When you're considering buying a new car, it's important to do your research first. Not all cars are created equal, and some have more problems than others.
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Chevy is known for pushing out competent but familiar cars with a lot of value. The Cruze is the most recent model in this tradition, and it's been an incredibly popular vehicle since its introduction.
While most drivers love their new Cruze, there is a list of common problems that might make you reconsider which car to buy next time around.
If you're looking at the Chevy Cruze, here are ten top problems you need to know about before making your decision.
Let's read on for “Should You Buy a Chevy Cruze?”
Why is Chevy Cruze so popular?
Chevrolet Cruze is an American compact car introduced in September 2010 for the 2011 model year. It replaced the Chevrolet Cobalt and initially was offered as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback body style.
Although it is officially considered a replacement of the Cobalt, it can be seen as more of an upgrade from the Cavalier as it shares the U-body architecture and much of its design with that car.
Automotive journalists named the 2010 North American Car of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show, beating other finalists, the Ford C-Max Hybrid, Mazda3, Nissan Leaf, and Subaru Impreza hatchback.
The Cruze's main markets are the United States, Canada, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
What are the top 10 problems with the Chevy Cruze?
One of the major problems owners have had with the Cruze is that it doesn't get the gas mileage listed in the owner's manual.
Here are the ten most reported problems about Chevy Cruze:
Throttle body and emission control problems
The 2011 model year Chevrolet Cruze is experiencing issues with the throttle body and emissions control systems. There have been reports of owners having to replace the engine due to a complete failure.
Repair: The mechanic would diagnose the problem with a diagnostic machine to fix Chevy Cruze's throttle body problems. Depending on what's causing the issue, it may require replacing the throttle body or cleaning it. The mechanic may also scan the computer to see if they can find any DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) to identify what's causing the throttle body problem.
Costs: average cost to repair this issue was about $1,500.
Air conditioning problems
The 2012 model year Chevrolet Cruze is experiencing some problems with the air conditioning. There have been reports of owners replacing the climate control unit because it locks up and will not defrost or even blow warm air.
Repair: to fix Chevy Cruze air conditioning problems, the mechanic would want to diagnose the problem with a diagnostic machine. Depending on what's causing the issue, it may require replacing the climate control unit or cleaning it. The mechanic may also scan the computer to see if they can find any DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) to identify what's causing the air conditioning problem.
Costs: average cost to repair this issue was about $3,000.
Brakes problems
The 2011 model year Chevrolet Cruze is experiencing issues with the brake rotors warping, causing a pulsating pedal. Owners reported that they had to have this repaired under warranty more than once before GM was willing to replace the rotor for good.
Repair: The mechanic would diagnose the problem with a diagnostic machine to fix Chevy Cruze brake problems. Depending on what's causing this issue, it may require resurfacing or replacing the brake rotors. The mechanic may also scan the computer to see if they can find any DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) to identify what's causing the problem.
Costs: average cost to repair this issue was about $500.
Engine coils problems
The 2012 model year Chevrolet Cruze is experiencing multiple problems with its engine coils prematurely failing, resulting in misfires on the cylinders installed. This could damage other car components if allowed to continue happening, leading to repairs that can be very costly.
Repair: The mechanic would diagnose the problem with a diagnostic machine to fix Chevy Cruze engine coil problems. Depending on what's causing this issue, it may require replacing the coil module. The mechanic may also scan the computer to see if they can find any DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) to identify what's causing the problem.
Costs: average cost to repair this issue was about $200-$1,000.
Paints and exterior problems
Both the 2011 and 2012 models of the Chevrolet Cruze have some issues with paint peeling off on the hood. This is likely due to factors, including weather exposure, poor clearcoat work, and possibly inferior materials used in the paint job.
Repair: The mechanic would diagnose the problem with a diagnostic machine to fix Chevy Cruze paint problems. Depending on what's causing this issue, it may require repainting the entire hood or only that portion that is peeling off. The mechanic may also scan the computer to see if they can find any DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) to identify what's causing the problem.
Costs: average cost to repair this issue was about $400-$1,000.
Electrical problems
The 2011 model year Chevrolet Cruze is experiencing mild electrical problems with items like power windows starting to fail at around 22,000 miles. In addition, many owners are reporting that their window regulators have failed at this point, leading to even more expenses for replacement parts or repairs for complete motor failure.
Repair: The mechanic would diagnose the problem with a diagnostic machine to fix Chevy Cruze window regulator problems. Depending on what's causing this issue, it may require replacing the roller, regulator, or motor. The mechanic may also scan the computer to see if they can find any DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) to identify what's causing the problem.
Costs: average cost to repair this issue was about $50-$300.
Other brake problems
Brake problems are extremely critical and therefore, when asking yourself “Should You Buy a Chevy Cruze,” you should pay clear attention to what's reported about the brake issues in this vehicle. The 2012 model year Chevrolet Cruze is experiencing brake problems that GM has not resolved under warranty. Owners have reported that their rotors and calipers warped very early into the car's lifetime, causing pulsating brakes and more damage to the peripheral components.
Repair: The mechanic would diagnose the problem with a diagnostic machine to fix Chevy Cruze brake problems. Depending on what's causing this issue, it may require resurfacing or replacing the brake rotors. The mechanic may also scan the computer to see if they can find any DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) to identify what's causing the problem.
Costs: average cost to repair this issue was about $300-1,300.
Engine timing chain problems
The 2010 model year Chevrolet Cruze is experiencing problems with engine timing chains failing at around 40,000 miles. This typically results in broken or damaged valves that can cost thousands of dollars to repair correctly.
