risk: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

Campaign #14V151000 · Mar 31, 2014

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with a 1.4L turbo engine, and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and March 7, 2014. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.

Risk: If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right half shaft, as needed, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. GM will send an interim letter to owners in May 2014. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's number for this recall is 14079. This is an expansion of recall 13V-452. NOTE: Some vehicles subject to this recall were subject to the recall campaign initiated in 2013. Some of those vehicles were repaired using defective parts. Those owners will be advised that they must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign and that having the earlier recall completed did not remedy their vehicles.

AIR BAGS

Campaign #14V372000 · Jun 26, 2014

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's front air bag inflator may have been manufactured with an incorrect part.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike and potentially seriously injure the vehicle occupants. Additionally, if the air bag does not inflate, the driver is at an increased risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14305.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

Campaign #13V452000 · Sep 23, 2013

Issue: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) and manufactured January 24, 2013, through August 1, 2013. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.

Risk: If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: General Motors has notified owners. Dealers will replace the half shaft assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 15, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300. This is General Motors campaign number 13276.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze.

Reported to NHTSA

Engine overheating and coolant system leaks

ENGINE

64 NHTSA complaints · 2019-05 → 2025-10

“Recall Bulletin: 14371B; water pump leaked causing a crack in the coolant reservoir, The dealership in charge of repair stated that the leak caused permanent engine damage and was now undrivable and needed a new engine”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11556749
“The 2013 Chevy Cruze is prone to overheating and there is always a coolant leak or something related to the coolant/antifreeze that is leaking or not correct”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11517398
“TOOK CAR IN FOR OVERHEATING AFTER HAVING HI TEMP WORNING COME ON. CHECKED COOLANT LEVELS IT WAS LOW. DEAL REPARED CAR PER RECALL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11298865

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

PCV valve and valve cover oil leaks

ENGINE

13 NHTSA complaints · 2019-08 → 2025-04

“Cracks in the diaphragm may have developed in the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) pressure regulator valve . This has caused my engine to run rough , especially when idle and have the engine trouble code for the fuel trim lean (PO171) displayed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11496641
“I HAVE AN 2013 CHEVY CRUZE 2LT 1.4L ENGINE. I DISCOVERED AN OIL LEAK UPON MY LAST OIL CHANGE AT 55,000 MILES. RECENTLY I DISCOVERED A SECOND OIL LEAK AT THE VALVE COVER AT 60,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11366462
“Countless oil leaks - replaced the valve cover /gasket and solenoids and countless other parts to stop the oil leak when it was coming from the intake manifold PVC system - I even replaced the turbocharger”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11452058

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

HVAC blend door and defrost failure

VISIBILITY/WIPER

9 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2024-07

“Broken blend door in hvac box. No heat to defrost windows”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11598714
“HVAC blend door lever, which controls the function of properly moving the air from floor to vent to defrost, broken, resulting in inability to properly switch to defrost mode for safe operation of vehicle and driver visibility”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11479467
“I AM WRITING TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO CHEVROLET CRUZE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURES. THE ISSUE IS A SMALL PLASTIC GEAR THAT STRIPS OUT AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE BLEND DOOR TO CYCLE FROM WINDSHIELD DEFROST / DASH VENTS / AND FLOOR VENTS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11266072

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Self-starting ignition and stuck key faults

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

6 NHTSA complaints · 2019-12 → 2024-11

“Vehicle, when parked in garage with key in the ignition, will start all by itself. There have been several times in the past when I could hear the car attempt to start itself unsuccessfully in the garage as well”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11564586
“WHEN KEY LEFT IN IGNITION, CAR OFF, IT TRIES TO START ITSELF REPEATEDLY. SAW THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS FOR YEARS BUT NO RECALL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11415312
“Vehicle randomly powers up and tries to start with the key in the ignition. Service theft deterrent message displayed at times while trying to start”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11623982

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Stalling with StabiliTrak and traction control warnings

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE

30 NHTSA complaints · 2019-05 → 2025-11

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE ABNORMALLY. DURING THE FAILURE, THE STABILI-TRAC AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11354235
“THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR SPUTTERED A BIT THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO MADE A CERTAIN WHINING NOISE. A MESSAGE POPPED UP STATING STABILITRAK SERVICE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11342413
“AT RANDOM TIMES, MY STEREO WILL GO BLANK, NO SOUND, NO BLINKER SOUNDS, NOTHING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABITRAX WILL START FLASHING ON AND OFF. MY POWER STEERING WILL CUT OFF AS WELL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11406478

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag deployment and sensor failures

AIR BAGS

9 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2025-08

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SIDE-CURTAIN AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11375065
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, SHE HIT A DEER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11310328
“Air Bag passenger rear impact sensor failed. Discovered due to warning light. Component replaced at dealership. Vehicle has 25,360 miles on it”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11442841

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (per Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change oil when the Oil Life System reaches 0% or every 12 months — whichever comes first. dexos1-approved synthetic oil required on all gas engines since 2011.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Silverado 4x4 and Tahoe owners benefit from earlier rotations to even out drivetrain wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at each tire rotation. Equinox and Malibu front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

GM specifies brake fluid replacement based on contamination testing. Test every 30,000 miles; replace if moisture content exceeds 3% or fluid appears dark.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM long-life cellulose air filters are rated 45,000 miles. Direct-injection engines are sensitive to airflow restriction; inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Severe service (heavy towing, frequent stop-and-go, dusty conditions): replace every 45,000 miles. Normal service: 97,500 miles. Use Dexron-VI on 6L80/8L90 transmissions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 45,000 mi

Silverado 4WD and Tahoe 4WD: replace transfer case fluid every 45,000 miles, sooner if towing or off-roading. Use GM Auto-Trak II fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

GM iridium spark plugs are rated 100,000 miles on most LS and LT engines. The 5.3L V8 in Silverado 1500 commonly fouls plugs early under heavy idling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Dex-Cool Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

GM Dex-Cool (orange): first change at 150,000 miles or 5 years, then every 50,000 miles. Mixing with green coolant creates a sludge that destroys the cooling system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 50,000 mi

Silverado and Tahoe: replace rear axle fluid every 50,000 miles, or 25,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip differentials require GM friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 22,500 miles. Silverado and Tahoe owners in dusty climates should replace earlier.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

186 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

54

complaints mentioning a crash

8

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze reflects Chevrolet's published service intervals and the Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →