RoadVitals

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
30
Latest Feb 16, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 731 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Feb 16, 2021

PASSENGER SIDE WIPE BLADE STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DURING WINTER CONDITIONS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN SNOW ON THE HIGHWAY. NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP.

NHTSA ID
11396424
Incident
Feb 16, 2021
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED RIVERVIEW CHEVROLET (1063 LONG RUN RD, MCKEESPORT, PA 15132, (888) 733-9695) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DEFROSTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND THE DASHBOARD HAD TO BE DETACHED AND RE-ATTACHED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
11351843
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 19, 2019

DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER HAS STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ID
11280968
Incident
Nov 18, 2019
Mileage
118,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 23, 2019

THERE'S A PLASTIC GEAR INSIDE THE DASH THAT CHANGES THE HVAC MODE FROM VENT TO DEFROST. THAT GEAR BECOMES BRITTLE AND SNAPS CAUSING LOSS OF WINDOW DEFROST TO PREVENT WINDOW FOGGING. THIS BECOMES DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND UNABLE TO CLEAR THE WINDOW FOGGING.

NHTSA ID
11270355
Incident
Jan 3, 2019
Mileage
93,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 20, 2018

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET IT BEGAN TO RAIN SO I TURNED ON MY WIPERS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PASSENGER STOPPED IN THE STRAIGHT UP POSITION WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVERS SIDE TO GET CAUGHT UP IN IT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF MY WIPERS AS THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS STILL ATTEMPTING TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CAUGHT UP AND HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE I HAD ZERO VISIBILITY. I GOT THE WIPERS UNTANGLED BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE NO LONGER WORKS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND WITH THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG ISSUE FOR HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS.

NHTSA ID
11141613
Incident
Oct 18, 2018
Visibility
Filed Jul 31, 2018

AFTER AWHILE OF OWNING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED MY AC/HEATER BLOWER BEGAN TO STOP BLOWING OUT OF MY VENTS, AND IT ONLY BLOWS OUT OF THE DEFROST VENT. WITH THE BLOWER ON MY WINDOWS BECOME VERY FOGGED AND HARD TO SEE. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR CENTER AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WOULD END UP COSTING ME $1000 TO FIX A $15 PIECE. WITH HAVING TO REMOVE MY ENTIRE DASH. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A LEVER OF SOME SORT AND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO GET TO IT.

NHTSA ID
11115031
Incident
May 1, 2018
Mileage
165,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 21, 2018

CONDENSATION ON INSIDE WINDOWS

NHTSA ID
11074184
Incident
Feb 21, 2018
Mileage
118,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 11, 2018

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK UNLESS PLACED ON HIGH SPEED, AND EVEN THEN, THEY STOP HALFWAY ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING VISABILITY ISSUES. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11072148
Incident
Feb 10, 2018
Mileage
114,222 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 15, 2018

FRONT WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP AT OUTSIDE HUMIDITY LEVELS OF 80% AND ABOVE; STATIONARY AS IN MOTION. THE AIR SYSTEM DOES NOT CLEAR THE INTERNAL WINDOW CONDENSATION FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, UNLESS THE AC IS WORKING. WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW 75F, THERE'S NO NEED FOR AC, SO IT'S PREFERABLY TURNED OFF. HOWEVER PUTTING REGULAR AIR ON HEATER, WITH NO AC WILL FOG THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ID
11062895
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
60,000 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Jul 3, 2017

WE WILL BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLS OUT. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR 6 MONTHS BUT RECENTLY IT HAS GOTTEN A LOT MORE FREQUENT AND I HAD MY BATTERY TESTED AND IT'S NOT THAT. ALSO, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK BUT THEY ARE STUCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE MOTOR AND IT WAS OVER 300.00 TO FIX IT

NHTSA ID
11002762
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
SteeringVisibility
Filed Apr 27, 2017

STEERING ROD ISSUE, STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY OVER 50 MPH . SEVERAL ISSUES WITH COOLANT/ CAR OVERHEATING/ OVERHEATED AND GAUGE FLEW RAPIDLY TO HOT, DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF CAR - CALL TOW TRUCK. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BUT STILL SMELLS OF BURNING OIL. DRIVE SIDE WINDSHIELD STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON BUSY HIGHWAY -POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE WORKS FINE. ALL VERY DANGEROUS ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
10981166
Incident
Apr 27, 2017
Mileage
82,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 18, 2016

THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER IS NOW INOPERABLE. IT HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE MOTOR AND IS NOW FREE ROAMING ON MY WINDSHIELD. CRUZETALK.COM FORUM STATES THAT THERE A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WITH THE CHEVY CRUZE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM WHEN IT STOPPED OPERATION. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET ME. I WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 3 HOURS IN A SNOW STORM WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10936075
Incident
Dec 16, 2016
Mileage
110,221 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 29, 2016

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WAS RAINING VERY HARD AND I HAD MY WIPERS ON THE HIGHEST SPEED. SUDDENLY THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER STAYED IN THE VERTICAL POSITION AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I COMPLETELY LOST VISIBILITY ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND HAD TO LEAN OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AS THIS WIPER WAS STILL WORKING. THE HIGHWAY (ROUTE 95) HAD A VERY SMALL BREAKDOWN LANE WHICH I DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE PULLING INTO DUE TO THE LACK OF SPACE AND VISIBILITY. WHEN I EVENTUALLY GOT TO MY DESTINATION I NOTICED THROUGH THE WIPER COVER THAT THE WIPER ELBOW APPEARED TO BE DISCONNECTED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THEY DISCOVERED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN. THEY MENTIONED THAT THIS VERY ISSUE CAME UP WITH CHEVY EQUINOXES AND THEY WERE CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL. ULTIMATELY I WAS CHARGED $228.05 AFTER PARTS, LABOR, AND TAXES.

NHTSA ID
10919999
Incident
Oct 27, 2016
Mileage
72,500 mi
BrakesEngineVisibility
Filed Aug 26, 2016

TAKATA RECALL'' A WHOLE BURN INTO MY AIR CONDENSOR CAUSING MY FLUIDS TO LEAK OUT AND CAUSING A BAD SMELL

NHTSA ID
10898684
Incident
Jan 19, 2016
Visibility
Filed May 18, 2016

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT CRUISING SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER (TRANSMISSION LINKAGE) SEPARATED AT ONE OF THE BALL/CUP JOINTS CAUSING MY WIPER TO UNCONTROLLABLY FLY BACK AND CONTACT MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. LEAVING ME WITHOUT AN OPERABLE WIPER SYSTEM AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION TO WORK. THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE AS THE SAME ISSUE WAS REPAIRED APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO. OBVIOUSLY, A SAFETY CONCERN DEPENDING ON THE DRIVING AND WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10865631
Incident
May 5, 2015
Mileage
85,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 27, 2015

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DURING A RAIN STORM WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER BLADE QUIT WORKING. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE MY VISION WAS BEING BLOCKED BY THE RAIN. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF THE WIPER FAILURE. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 55-60 MPH AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID
10816321
Incident
Dec 24, 2015
Mileage
76,100 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 21, 2015

THIS MORNING THERE WAS FROST ON MY WINDSHIELD I STARTED MY DEFROST WHEN FROST WAS MELTING I TURNED ON WIPERS TO REMOVE MELTED FROST MY DRIVER SIDE WIPER STARTED SKIPPING AND THEN STUCK IN THE VERTICAL POSITION AND NOW ITS LOOSE AND DO NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ID
10795222
Incident
Nov 21, 2015
Mileage
89,250 mi
Visibility
Filed May 21, 2015

DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER STOPPED WORKING IN THE RAIN. IT WAS FOUND TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. THE END CAME OFF THE BASE OF THE WIPER ARM SPINDLE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. A RECALL IS IN ORDER DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL LET ALONE ON A CAR THAT HAS NOT BEEN ON THE ROAD 4 YEARS YET.

NHTSA ID
10717894
Incident
May 18, 2015
Mileage
104,025 mi
Tires & wheelsVisibility
Filed Apr 3, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WOULD ERRONEOUSLY INDICATE THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT FULLY INFLATED. AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRES, THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCOVER A FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR FAILED TO ADJUST, WHICH IMPAIRED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ID
10703564
Incident
Feb 3, 2014
Mileage
25,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Jan 26, 2015

WHEN DRIVING IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES MY WINDOWS BEGIN TO FOG AND FROST ON THE INSIDE OF ALL 4 WINDOWS, THE REAR WINDOW, AND THE CORNERS OF THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 - 15 MINUTES WITH THE DEFROSTERS BLOWING WARM AIR, THE CAR IS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE FROST. AND BY THEN, THE FROST HAS BUILT UP ENOUGH TO THE POINT TO WHERE I CANNOT SEE OUT OF EITHER DRIVERS OR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. THIS CAR WAS BROUGHT TO LUPIENT CHEVROLET IN BLOOMINGTON, MN (WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED 6 MONTHS AGO). IT WAS LOOKED AT FOR A WEEK IN WHICH THE SERVICE MANGER INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE ENGINE BEING TOO SMALL TO KEEP UP WITH COLD WINTER CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678918
Incident
Nov 17, 2014
Mileage
42,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 28, 2014

DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE AT NIGHT, IN RAIN, AT SPEED, RESULTING IN SEVERE LOSS OF VISION. FOUND THAT WIPER TRANSMISSION INTERMEDIATE LINK SEPARATED FROM LH WIPER TRANSMISSION BELLCRANK AT BALLSOCKET..FURTHER IDENTIFIED PLASTIC BALLSOCKET ON LINK FAILED, AND COULD NOT BE REATTACHED. REPLACED WITH NEW WIPER TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY P/N 95971326. OEM FAILED PART IDENTIFIED BY #95971324 DONGYANG 12/10/10 14:16:18 VEHICLE PRIMARILY DRIVEN IN RAINY CLIMATE, WIPERS USED A LOT. NEVER FROZEN TO WINDSHIELD, OR ICE/SNOW BUILDUP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668600
Incident
Dec 18, 2014
Mileage
72,050 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jun 5, 2014

I HAVE RETURNED MY 2011 CRUZE FOR ELECTRIC WINDOWS AUTOMATICALLY GOING DOWN AND NOT GOING BACK UP....3 TIMES REPLACED...THE DEALER TOLD ME AFTER THE THIRD REPAIR IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY DOG DROOL...I THEN DUCK TAPED THE WINDOW BUTTONS ON EACH DOOR IN THE BACK WHERE OUR DOG SITS AND THE SAME THING KEEPS HAPPENING...ONLY THIS TIME IT BEGINS FROM THE MAIN MECHANISM ON THE DRIVERS DOOR WHICH MEANS IT IS NOT FROM OUR DOG....I NEED HELP HAVING THIS FIXED.... WE ALSO HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS FOR THE SAME CAR 2011 CRUZE...HAVING TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IT COST NEARLY 500.00 TO FIX...I AM HOPING TO BE ELIGIBLE TO GET A REFUND. WE TO WERE DRIVING ...WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR I COULD FEEL THE IGNITION LOCK AND WERE UNABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT...THE KEY ACTUALLY BROKE IN THE IGNITION...THE 2011 IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE RECALL LIST?? THIS IS THE FIRST BRAND NEW CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED AND I AM EXTREMEMELY SADDENED BY ALL OF THE ISSUES OCCURRED IN THE FIRST 2/12 YEARS...I HOPE YOU WILL HELP... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10596410
Incident
Jul 11, 2012
Visibility
Filed Feb 6, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SHE SMELLED AN UNUSUAL ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ACTIVATED. THERE WAS HEAVY FROST INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF BOTH WINDSHIELDS AND ALL FOUR WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN PARTS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 03/21/14*LJ UPDATED 03/28/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10563299
Incident
Jan 19, 2012
Mileage
8,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 28, 2013

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER BLADE STOPPED WORKING. IT WAS SCARY BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE. I PULLED IN AT MECHANIC SHOP TO CHECK IT OUT. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME WHERE THE ARM FOR THE DRIVER SIDE IS CONNECTED BY BEING PRESSED INTO A BALL. IN MY VEHICLE THE ARM POPPED OUT OF THE BALL CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE BLADE TO STOP WORKING. THE PLASTIC SOCKET PROBABLY GOT WORN. THE MECHANIC DID NOT HAVE THE ARM AVAILABLE SO HE INNOVATED. I OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES IN MY LIFE AND MUCH OLDER AND THE WIPER BLADES NEVER QUIT LIKE THIS. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM SCARED DRIVING THE CRUZE. I STILL HAVE THE INNOVATED FIX IN CASE SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT IT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10549907
Incident
Oct 18, 2013
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 3, 2013

CAR DURING THE WINTER MONTHS HAS A VERY STRONG ANTI-FREEZE SMELL INSIDE OF CABIN WHEN HEAT IS ON. NOTICEABLE FILM OR FOG ON WINDOW FROM VENTS THAT IS HARD TO CLEAN OFF. SMELL BAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE HEADACHES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SHIP MECHANIC TWICE FOR THIS INCIDENT WERE THE MECHANIC STATES NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE MECHANIC DID AGREE THERE WAS 'SOME SORT' OF FILM ON THE WINDOW. HE STATED ON BOTH OCCASION THAT HE COULD NOT SMELL ANYTHING OR FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10533414
Incident
Dec 17, 2012

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .