Chevy Cruze Years To Avoid (and The Best Years)
The Chevy Cruze is a popular small car that has been made since 2008. It is a cheap choice for drivers. But not all Chevy Cruzes from the same year are the same. Some years are known for being reliable, safe, and fast, while others have problems with the engine, transmission, and other parts. Based on the search results, this piece will talk about the best and worst years for the Chevy Cruze. We’ll talk about what makes some years stand out and why you might want to stay away from others.
The worst years for the Chevy Cruze were 2011 through 2014. The best years for the Chevy Cruze are 2015 through 2019. Sources like the NHTSA, Edmund, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book, which can be trusted, led to this conclusion.
5 Best Years For Chevy Cruze
Not every Chevy Cruze from the same year is the same. Some years are known for being reliable, safe, and fast, while others have problems with the engine, transmission, and other parts. In this piece, we’ll talk about the five best years for the Chevy Cruze, based on what people have been searching for.
| YEAR | Edmunds’ Consumer Rating | Kelley Blue Book’s Consumer Rating | JD Power’s Consumer Rating |
| 2015 | 3.9/5.0 | 4.2/5.0 | 82/100 |
| 2018 | 4.1/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 84/100 |
| 2019 | 4.4/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 84/100 |
| 2017 | 3.8/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 84/100 |
| 2016 | 3.4/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 81/100 |
2015
The 2015 Chevy Cruze is known for being reliable, and owners rarely have big problems with it. It is also thought to have been one of the Chevy Cruze’s most stable years.
The NHTSA & IIHS both gave the 2015 Chevy Cruze high marks for safety. It has a lot of safety features, like ten airbags, a camera that shows what’s behind the car, and stability control.
This best year Chevy Cruze to buy is a good mix of speed and gas mileage. It comes with a variety of engines that accelerate quickly and handle well.
With its many features and good gas mileage, the 2015 Chevy Cruze is seen as a good deal for its price. It is also easy to keep and fix, with lower-than-average service costs compared to other years of the Chevy Cruze.
2018
If you want the second-best year of this famous small car, the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze is your best bet.
It’s high ranking among its model years is due to a number of things that buyers liked about it.
The success of the 2018 Cruze is due in large part to the fact that it is now more reliable. By this time, many of the problems that plagued earlier Chevrolet models had been fixed. As a result, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received fewer complaints and more positive comments from customers.
Because their cars were more reliable, drivers could relax and spend less money on repairs.
For the best years for Chevy Cruze, there were a lot of ways to change the car. Since it could be either a car or a hatchback, it could sell to a wide range of people. The Cruze came with several engine choices, including a 1.6L turbo diesel that got great gas mileage without sacrificing speed.
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2019
The newest Cruzes are definitely the best you can buy because they are the most finished, have the fewest problems, and have the most features.
Positive comments have been made about how quick the driving is and how useful the basic features are on the 2019 model, which we suggest.
For this best year Chevy Cruze to buy, the front and back bumpers and hood have been changed.
Also, new types of wheels were made available, the audio system was changed, and the taillights were updated.
2017
The 2017 Cruze is another great choice because it has a stylish interior, cutting-edge technology, and a powerful turbocharged engine that comes standard.
Since the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze had just been redesigned in a big way, the 2017 model didn’t have many changes that were easy to spot.
But there were some tech improvements, and USB ports were added as an option for the back seats.
2016
Since its first year on the market in 2010, the Cruze has only had one big update, in 2016.
The best years for Chevy Cruze feels like it was totally rebuilt because it is bigger, the inside is bigger, and there are more options for entertainment systems and colors for the outside.
Each trim level comes with a basic turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-four engine that makes 153 horsepower.
4 Chevy Cruze years to avoid
Since 2008, people have been able to buy the famous Chevrolet Cruze, which is a small car. But there are a few model years you should stay away from if you want a safe car that doesn’t break down often.
If you want to buy a used Chevy Cruze, it’s best to stay away from these four model years. You should instead look for a type from 2015 or later, which has been much more stable.
2014
The 2014 Cruze was known for having many engine problems, making it a much more troublesome car than the ones that came before it.
Many owners were upset because their turbos stopped working, engines got too hot, or valves broke.
