FaultScore

2011 Chevrolet Cruze airbag problems

40 of the 1,115 complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze are about the airbag system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 39,953 miles.

F

40

Complaints

15

Crashes

1

Fires

10

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 38 95.0%
Sensor/Control Module 1 2.5%
Side/Window 1 2.5%

Airbags across every Chevrolet Cruze year

2011 40 16.5%
2012 34 14.0%
2013 49 20.2%
2014 78 32.2%
2015 20 8.3%
2016 21 8.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Independence, MO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I was hit side impact my airbags didn’t deploy in the car they deployed under the hood I was hit by a vehicle doing approximately 50 miles an hour the airbag that was supposed to go off went off under the hood instead of in the car

NHTSA complaint #11639492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Syracuse, NY

AIR BAGS

Due to OnStar 2G sunsetting their services at the end of this year, all makes of General Motors vehicles did not comply to any of the customers requests to upgrade their module to 4G services, although upon researching, all Canadian GM vehicles did get the upgrade well over 7 years ago. This is well beyond a concern with GM and OnStar customers. With the NHTSA as a safety liaison and protecting the consumer, if a module upgrade can be applied in a vehicle that is on the same assembly parts, platform, electrical components...and be denied from the United States? The NHTSA should realize that this will be frivolous law suits because of neglect and safety concerns with GM and OnStar in the United States.

NHTSA complaint #11488148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cleveland, OH

AIR BAGS

Real bad oil leak my oil been leaking for months and a intake manifold code P2076 I really need this problem fix. I done spend a lot of money getting this car repaired everytime I get this Chevy Cruze out the shop something else wrongs I can’t out no more money into this car too many car problems I haven’t drove this car in 3 weeks because I was driving somewhere and white smoke started coming out the tailpipe bad somebody called the fire department and police on me that’s how bad the smoke was coming out the tailpipe mind you I had just got the car out the shop i had got code P0303 fix this car cost me alot of money I got alot of repairs done on this car

NHTSA complaint #11417895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Stuart, VA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I LEASED A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE AND HAD IT LESS THAN 1 MONTH. DEER WERE IN THE RD, SO I SLOWED DOWN, THEN BRAKES LOCKED, I WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT INTO A LIGHTPOLE. TOTAL LOSS, TRANSPORTED VIA EMS TO MMMHC HOSPITAL, UNCONSCIOUS FOR HALF HOUR MY MEMORY IS NOW HORRIBLE, I HAVE BAD HEADACHES, MY BACK IS HORRIBLE AND IM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. I WASNT DRIVING ABOVE SPEED LIMIT. NO COLLISION WARNING AND I'VE BEEN TO ER AND MY DR MANY TIMES

NHTSA complaint #11386717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nippa, KY

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON.

NHTSA complaint #11351909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,500 miles Oswego, KS Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

IN A FRONT IMPACT CRASH GOING 60 MPH THE CRUZE HIT A GUARDRAIL CABLE DESTROY THE FRONT OF CAR AND NO AIRBAGS WENT OFF.

NHTSA complaint #11350195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 142,101 miles East Liverpool, OH Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

ME AND MY BOYFRIEND WERE DRIVING IN CALCUTTA OHIO WE WENT TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING LOT TO GO TO MCDONALD'S AND WE LOOKED BOTH WAYS AND WE WERE CLEAR TO GO AND BY THE TIME WE HIT THE CENTER TURNING LANE AND STARTED TO TURN INTO MCDONALD'S AND A JEEP CAME FLYING OUT OF NO WHERE AND OUR VEHICLES COLLIDED CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11330084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,900 miles Union City, TN

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 TO 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,900.

NHTSA complaint #11196638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Surprise, AZ Crash Fire 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DIRECT IMPACT WITH 1200 POUND COW WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ENTIRE CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES AS THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STARTED FIRE. TOTALLED. WHY DIDN'T THE AIRBAG DEPLOY? SERIOUS INJURY. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE PURCHASED 2 CRUZE'S BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES. THIS IS SO NOT SAFE AND SO UNACCEPTABLE

NHTSA complaint #11152220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

AIR BAGS

SET UP THE AIRBAG AND THE CAR MILEAGE DOES LOOK

NHTSA complaint #11066797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Orlando, FL Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

ACCIDENT, ON JAN 15 2017, VEHICLE WAS TURNING INTO A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT FROM A HIGHWAY AND HIT BY A F150 PICKUP ON THE FRONT END AND WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE, GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AND OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 50MPH, NONE OF THE 10 AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HAVE SHOULDER INJURY 3 DAYS FOLLOWING ACCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COLLISON, SHOP & WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FROM FRONT END TO REAR WAS SHATTERED, THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AND TURNING INTO A BUSINESS, THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO AIR BAGS EVER DEPLOYED, IF THERE WERE A PASSENGER THEY WOULD HAVE DIED.

