The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is one of the better used cars on the market today, with great crash test scores and few major issues. But, problems like fire hazard and engine failure, while rare, should be concerning for potential buyers.
- Though uncommon, fire hazards are the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze’s most concerning problem, owing to oil spills and fuel leaks.
- Several drivers report a pattern of shaking, jerking, and stalling, but there may be no single definitive source for these issues.
- The vehicle was recalled twice for potential rollaway.
- A series of electrical issues likely come down to either damaged wiring, or aftermarket ECU swaps.
- The vehicle has near-perfect crash test scores from both the IIHS and the NHTSA, just make sure to conduct a thorough test drive before buying.
Severe Fire Hazards Have Been Addressed with Two Recalls
The 2011 Cruze was hit with a pair of recalls in 2012 for potential fire hazards, affecting around a half million units, all 2011-12 Cruzes. The recalls were issued following the launch of an investigation into 25 reports of compartment fires.
Two potential causes of compartment fires were discovered: a missing weld on the fuel tank brackets, leading to potential fuel leaks, and spilled oil collecting on the engine shield, resulting in exposure to engine heat.
The fuel tank fix involved simply adding the proper fasteners, and the oil fires were resolved with a modification to the engine shield to ensure that spilled fluids would not come in contact with it. Manual transmission vehicles were also outfitted with protective tape to secure the power steering harness.
There are still complaints of oil and fuel odors in the car being registered as late as 2022, but with incident dates only as recently as 2016. Based on all available evidence, it’s probably safe to consider this matter resolved. Just make sure to check the VIN when buying used, as you don’t want to leave this recall unaddressed.
Mysterious Engine and Powertrain Problems Lead to Jerking, Shaking, and Limp Mode
Engine complaints make up 237 of the 697 reports on file with the NHTSA, and powertrain complaints make up 181 reports. Issues being reported include jerking, shaking, hesitant acceleration, and traction control warning lights.
One driver reports that their car had been shaking steadily since 2020, that Chevrolet mechanics could not figure out the source of the problem, and that the fix would eventually cost them $2,800.
In many instances, the complaints suggest that drivers are experiencing limp mode, that is, the car deliberately limits its speed so that you can safely pull over in case something is wrong with the engine or transmission.
This is a recurring issue with the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, with forum posts suggesting that many drivers have experienced transmission and engine issues, mechanics have been unable to find the source of the problem, and the problem either went away, or required an expensive fix.
Two Recalls Have Been Issued for Potential Rollaway
A 2016 recall addressed an issue in just under 10,000 units that saw potential rollaway resulting from the keys being removed with the vehicle not in park. If this were to happen, it could cause injury to drivers and passengers, and damage to the car.
This follows a 2011 recall for potential rollaway in over 100,000 Cruze units with the automatic transmission showing the car to be in park while the gear is actually in drive, reverse, or neutral. This recall saw dealers adjusting the shift linkage system to behave correctly.
The 2011 Cruze was included in these recalls along with several other Chevrolet nameplates. All told, affected units make up a rather slim minority of 2011 Cruzes. But, the potential severity of the issue makes it worthy of mention all the same.
A fix for the issue involves replacing the cylinder lock housing to ensure that the keys stay in the ignition unless the vehicle is in park. Recalls are always free, and extend for the lifetime of the vehicle, so if your VIN was included in the recall, don’t hesitate to get this taken care of.
Electrical Issues May Come Down to “Bad Wiring”
There are 88 complaints on file for electrical system problems, with the common theme here being sudden power loss. A recent report claims that the radio simply died, then the air conditioning buttons failed, and the windows would not roll up or down.
Another driver reports that the radio will turn off out of nowhere, then all the warning lights will flash, and “the car starts struggling to idle.” A third driver reports the vehicle going into “battery saving mode” and shutting down, needing to be towed home.
All evidence points to a bad wiring connection somewhere in the electrical system. But, with relatively few complaints to go on and no recall or investigation underway, it is difficult to pinpoint a single, specific cause.
Chevrolet have issued a number of technical service bulletins on potential electrical issues caused by swapping electrical control units, but there’s no telling if that’s what these drivers are experiencing without tracking down their dealers and asking. In short: this isn’t a huge issue, but watch for electrical power loss on the test drive.
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is One of the Best Used Cars on the Market Today, a Few Issues Aside
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze has a perfect five star crash-test rating with the NTSA, and a Top Safety Pick award with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, making it one of the safer used cars on the market today.
Some of the issues listed above are concerning, but they tend to happen at a fairly low frequency, so as long as you’re thorough in your inspection and test drive before making a purchase, they should be easy enough to avoid.
