2016 Chevrolet Cruze Brakes Problems

The rear brakes lights have a crack causing water to leak through. The water caused damage to the converter output

NHTSA ID

11695471

Incident

Oct 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Service Brake System" was displayed simultaneously. The vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that he applied more pressure to the brake pedal and the vehicle responded. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the failure recurred while driving to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the vacuum pump had seized, which fractured the camshaft. The mechanic diagnosed that the vacuum pump and the camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000. The contact wanted to include the number of the brake pump part of their vehicle - 12662789. The contact also stated that other SUV models of various model years have the same defective part.

NHTSA ID

11536538

Incident

Jul 28, 2023

Mileage

108,000 mi

My car was recalled for problems with fuel system or something of that nature, I took it to get repaired not once but about 3 times and problem is still ongoing. When I press the gas, the car shoots all the way to the 3rd gear and gets stuck at about 27 miles which is very dangerous, especially when I’m on the freeway. It will also cut off in the middle of the road making me have to put my car in park and recrank the car, multiple people have almost ran dead into the back of my car. They basically told me it is no way to fix my car. Now, it has caused more problems. My car is now saying “engine power reduced” and “service brake assist” when I try to press the brakes, it’s literally almost impossible. I have to almost stand on the brake and it still does not stop all the way. My brakes are new btw, so it shouldn’t still have this error message. I’m basically driving a lemon. This car is not reliable at ALL. I have put so much money into this car and with it being a 2016, you would think it wouldn’t have all of these problems… the car just jerks when I’m driving and nobody can seem to fix it! Oh, and let me not forget about the fuse that blew in my USB ports causing me not to be able to use all the features of my vehicle. This car is a nightmare. Also, I believe that when there are recalls for safety issues like this, we should be notified but of course that’s asking for too much. I have only had this car since 2019. It was serviced on 4/28/21, 5/26/21, 6/6/21 and after that I literally gave up and just hope I don’t wreck out and die.

NHTSA ID

11496677

Incident

Apr 28, 2021

Vacume pump failure causing brakes to become very difficult to apply. Pump also brakes inside the valve cover. Causing timing issues and possible camshaft damage.

NHTSA ID

11477252

Incident

Jul 27, 2022

1st of all the motor was running g great! Then all of a sudden it started running rough and shaking. Was driving on the highway at 65 mph.no warni g lights or anything. Then a warning light came on for the brakes and it was hard to stop. The vacuum pump went out for the brakes and almost ended up in the ditch. Well put a vacuum pump on it and that fixed that problem but it was missing like crazy. Had it checked out and here the #1cylinder piston broke apart. Now it needs a motor. Almost cost me my life on that one.Motor is not cheap and don't know if it is worth it. I have been reading alot on them and people are having to change motors at 8,000 miles and sometimes twice in the same car before 18,000 miles. Don't you think there is something wrong with that?

NHTSA ID

11443887

Incident

Dec 11, 2021

PCM failure Almost had numerous accidents. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center. It has been reproduced by other people after explaining the issue. Also has been reproduced on another Gm product around the same year. Vehicle has been inspected by an independent shop, the only thing that was found was excessive brake wear in rear. Problem appeared when I first started driving the car. It is definitely a software issue. Software should be polling the wheel speed sensor while in engine off. There were no idiot lights. Recently, on a private road that had an inclination, I reproduce the problem. The vehicle obtained at least two miles an hour rolling backwards for about a minute. The speedometer did not register any speed. I did not want to test this any longer for fear of engine starting back up and damaging the transmission. Approaching a stop softly applying the brakes with an incline, whether at a controlled intersection or in traffic, when the auto engine shutdown activates, the vehicle rolls backwards.

NHTSA ID

11438781

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

THE VEH STARTED WITH A SMALL WATER LEAK, THEN A VERY LARGE LEAK. FOUND OUT THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS BAD AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS BAD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID HOLDER HAS A LARGE CRACK IN IT. THE VEHICLE STILL NEEDS MAINTENANCE ON IT AND CAN'T AFFORD IT. NO PHOTOS TO SHARE BUT RECEIPTS OF MY BILL TO REPLACE IT

NHTSA ID

11394736

Incident

Dec 27, 2020

Mileage

2 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS WHEN I HEARD A POP. I WAS GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND PICKING UP SPEED AND THE SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR BUT IT WAS NOT SLOWING G DOWN. I STARTED PUMPING THE BRAKES AND SAW I WASN'T SLOWING DOWN FAST ENOUGH. LUCKILY THERE WAS A RUN AWAY TRUCK RAMP SO I SWERVED INTO A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND ONTO THE TRUCK RAMP. ONCE I WAS SLOWING DOWN FINALLY I PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT.