NHTSA complaint #10966353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100 miles Brunswick, GA

AIR BAGS

PICKED UP CAR FROM SHOP AFTER PAYING OVER 800.00 AND THE CAR STATED TO SMELL THE CAR ACT AS IF IT WILL CATCH A FIRE. SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND UNDER THE HOOD. CALLED THE DEALER AND NO HELP THE SERVICE MANAGER WILL NOT RETURN MY CALL. I'M OUT OF TOWN TWO HOURS FROM MY HOME. I WILL HAVE TO GET A HOTEL ROOM AND I PAID FOR RENTAL CAR FOR TWO DAYS ALREADY.

NHTSA complaint #10899317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles Manassas, VA Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA complaint #10885897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Little Rock, AR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL - MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME. I TOOK A HIT TO THE HEAD, HAVING TO HAVE STICHES, ALONG WITH BOTH EYES TURNING BLACK/BLUE.

NHTSA complaint #10816988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norwalk, OH

AIR BAGS

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE KASPAR DEALER AND SANDUSKY, OH AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WAS BAD AND THE REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE 800.00. THIS IS ODD BECAUSE AT LEAST 95% OF THE TIME NO ONE SITS IN THAT SEAT. THIS CAR IS NOT OUR FAMILY CAR. IT IS STRICTLY FOR ME TO USE FOR WORK. THIS SEEMS TO ME MORE LIKELY TO BE A DEFECT THAN SOMETHING I SHOULD BE AT FAULT FOR.

NHTSA complaint #10723827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles Raleigh, NC

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING. WITH ALL THE FAULTY AIR BAG RECALLS--WHY ISN'T MINE BEING RECALLED? GM WANTS $700 TO REPAIR IT, AND THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA complaint #10654534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Raleigh, NC

AIR BAGS

I NOTICED CHEVY CRUZE FROM 2013 AND 2014 HAVE RECALLS FOR THIS VERY ITEM! THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE TO PAY $669 FOR A SENSOR?

NHTSA complaint #10643451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles Wellington, OH

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA complaint #10637088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Bristol, TN

AIR BAGS

FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF LIGHT" COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2011 CRUZE WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT -- INDICATING THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS OFF. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MY GM DEALERSHIP TWICE AND BOTH TIMES THEY SAY THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT OK AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE CAR AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THERE IS A FLAW WITH THIS SAFETY SYSTEM AND GM SHOULD STEP FORWARD AND COME UP WITH A FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10626438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,953 miles Fayetteville, NC

AIR BAGS

WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SIT, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL READ "OFF". I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR AN AIRBAG FAILURE ON GM FAULT. I DOCUMENTED A VIDEO OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10621389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,000 miles Woodville, WI Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

HIT A DEER HEAD-ON GOING APPROIXATELY 50 MPH CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, BUT COULD SMELL THE AIR BAGS AND HEAR THEM IN THE STEERING WHEEL MAKING NOISE. THE CRASH WAS ENOUGH THAT ON STAR WAS ALERTED OF THE CRASH AND CALLED 911.

NHTSA complaint #10616797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,354 miles Boise, ID Crash

AIR BAGS

IN SEPT OF 2013 AFTER JUST A FEW MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR I WAS REAR-ENDED AT A SPEED OF 25-30 MPH. THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND MY HEAD BOUNCED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE HEADREST WHERE I SUFFERED A SEVERE CONCUSSION LEAVING ME OUT OF WORK FOR A MONTH. ALSO MY RADIO CONSOLE LIGHTS FLASH ON AT RANDOM TIMES, I EXPERIENCE THE TURBO LAG CRAP THE DEALERSHIP GIVES AS AND EXCUSE (ESPECIALLY AFTER TELLING ME DURING A SERVICE TEST DRIVE THAT MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE A TURBO!) AND AFTER OWNING IT FOR 1 MONTH A PART OF THE ENGINE FAN SHEERED OFF AND DESTROYED MY A/C UNIT LEAVING ME WITH A $2500 BILL TO REDO THAT. I CAN'T WAIT FOR MY SETTLEMENT FROM THE ACCIDENT TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS CAR. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST CHEVY EVER!

