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2016 Chevrolet Cruze

Gas

Midsize Cars
9 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

66 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical4

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA249

Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA34 mpg

2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car with 9 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Cruze, is EPA-rated at 34 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 249 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Cruze	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	30	40	34	$1,850
Cruze Premier	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	30	40	34	$1,850
Cruze Limited Eco	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	28	40	33	$1,900
Cruze	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	28	39	32	$1,950
Cruze Limited	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	26	36	30	$2,100
Cruze Limited	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	26	37	30	$2,100
Cruze Limited Eco	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	26	37	30	$2,100
Cruze Limited	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl	25	35	29	$2,150
Cruze Limited	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl	22	34	26	$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37276, 37278, 36462, 37277, 36465, 36467, 36464, 36364, 36468.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

18159

111,966 vehicles

ProblemGeneral 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."RiskA fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.FixGM 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 campaign 18V304000reported May 10, 2018General Motors LLC

▲high

Seats

17035

17,197 vehicles

ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."RiskIn a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.

NHTSA campaign 17V057000reported Jan 26, 2017General Motors LLC

▲high

Power Train

50490, 50491

8,367 vehicles

ProblemGeneral 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."RiskIf the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.FixGM 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.

NHTSA campaign 16V502000reported Jul 5, 2016General Motors LLC

○minor

Exterior Lighting

50190

32,913 vehicles

ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."RiskWithout the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.FixGM will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a GM dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet Customer Service Department at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 50190.

NHTSA campaign 16V498000reported Jul 1, 2016General Motors LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

249complaints filed

19 involved a crash · 6 a fire · 14 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 21 · 2017: 17 · 2018: 32 · 2019: 42 · 2020: 44 · 2021: 24 · 2022: 27 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Engine102

Electrical System58

Unspecified43

Fuel/Propulsion System35

Power Train31

Air Bags21

What owners describe

“The water pump leaks which will cause the vehicle to heat up. There is a recall on the same vehicles for prior years and it's the same parts. For some reason later years weren't added to the recall, but they are also defective. It is available for inspection, but I need to get it fixed quickly before it harms my engine…”Jul 10, 2022 · Engine And Engine Cooling · NHTSA owner report

“My car was brought to the dealership around December of 2021because every time I stop at a red light or stop sign the auto stop would cut the car completely off. The dealership said it was because the throttle body needed cleaning out. That is not the case because I can be driving and the car will cut off out of nowher…”Jul 6, 2022 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

“Vehicle is leaking coolant I've had it fixed and continue to have issues with it. When I go to add coolant it sounds like it is boiling in the motor and car is becoming very hot and smokes from the motor. Was driving through town heard a hissing noise and somehow coolant had sprayed all over the hood and windshield of …”May 30, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	11%
4 DR FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Cruze model years

2019 Chevrolet Cruze

2 recalls · 21 complaints

2018 Chevrolet Cruze

3 recalls · 109 complaints

2017 Chevrolet Cruze

2 recalls · 201 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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