2016 Chevrolet Cruze Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

100Engine complaints

40.5%Of all 247 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE100 · 40.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM58 · 23.5%

Unspecified / other43 · 17.4%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM34 · 13.8%

POWER TRAIN29 · 11.7%

Share of the 247 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze overview page.

What owners report

“WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES INTO AUTO SHUT OFF AT A STOP SIGN OR DURING TRAFFIC JAMS WHERE I AM JUST STOPPED BY MY BRAKE BUT…”NHTSA complaint 11268400 — filed 10/14/2019

“THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT WENT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 07-03-19, 05-06-19, 11-21-18 & 09-25-18. THE LAST BILL WAS…”NHTSA complaint 11252099 — filed 08/28/2019

“CAR STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS. THE AUTO STOP FEATURE GOES FROM "AUTO STOP" ON THE DASH TO "OFF". PROBLEM OCCURS AS YOU ARE MOVING FOOT OVER…”NHTSA complaint 11228901 — filed 07/02/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze: 100 of 247 complaints on file (40.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze have in total?

247 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 19 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 14 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.