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2018 Chevrolet Cruze

GasDiesel

Compact Cars
10 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

62 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls2 critical3

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA109

Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA37 mpg

2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Chevrolet Cruze is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel compact car with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Cruze, is EPA-rated at 37 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 109 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	29	40	33	$1,900
Cruze Premier	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	29	39	33	$1,900
Cruze	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	27	40	32	$1,950
Cruze Hatchback	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	29	38	32	$1,950
Cruze Hatchback	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	27	38	31	$2,000
Cruze Premier Hatchback	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	28	37	31	$2,000
Cruze	Diesel	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	31	47	37	$2,400
Cruze	Diesel	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	30	52	37	$2,400
Cruze Hatchback	Diesel	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	30	45	35	$2,550
Cruze Hatchback	Diesel	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	29	48	35	$2,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39142, 39143, 39144, 39155, 39231, 39156, 39328, 39329, 39337, 39338.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Power Train

N202313440

194,105 vehicles

ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.RiskMissing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

NHTSA campaign 20V668000reported Oct 29, 2020General Motors LLC

▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

18279

210,628 vehicles

ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.RiskA reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

NHTSA campaign 18V576000reported Aug 30, 2018General Motors LLC

!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

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

109complaints filed

17 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 7 injuries · 1 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2018: 7 · 2019: 23 · 2020: 22 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Engine27

Unspecified24

Power Train23

Electrical System14

Service Brakes12

Steering9

What owners describe

“put car in PARK ,got out to check mail box 20 feet away [car door left open]. When retuning to car it began to slowly move backward.I ran around the back and tried to get in but was knocked down by the open door.I rolled away from the approaching wheel with minor scrapes. The car continued backing across the street,hit…”Nov 1, 2022 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the vehicle shifted from park into reverse without warning. While the vehicle was idling, the driver exited the vehicle and the vehicle rolled and crashed into a telephone pole. The driver's side door was ajar and was ripped off during the crash. The cont…”Aug 16, 2022 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

“The Auto Start and Stop feature has malfunctioned multiple times. Safety was put at risk due to car stalling at multiple red lights and shutting off while driving down the road. Problem has been reproduced by dealership. No warnings at all prior to the failure.”Jul 13, 2022 · Vehicle Speed Control · 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%
5 HB FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Cruze model years

2019 Chevrolet Cruze

2 recalls · 21 complaints

2017 Chevrolet Cruze

2 recalls · 201 complaints

2016 Chevrolet Cruze

4 recalls · 249 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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