Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel Leak in Rollover After Crash/FMVSS 301
- Summary
- 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.
Incorrectly Welded Seat Back Frame/FMVSS 202a
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."
- Consequence
- In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.
Key May Be Removed When Not In Park/FMVSS 114
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
- Consequence
- If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Headlights may be Incorrectly Aimed/FMVSS 108
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
- Consequence
- Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a GM dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet Customer Service Department at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 50190.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (250)
250 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 250 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 102 | 40.8% |
| Electrical system | 59 | 23.6% |
| Unknown or other | 43 | 17.2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 35 | 14% |
| Power train | 31 | 12.4% |
| Air bags | 21 | 8.4% |
| Service brakes | 19 | 7.6% |
| Steering | 18 | 7.2% |
| Electronic stability control | 16 | 6.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 4.4% |
How 2016 compares with other Cruze years
Best and worst Cruze years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | 732 | 7 |
| 2012 | 865 | 7 |
| 2013 | 587 | 5 |
| 2014 | 702 | 10 |
| 2015 | 252 | 4 |
| 2016 | 250 | 4 |
| 2017 | 201 | 2 |
| 2018 | 109 | 3 |
| 2019 | 22 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Chevrolet Cruze 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 34 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,950
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 261 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 34 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 40 / 34 | $1,950 | 261 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 40 / 34 | $1,950 | 265 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 40 / 33 | $2,050 | 274 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 39 / 32 | $2,100 | 274 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 37 / 30 | $2,250 | 295 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 36 / 30 | $2,250 | 300 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 37 / 30 | $2,250 | 298 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 35 / 29 | $2,300 | 309 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 34 / 26 | $2,600 | 336 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 Cruze for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Chevrolet Cruze FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 18V304000 (fuel system), 17V057000 (seat), 16V502000 (electrical), 16V498000 (lighting). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Cruze problems?
Owners filed 250 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (102), Electrical system (59), Unknown or other (43) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze get?
EPA rates the 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 30 city, 40 highway and 34 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze get?
NHTSA rated the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze 4 dr fwd 4 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 4 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.7% rollover risk).
How does the 2016 Cruze compare with other years?
Among the 2010–2019 Chevrolet Cruze model years at least five years old, the 2010 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 2012 the most (865). The 2016 drew 250. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.