NHTSA complaint #10606194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,000 miles Longs, SC

AIR BAGS

THE PASSENGER SENSOR IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND GM IS REFUSING TO COVER THE COST SAYING IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THIS WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. GM IS SAYING IT WILL COST $400 TO FIX WHICH I THINK IS RIDICULOUS. THE CAR HAS NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND AN AIRBAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. I THINK SAFETY SYSTEMS SUCH AS AIRBAGS THAT HAVE NO MEANS OF WEAR AND TEAR OTHER THAN DEPLOYMENT SHOULD BE MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. AIRBAGS ARE A SAFETY MEASURE REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE OF GOOD WORKMANSHIP AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER FOR A PERIOD MUCH LONGER THAN 3 YEARS. TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER $400 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL IS A DISGRACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN READING MY CONCERN. I WOULD APPRECIATE A FOLLOW UP TO THIS INQUIRY.

NHTSA complaint #10599027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Keyser, WV Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

WE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NEITHER THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG OR PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS PUSHED UP IN THE FRONT END AND THE BUMPER, FENDER, GRILL, HOOD, HEADLIGHT AND TURNING LIGHT WERE ALL DESTROYED. THESE WERE PUSHED UP INTO THE GRILL AREA OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10595432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Bunnettsville, IN

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WEIGHT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 8/19/14

NHTSA complaint #10594194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ennis, TX Crash

AIR BAGS

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END (MOSTLY DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR) COLLISION WHERE A PERSON RAN A RED LIGHT. BOTH OF OUR VEHICLES WHERE GOING BETWEEN 40 TO 50 MPH. ON IMPACT OF MY CAR NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SIDE WINDOW. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT FOR REPAIRS I MENTIONED THIS TO THE MECHANICS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE HIT IN CERTAIN SPOTS BEFORE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY! SERIOUSLY? I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR KNOWING THAT IF I AM INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT BE THERE TO SAVE MY LIFE! AND TO THINK THAT IS ONE REASON WHY I PURCHASED THE CAR WAS THE FACT IT HAD HIGH SAFETY STANDARDS! ABSURD.

NHTSA complaint #10533417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Kansas City, MO

AIR BAGS

WHEN DRIVING WITH AN ADULT FEMALE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF. ADJUSTING THE SEAT HEIGHT SOMETIMES REMEDIES THIS PROBLEM, RESULTING IN THE INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG IS ON. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE TIME, THE AIRBAG REMAINS OFF. WE NOTIFIED THE CHEVROLET DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS NORMAL. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR, IN PART, BECAUSE OF ITS EXCELLENT CRASH RATING. IT IS MOST DISTURBING TO REALIZE THAT IF WE EVER DID GET INTO A CRASH, THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG WOULD LIKELY NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT THIS IS "NORMAL". I FEEL LESS THAN SAFE IN THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP IN REMEDYING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10524279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,510 miles Loudon, TN Crash

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATED CHEVROLET CRUZE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, COULD NOT STOP. IT CRASHED INTO A FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10523384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Fayetteville, AR

AIR BAGS

THE FIRST SAFETY ISSUE WAS NOTICED WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATED "OFF" WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT REMAINS UNSOLVED. THE SECOND SAFETY ISSUE WAS NOTICED IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER 2012. THE CAR FILLS WITH AN ODOR OF ANTI-FREEZE WHEN THE HEATER IS IN USE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT REMAINS UNSOLVED. I FEEL THESE ARE BOTH EXTREME SAFETY ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM IN MANY OF THE 2011 CRUZES.

NHTSA complaint #10487898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Riverview, FL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IN OPERATION AND SHE NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED A READING OF 100 MPH. THE SIMILAR FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY AND WOULD FLUCTUATE IN THE MILES PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WAS REPROGRAMMED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHENEVER THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT WEIGHT WAS 120 POUNDS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA complaint #10481100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2011 Chevrolet Cruze problems

← Full 2011 Chevrolet Cruze report