2011 Chevrolet Cruze Transmission Problems

Gear shift stuck in park will not start. Has power.

NHTSA ID

11470619

Incident

Jun 23, 2022

I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW AT MCDONALDS AND MY PURSE HIT THE CLUTCH. MY CAR CHANGED GEARS WITH JUST AT A SLIGHT TOUCH. IT HAS DONE THIS BEFORE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. ALSO MY BACK TIRES NEVER STAY INFLATED. EVERY THREE DAYS I AM USUALLY PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615872

Incident

Jun 25, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, A MECHANIC NOTICED A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 08/11/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 08/13/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10593634

Incident

Apr 17, 2014

Mileage

40,000 mi

MY 2011 CHEVY CRUZE HAS AN ERRATIC SHIFTING TRANSMISSION. AT TIMES IT IS CONFUSED AND HUNTS FOR GEARS. AT OTHER TIMES, IT HAS BANGED INTO GEAR. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND NOT HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE SCARIEST PART IS THE LACK OF ACCELERATION AT TIMES WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WHILE EXITING A SHOPPING CENTER, I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A BUS I WAS A LITTLE INTO THE ROAD AND HAD TIME TO GO BEFORE THE BUS GOT TO ME, BUT WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, NOTHING HAPPENED! LUCKILY, THE BUS HAD ROOM TO GO AROUND ME! I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES ABOUT THIS SITUATION, BUT AM TOLD THERE IS NO NEW UPDATE OR TRANSMISSION REFLASH FROM GM. SO, I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO STEP THINGS UP BECAUSE I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET CONCERNING THIS VERY TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND LACK OF ACCELERATION FOR THE 2011 CRUZE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT OF MOST 2011 CRUZE OWNERS UNLESS THEY HAVE HAD SOMETHING CALLED A TRIFECTA TUNE DONE TO THEIR CARS, AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. THEY CLAIM THIS PROCEDURE "CURES" THE SHIFTING PROBLEM. FIRST OFF, MY CAR IS A LEASE, SO I CANNOT MODIFY MY CAR IN ANY WAY. SECONDLY, WHY SHOULD I PAY HUNDREDS TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS GM'S PROBLEM. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. FROM ABOUT JULY, 2012 TO NOV. I HAVE BEEN HOOKED UP WITH THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO WERE WITH THE EARLY RESPONSE TEAM IN THE BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER. THERE WERE A TON OF PHONE CALLS FROM THEM, BUT IT WAS ALL TALK AND NO ACTION EXCEPT FOR A NEW TCM THAT WAS INSTALLED IN AUG. AT 10,196 MILES. THAT DID NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. I THEN CONTACTED GM CORPORATE ON NOV. 7TH TO EXPLAIN MY PROBLEM. FROM THEN UNTIL TODAY, JAN.21, 2013 I DEALT WITH A GENTLEMEN. FINALLY, ON JAN. 15, AN ENGINEER WAS SENT TO MY DEALER. CONCLUSION- LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM- "OPERATING AS DESIGNED"! I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ID

10494341

Incident

May 10, 2012

Mileage

7,500 mi

HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 1 YEAR AND HAD 50 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT 8/2011. ON 6/19/2012 TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES AN HOUR MY 2011 CHEVY CRUZE (14,500 MILES) SUDDENLY BEGAN SLOWING AND THE ENGINE WAS REVVING HIGH. I PULLED OVER AND A LIGHT ON THE DASH APPEARED INDICATING "EMISSIONS PROBLEMS" ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUT THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT ANY HIGHER THAN 3RD GEAR AND WOULD GO NO FASTER THAN 30-35 MILES AN HOUR WITHOUT REVVING IN THE DANGER ZONE. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED. $1300 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR COSTS AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. WORRIED IT MAY OCCUR AGAIN BECAUSE I AM FINDING SIMILAR STORIES POSTED ONLINE.