Repair: The mechanic would diagnose the problem with a diagnostic machine to fix Chevy Cruze engine timing chain problems. Depending on what's causing this issue, removing the valve cover may require inspecting for broken or damaged valves. The mechanic may also scan the computer to see if they can find any DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) to identify what's causing the problem.
Costs: average cost to repair this issue was about $2,000-$6,000.
Automatic transmission problems
The 2011 model year Chevrolet Cruze shows some issues with its automatic transmissions failing prematurely. As a result, many owners report that their transmission had to be completely replaced under warranty, often resulting in repairs for this problem more than once – sometimes even on separate cars owned by the same owner!
Repair: to fix Chevy Cruze transmission problems, the mechanic would diagnose the problem with a diagnostic machine. Depending on what's causing this issue, it may require replacing the torque converter, transmission solenoids, or even the entire transmission, depending on what fails. The mechanic may also scan the computer to see if they can find any DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) to identify what's causing the problem.
Costs: average cost to repair this issue was about $1,500-$5,500.
Other problems
Owners of both the 2011 and 2012 model years of the Chevrolet Cruze are reporting major problems with their instrument clusters malfunctioning while driving, leaving the vehicle either running without any display at all or forcing them to push buttons on the center stack to get any information. Some owners have reported that this problem happened just after their warranties expired….which means they were stuck paying for repairs out of pocket.
Repair: The mechanic would diagnose the problem with a diagnostic machine to fix Chevy Cruze instrument cluster problems. Depending on what's causing this issue, it may require replacing the entire instrument cluster. The mechanic may also scan the computer to see if they can find any DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) to identify what's causing the problem.
Costs: average cost to repair this issue was about $1,100-2,000.
What are some of the benefits of owning a Chevy Cruze?
To answer the question “Should You Buy a Chevy Cruze,” it's important that you also understand the main benefits of this vehicle. While the Chevrolet Cruze has had a few problems reported by owners, there are also several benefits to owning this car. Some of these include:
– Good fuel economy (EPA estimate is 26 MPG combined)
– Optional turbocharged engine (excellent driveability and performance)
– Excellent highway comfort
– Comfortable leather seats – One of the best interiors for this class (its straightforward layout is extremely appealing)
– Good cargo space (especially with back seats folded down)
What other factors should a used car buyer consider when buying a Chevrolet Cruze?
When looking for a used car, many factors to consider, including the cost of ownership (insurance, maintenance, repairs), fuel economy, expected reliability, and resale value.
Cost of ownership
The Chevrolet Cruze is a very reliable car – it's rated below average in the JD Power survey for 2011 but still scores much higher than the industry average (i.e., other cars score lower). That said, a few other Chevrolet models score much worse, so this would probably not be a good reason to avoid the Cruze.
Resale value:
The 2011 and 2012 model years of the Cruze have been on the market for a few years now – which means their residual values will be higher if you're looking to trade-in.
Fuel economy
the 2011 and 2012 model years of this car offer a choice between 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines – both offer excellent fuel economy, but the turbocharged version of either is especially fun to drive.
Maintenance costs
on average, expect to spend about $100-$150 every time you take this car in for an oil change.
Should You Buy a Chevy Cruze? How do you know if the Cruze is right for you?
Only you can answer that question, but if you're looking for a car with fewer repairs and higher resale value, it won't hurt to do some research on the other cars in its class.
You'll need to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of purchasing a Chevy Cruze and weigh out all of your options based on that information. You can use various resources to help you with this, including asking friends and family members what kind of car they drive or using online forums like Edmunds forums to ask other owners for their opinions on the Cruze.
If you're still having trouble deciding what to do, you can always schedule a consultation with a mechanic before buying. It's quick, and it's free! They'll help answer any questions you have about this vehicle and let you know if it's worth your money before you sign anything.
How to deal with any potential problems that may arise?
When buying any car, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself. For example:
- You can negotiate a lower price – but keep in mind that there is usually wiggle room with the initial asking price. So if they're asking too much for the Cruze, you'll need to come up with a number that works for both you and the dealer.
- Be firm with your price. Please don't give in to a lower price unless there's a legitimate reason for it (i.e., they dropped it down from their asking price).
- Get all promises in writing – verbal agreements are hard to prove, especially if something goes wrong later on down the road.
- Ask about the warranty before you buy – most car dealers will include an extra year of coverage as part of the purchase price, but some only offer one month or 500 miles protection. This is important because should anything go wrong after that first year; you shouldn't be responsible for paying to fix any problems that occur as a result of using this vehicle day-to-day.
What kind of features should a used car buyer look for when buying a Chevrolet Cruze?
Ford has been rated as having the best warranty in the industry, so if you're looking for something with low repair costs, this might be your top choice. You can also get other high-quality cars at similar prices but still have to pay more money every time you go in for an oil change.
Chevrolet offers competitive pricing and excellent fuel economy – however, they don't offer a full year of coverage under their warranty. If you're someone who doesn't do much driving or generally keeps their car in good working order, then this shouldn't be too much of a problem. However, it's important to consider factors before committing to buy any car – including their age, mileage, and warranty coverage.
Should You Buy a Chevy Cruze? Conclusion
When it comes to purchasing a new car, there are many things to consider. However, if you're on the hunt for a vehicle that's affordable, has great fuel economy, and doesn't require too many repairs, the Chevrolet Cruze may be right for you.
However, keep in mind that this car has potential problems – namely, its high maintenance costs and lack of comprehensive warranty coverage. Before maSo beforeour final decision, be sure to weigh all of your options and ask around for advice from friends and family members about what kind of car they drive.
You can also use online resources like Edmunds forums to get feedback from other Cruze owners about their experiences with this vehicle. Buying anOf course, buyingis a big decision – but with the right research beforehand, you can make sure that you're buying a car that is worth your money.