Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 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 ↗Missing Bolts on Start/Stop Accumulator
- 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.
- Consequence
- Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
- 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.
Insufficient Coating on Rear Brake Caliper Pistons
- 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.
- Consequence
- A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
- 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.
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.
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 (109)
109 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 109 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 27 | 24.8% |
| Unknown or other | 24 | 22% |
| Power train | 23 | 21.1% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 12.8% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 11.9% |
| Steering | 9 | 8.3% |
| Air bags | 8 | 7.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 5.5% |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 4.6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 4.6% |
How 2018 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: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2018 Chevrolet Cruze 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 37 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 276 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 / 47 / 37 | $2,600 | 276 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 52 / 37 | $2,600 | 274 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 45 / 35 | $2,750 | 291 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 48 / 35 | $2,750 | 290 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 40 / 33 | $2,050 | 267 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 39 / 33 | $2,050 | 269 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 40 / 32 | $2,100 | 277 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 38 / 32 | $2,100 | 278 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 37 / 31 | $2,150 | 287 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 38 / 31 | $2,150 | 285 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2018 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
2018 Chevrolet Cruze FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 20V668000 (power train), 18V576000 (brake), 18V304000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 Chevrolet Cruze problems?
Owners filed 109 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (27), Unknown or other (24), Power train (23) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze get?
EPA rates the 1.6 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic version at 31 city, 47 highway and 37 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze get?
NHTSA rated the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 4 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.7% rollover risk).
How does the 2018 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 2018 drew 109. 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.