NHTSA ID

10463111

Incident

Jun 19, 2012

Mileage

14,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE FROM STOPS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHT DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE JERKED INTO GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THE WERE NO GAS OR OIL LEAKS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DRIVEN MORE TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SEEN ANY SMOKE, BUT THE SMELL CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 07/13/12*LJ

NHTSA ID

10458703

Incident

May 27, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10449733

Incident

Jun 29, 2011

Mileage

10,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS. PROBLEMS REPORTED INCLUDED: SHIFTING ISSUES IN WHICH THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LUNGED FOWARD WHEN HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WHEN IN PARK AND ONCE WHILE DRIVING. SHE ALSO REPORTED INCIDENCES OF UNUSUALLY LONG PERIODS OF HESITATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE SERVICE STABLIIZER, SERIVCE POWER STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PERIODICALLY AS WELL AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOING BLANK WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 01/04/12*BF

NHTSA ID

10437818

Incident

Jul 15, 2011

Mileage

500 mi

THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION STALLS AND HESITATES SINCE THE 1ST DAY I GOT THE CAR. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT MY CAR HAS FOUR RECALLS! AND I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED IN ANY WAY BY CHEVY OF THEM ONE OF WHICH IS THE STREEING WHEEL CAN COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING TODAY 09/28/2011 THE CAR CAME TO A RANDOM AND COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD AT ALL. *TT

NHTSA ID

10427905

Incident

Feb 11, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT AND THERE WAS AN ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD EMIT A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE MIRROR. THERE WAS ALSO A LARGE HOLE IN THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR BODY PAINT WAS PEELING NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64.

NHTSA ID

10418323

Incident

May 3, 2011

Mileage

64 mi

THE SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BOGS DOWN WHILE CHANGING GEARS. IT ALSO SHIFTS VERY ROUGHLY. THE GAS MILEAGE IS WELL BELOW STANDARD; I BELIEVE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES IN THE FIRST 7000 MILES, BUT THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10414836

Incident

May 28, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR. WHILE DOWNSHIFTING AT 25 MPH, THE SHIFTER WOULD BECOME STUCK AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO COAST WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE WITHIN THE SHIFTER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER THEN ADJUSTED THE SHIFTER CABLE, WHICH REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

NHTSA ID

10414670

Incident

Jul 18, 2011

Mileage

200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,528. UPDATED 09/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A HESITATION FROM THE VEHICLE, WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN THE AC WAS ON HIGH. UPDATED 10/07/11

NHTSA ID

10413754

Incident

Jul 18, 2011

Mileage

12,528 mi

MY NEW 2011 CHEVY CRUZE HAS A MAJOR HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS CONSISTENTLY ALL THE TIME FROM DAY 1. BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM TO THE CHEVY DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO CORRECT THIS HESITATION PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HESITATION PROBLEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN YOU NEED THE SPEED TO PASS ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOU DON'T HAVE IT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED. I WAS TOLD AT THE CHEVY DEALER THAT THIS CAR HAS SIX GEARS WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE IT NEEDS A 6 CYLINDER ENGINE TO CHANGE THESE SIX GEARS PROPERLY. WHY WOULD GM CHEVROLET DESIGN A CAR LIKE THIS WITH THIS PROBLEM??????? *TR

NHTSA ID

10410721

Incident

Jun 10, 2011

I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY NEW 2011 CHEVY CRUZE ECO (1.4L 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION) THE CAR LOOSES POWER ESPECIALLY WHEN TRY TO ACCELERATE UP HILLS, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND LACK OF RESPONSE. THIS KEEPS HAPPENING OUT ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE MY FOOT PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN ON ACCELERATOR, BUT NO RESPONSE FROM THE CAR. CAR HAS SLOWED DOWN TO 30 MPH GOING UP THE HILLS ON FREEWAY PUTTING ME IN AN UNSAFE POSITION. IT HAPPENS ON LEVEL SERVICES TOO, TRY TO GET THE CAR GOING WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT IS HARD TOO, I GIVE THE CAR GAS AND GET VERY SLOW RESPONSE, WHEN IT DOES RESPOND THE CAR IS VERY JERKY GOING THRU THE GEARS, AFRAID THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT FOR FAILURE TO MOVE OUT AND WITH THE TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENS WITH ALL THE GEARS ! I HAVE PROBLEMS TOO WITH THE CAR OVER- ACCELERATING GOING NOW HILLS. ALL THE ABOVE CONTINUE TO HAPPEN DESPITE FOLLOWING THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR OPERATING THE VEHICLE. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS IS A UNSAFE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH A 4 CYL TURBO WITH HOPES I WOULD HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA POWER, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10408888

Incident

May 20, 2011

Mileage

1,000 mi

I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE IT HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING IT HOME ONE DAY AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AND THE CAR BASICALLY STOPPED SUDDENLY. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR ENDED ME BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN STOP. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS AND IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR ALSO WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN TRING TO PASS SOMEONE. THESE ARE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THE CAR AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THEM. *TT

