2018 Chevrolet Cruze
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 29 of 109 complaints (27%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more deaths (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 201 in 2017 to 109 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | vs. 2018 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,850–2,400 | 1,850–2,400 | 1,900–2,550 | 1,900–2,550 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–34 | 31–37 | 31–37 | 31–37 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–30 / 34–40 | 28–31 / 37–52 | 27–31 / 37–52 | 28–31 / 37–48 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 261–336 | 265–287 | 267–291 | 267–310 | |
| Complaints filed | 249 | 201 | 109 | 21 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 19 | 8 | 17 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 14 | 5 | 7 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze?
Engine: 29 of 109 NHTSA complaints (27%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze get?
EPA rates it 31–37 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze?
EPA estimates $1,900–$2,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
EPA-Rated Configurations (10)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 29 mpg | 40 mpg | 33 mpg | $1,900 (low) | 267 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 29 mpg | 39 mpg | 33 mpg | $1,900 (low) | 269 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 27 mpg (low) | 40 mpg | 32 mpg | $1,950 | 277 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 29 mpg | 38 mpg | 32 mpg | $1,950 | 278 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 28 mpg | 37 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (low) | $2,000 | 287 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 27 mpg (low) | 38 mpg | 31 mpg (low) | $2,000 | 285 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic 9-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Compact Cars | 31 mpg (high) | 47 mpg | 37 mpg (high) | $2,400 | 276 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Compact Cars | 30 mpg | 52 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | $2,400 | 274 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic 9-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Midsize Cars | 30 mpg | 45 mpg | 35 mpg | $2,550 (high) | 291 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 10 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Midsize Cars | 29 mpg | 48 mpg | 35 mpg | $2,550 (high) | 290 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 29 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 23 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 15 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 9 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 20V668000 · Oct 29, 2020
Defect: General 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.
Consequence: Missing 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.
Remedy: GM 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER · Campaign 18V576000 · Sep 5, 2018
Defect: General 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.
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · Campaign 18V304000 · May 14, 2018
Defect: General 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."
Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM 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.