Reliable Auto DB

2019 Chevrolet Cruze reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze has 21 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 2 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 8 Cruze years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Automatic transmission and Caliper.

2012 Chevrolet Cruze
Photo by MercurySable99, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

21

Per year

2

Recalls

2

Years on the road

8

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (6 of 21), then Engine (5) and Electrical system (4). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2018

The 2018 Cruze has 109 complaints, 17 per year. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2020-10-29 · NHTSA campaign 20V668000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall hydraulic brakes, foundation components, disc, caliper 2018-08-30 · NHTSA campaign 18V576000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (21 total)

Powertrain
6
Engine
5
Electrical system
4
Air bags
3
Service brakes
3
Forward collision avoidance
2
Speed control
2
Back-over prevention
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Seat belts
1
Tires
1
Visibility
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 5 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

2

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

32019220216202222023320242202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "An authorized Chevrolet dealer diagnosed an electrical problem on my 2019 Chevrolet Cruze and found that the HVAC case/condensate drain was disconnected. The dealer determined that condensate water had been draining…"
    Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-01
  • "The brakes system didnt seem to be stopping properly almost as if i had to push really hard on the brakes to get the car to stop. Finally today, I was 1.6 car lengths behind another vehicle whom slammed their brakes on…"
    Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-07-01
  • "For a year I have had my car to the shop multiple times due to a musty smell inside my car. I have never been able to find any fluids or moisture inside the car, however, the inside of my windshield tends to get a weird…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-04-11
  • "I am leasing this vehicle and it continues to have warning light on staring the vehicle engine power reduced as I'm driving and holds back vehicle and also airbag restraining system light continues also to be on. This…"
    Electrical system, Seat belts, Engine · filed 2025-04-27
  • "Timing chain rattles, due the the chain tensioner not having motor oil at early morning start-up. This causes the chain to be loose and eventually engine damage. Europe already issued recalls to this issue. They solved…"
    Engine · filed 2025-02-09

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2019 Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2019 Chevrolet Cruze 5 HB FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Cruze 1.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 28 38 32 MPG $2050
Cruze 1.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 30 38 33 MPG $1950
Cruze 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic 9-speed Front-wheel drive 31 48 37 MPG $2550
Cruze Hatchback 1.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 28 38 32 MPG $2050
Cruze Hatchback 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic 9-speed Front-wheel drive 30 45 35 MPG $2700
Cruze Premier 1.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 28 38 32 MPG $2050
Cruze Premier Hatchback 1.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 28 37 31 MPG $2100

Specs and fitment

2nd generation (refresh), 2017–2019
Body styles Sedan, Hatchback
Oil 0W-40 or 5W-30 (1.4L turbo; dexos1) , 4.2 qt capacity
Tire size 195/65R15 to 225/40R18 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 20V-668 covers certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles among other GM models: the start/stop transmission accumulator end cap may have missing bolts, which can lead to a transmission fluid leak and possible loss of propulsion. Recall 18V-576 covers certain 2018-2019 Cruze vehicles: rear brake caliper pistons may have insufficient coating, reducing rear brake performance.

Compare

Previous year 2018 Chevrolet Cruze See every Chevrolet Cruze model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?

The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze has 21 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 2 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 8 Cruze years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Automatic transmission and Caliper.

What are common problems with a 2019 Chevrolet Cruze?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (6 of 21), then Engine (5) and Electrical system (4). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 Cruze has 109 complaints, 17 per year. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018.

Has the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze been recalled?

The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze?

Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2019 Chevrolet Cruze get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze is 33.1 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

When did Chevrolet stop selling the Cruze in the US?

The US catalog ends with the 2019 model year.

What engine oil does a Chevrolet Cruze use?

5W-30 (1.8L); 5W-30 (1.4L turbo where equipped)

What does NHTSA recall 12V-288 cover on the Chevrolet Cruze?

Recall 12V-288 covers certain 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles: spilled or dripping oil may collect in the engine shield near hot surfaces and ignite.