NHTSA ID

10407491

Incident

Jun 13, 2011

Mileage

4,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ID

10402868

Incident

Mar 4, 2011

Mileage

3,000 mi

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE FOR THE REASON THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS AN ISSUE THAT MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT THE TRANSMISSION COMES OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND SITS IN NEUTRAL THEN POPS BACK INTO DRIVE THIS IS VERY UNSAFE I HAVE CONTACTED GM ON THE ISSUE AS WELL AS MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HAVE HAD NO POSITIVE FIX TO THE ISSUE I FEEL THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10402141

Incident

Apr 20, 2011

Mileage

2,800 mi

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2011 CHEVY CRUZE LS. AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THAT WHEN DRIVING IT IN MANUAL AND COMING TO A STOP THE CAR WOULD VIOLENTLY SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONTACTED GM. THEY ALSO TEST DROVE EVERY CHEVY CRUZE LS MODEL AND NON-TURBO ENGINE CRUZE THEY HAD IN STOCK AND FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY CONTACTED GM AGAIN AND GM INFORMED THEM THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE LS AN NON-TURBO ENGINE MODELS AND THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION OF FIX TO THE PROBLEM. I THEN CONTACTED GM AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THEIR 30 DAY GUARANTEE ON THEIR VEHICLES. THEY THEN INFORMED ME THAT THEY DO HAVE THAT POLICY BUT UNFORTUNATELY WOULD NOT HONOR IT BECAUSE OF MY CASE. WHEN I ASKED THEM WHAT THEY PLANNED TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SELL THE VEHICLE AND RECALL THEM LATER WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION OF FIX TO THE PROBLEM. THE CAR NOW HAS 1000 MILES ON IT AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH MY FAMILY IN IT FOR FEAR THAT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING. I THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL THAT AFFECTED MODELS. I ALSO FIND IT VERY DISHEARTENING THAT GM DOES NOT HONOR THEIR CUSTOMERS LIKE THEY ARE ALWAYS ADVERTISING THEY DO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392902

Incident

Mar 8, 2011

I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE. I JUST PURCHASED IN NOV 2010. ONE MONTH AFTER I HAD THE CAR I HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER DUE TO STEERING NOISE WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT/RIGHT. THEY HAD TO LUBRICATE SOME PARTS BY THE WHEELS. STARTING IN FEB 2011 I NOTICE THE CAR STARTED TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN YOU TOOK YOU FOOT OF THE BRAKE. IT BOGS WHEN YOU TAKE OFF, YOU WILL GO THEN THE CAR BOGS AND THEN IT GOES AGAIN. WHEN ITS GOING INTO GEARS (I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED) ITS ROUGH AND THE CAR JERKS WHENEVER YOU ACCELERATE OR WHEN YOUR SLOWING DOWN. WHEN YOU TRY TO PASS ANYONE THE CAR BOGS AND THEN GOES(NOT GOOD AT ALL). YOU CAN APPLY MORE PRESSURE ON THE PETAL TO REACH YOUR NEEDED SPEED THE CAR WILL BOG THEN GO. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE THIS MARCH. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THEY REPROGRAMMED THE TCM BUT I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THEY KEPT IT FOR TWO DAYS AND THE SERVICE MANAGER DROVE IT THEN HE DROVE ANOTHER CRUZE ON THE LOT AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR DRIVES AND I WILL GET USED TO IT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO GET USED TOO. IT IS AN UNSAFE CAR AND IM STUCK WITH IT FOR 5 MORE YRS. TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR. I HAVE READ OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE CONSUMER GUIDE AUTOMOTIVE AND IT STATES THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY ONLY STATE TO REPROGRAM THE TCM WHICH DOES NOTHING! THE SERVICE MECHANICS CANT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY STATE THERE'S NOTHING TO DO. THESE CRUZES ARE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I AM TERRIFIED OF DRIVING THIS NEW CAR DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS. BUT IM TOLD THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROBLEM THAT'S HOW IT DRIVES. GM NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED IN THIS CAR. I DO ALOT OF CITY DRIVING AND THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. IT SHOULD BE SMOOTH TAKE OFF AND STOPPING AND IT ISN'T. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT DRIVES LIKE THIS. I CANT TAKE IT BACK IN BECAUSE IM TOLD THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE .. PLEASE LOOK INTO..... *TR

NHTSA ID

10392518

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

Mileage

4,000 mi