Some common issues reported by owners were problems with the turbo, engines that got too hot, and cylinders that broke. There were also reports of electrical problems and the steering system getting stuck. Another popular complaint is that the car is hard to shift, especially when going down a gear.
This Chevy Cruze years to avoid also had a lot of problems with the steering locking up and the electronics.
2013
The 2013 Chevrolet Cruze was another bad model year because the engine had a lot of problems, like burning and dripping water.
Used worst years for Chevy Cruze buyers should be wary of the 2016 model year because current owners have said that it has high repair costs and a bad cabin. There were many reports of electrical problems, like broken monitors and computers that wouldn’t work.
In fact, one owner said online that he took his car to the shop seven times in one year to fix the engine cooling system.
2012
CarComplaints.com gave the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze the “Beware of the Clunker” award because it was the model year with the most problems.
Around 80,000 miles, many people said that the 2012 Cruze’s transmission broke down too soon.
The transmission was just as slow as it was in 2011 and there were leaks of water, which were two of the biggest problems with the model.
Many people also have problems with the engine whining, being unable to go in reverse, and the car shutting off completely. This year, the Chevrolet Cruze wasn’t as reliable as it usually is. Some of the problems happened while the cars were driving. The best thing you can do is to include it in the list of Chevy Cruze years to avoid.
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2011
CarComplaints.com says, “Avoid Like the Plague,” the 2011 model year because it had so many complaints and major problems.
Many 2011 Cruze drivers had problems with their transmissions, ranging from total failure to turning problems. The problem worsened when the transmission broke down after not too many miles.
People have said that the 2011 Cruze smells like antifreeze, which they don’t like. Coolant leaks were a common car problem from this model year that a class action case was filed.
Chevy Cruze problems
There have been a number of problems with the Cruze, especially in the first few years of its production.
Some of the Chevy Cruze’s most common problems are:
Transmission problems
The gearbox in the Cruze has been known to slip, shift hard, or even fail. These problems can be expensive to fix, and they can also make people worry about their safety.
Engine problems
The engine of the Cruze has also been known to have problems, such as oil sludge buildup, misfiring, and stopping. These problems can also be expensive to fix, and they can also make people worry about their safety.
Electrical problems
There have been reports of electrical issues with the Cruze, such as bad wiring, lights that turn on by themselves, and power windows that don’t work. These problems can be annoying, and fixing them can be expensive.
Interior flaws
There have also been problems with the Cruze’s interior, like seats that squeak, doors that don’t close right, and panels that crack. Even though these problems can be annoying, they usually don’t cost as much to fix as the ones above.
FAQs
What year Chevy Cruze is most reliable?
2015 is the most reliable year for the Chevrolet Cruze. It has a unique mix of dependability, safety, and speed that makes it appealing to a lot of people. The FIXD Reliability Score for the 2015 Cruze was 5/10, and the Owner Reliability Score was 6/10. The fact that this model has a high owner dependability score shows that many owners have had good experiences with it.
What are the bad years for Chevy Cruze?
Most people think that the Chevrolet Cruzes made between 2011 and 2014 are the least stable. There were a lot of problems with these cars, like the transmission breaking, engine problems, and electrical problems.
Are older Chevy Cruzes reliable?
The reliability of older Chevy Cruzes varies on the model year. From 2011 to 2015, the first wave of Cruzes were made. The 2011 and 2012 cars have a bad reputation for being unstable. There have been a lot of problems with these types, including problems with the transmission, the engine, and the electrics.
Which Chevrolet Cruze model is best?
If you want the best Chevrolet Cruze, the 2019 model year is a good choice. It is a good all-around car that is known for being reliable. But any of the above years would be a good choice.
Is Cruze a high maintenance car?
People don’t think of the Chevrolet Cruze as a car that needs a lot of care. It costs about $545 a year to fix and maintain, which is less than the average for small cars and all vehicle types. Some Cruzes have been on the road for more than 250,000 miles, which shows their reliability.
Conclusion
You should know about these issues if you want to buy a used Chevy Cruze. The worst model years have been 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, so it’s best to avoid them if you can. If you decide to buy a used Cruze, have a mechanic check it out before you buy it.
Further, 2015 and newer models have the least complaints and people prefer buying them over previous model years.