NHTSA ID

11340881

Incident

Jul 16, 2020

Mileage

72,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE AND APPLY THE BRAKE THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE AND MY FOOT IS TO THE FLOOR IT TAKES A SECONDS BEFORE BRAKES ENGAGE. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER & THEY HAVE NO ANSWER-(IT DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN ) IT IS VERY SCARY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG -IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. (STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO)

NHTSA ID

11329892

Incident

Jun 21, 2020

Mileage

60,191 mi

BRAKES HARD TO APPLY BRAKE ASST. LIGHT ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

11325026

Incident

May 18, 2020

I BOUGHT A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZ NG ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2016. ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2019, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE CHEVROLET AGENCY TO CHECK THE WATER FILTERING OF THE 3 LIGHT STOP OF THE CAR, IT LEAKED WATER AGAIN AFTER THE REPAIR OF THE RECALL N162064340 . ON THIS VISIT I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE CAR HAD A RECALL OF THE STEERING SYSTEM (RECALL N182201620) WHICH PRESENTS A FAILURE IN THE PACKAGING OF THE STEERING BOX CAUSING MOISTURE TO ENTER THE PART AND DEACTIVATE THE POWER STEERING. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR THE AGENCY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM AND THE AGENCY CLOSED THE RECALL N182201620. ON NOVEMBER 5, 2019, WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN DRIVE, THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED, PREVENTING ME FROM TURNING, I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE, AND THE BOARD THREW A MESSAGE 'THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED, DRIVE WITH CAUTION', THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY HARD AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO MANIPULATE IT. I CONTACTED THE AGENCY AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CHEVROLET WORKSHOP AT MY COST, THE AGENCY ANALYZED THE FAULT AND RESPONDED THAT IT WAS NOT RELATED TO RECALL N182201620 (SAME FAULT THAT IS NO LONGER SHOWN ON THE GM PAGE) AND THAT THE THE CAR HAD NO GUARANTEE, THE AGENCY NOTIFIED ME THAT I SHOULD PAY FOR THE CHANGE OF THE PART. TALK TO GM 01800 AND I REPORT THE SITUATION, THEY CONTACTED ME AFTER 72 HOURS WITHOUT AN ANSWER, AFTER 6 DAYS GM'S RESPONSE WAS THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT, THE ADVISOR INDICATED THAT THE RECALL OF THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AGENCY AND THAT GM WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE, THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A TECHNICAL RESPONSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE PIECE AND THEY VIOLATION OF IATF RULE 16949: 2016 CLAUSE 10.2.6, THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM AN ANALYSIS OF THE PIECE FAILED AND REFUSED TO CHANGE OR REPAIR THE FAULT OF THE STEERING SYSTEM FOR FREE.

NHTSA ID

11281917

Incident

Nov 5, 2019

Mileage

71,000 mi

WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE THE HOUSE TO GO TO THE STORE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE HAS A LOSS OF THE POWER ASSIST. AFTER STARTING THE CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE, RELEASE THE BRAKE, VEHICLE BEGINS TO MOVE, APPLY BRAKE, BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NO WHERE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THE SAME THING OCCURRED ON 2013-2014 MODELS.

NHTSA ID

11266865

Incident

Oct 5, 2019

MY ENGINE WILL JUST SHUT OFF RANDOMLY, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. I HAVE TOOK IT INTO DEALER BECASE IT WAS STILL COVERED UNTIL POWERTRAIN, OF COURSE THEY FOUND NOTHING AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR 4 DAYS. MY CAR SHUTS OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, OR WHILE COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY WITH CARS TRAILING BEHIND ME. IT SHUTS OFF SITTING AT RED LIGHTS, WHEN THE AUTO START COMES BACK ON IT NEVER FULLY WILL COME BACK ON, AND JUST COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. IN WHICH I HAVE TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND START THE CAR AGAIN, AND AT TIMES IT DOESN'T START RIGHT AWAY! MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN UP, HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP AND AN AUTO STORE BOTH PULLED CODES AND NONE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL ENGINE. THERE IS ALSO A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING THAT HAS BEEN ON AS WELL. MY BREAKS WORK, BUT YOU HAVE TO PUSH DOWN VERY HARD FOR THEM TO WORK AT 100%. I HAVE 2 CHILDREN, AND AM A SINGLE MOM, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND PUTTING ALL OF OUR LIVES AT RISK! NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR, AND I DON'T WANT ANY OF US TO GET INJURED OR DIE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL.

NHTSA ID

11222136

Incident

Dec 1, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHEN STOPPING, AN INITIAL PRESS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT ENGAGE BRAKE LIKE USUAL. HAD TO PUSH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO GET THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES TO ENGAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, DRIVING UNDER 20MPH.

NHTSA ID

11196585

Incident

Apr 10, 2019

Mileage

37,200 mi

WHILE LOOKING FOR PARKING IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX IT BECAME VERY HARD TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BREAK PEDDLE AND I WAS FORCED TO USE MY E-BREAK TO STOP. MY BREAK PEDDLE IS NOW VERY HARD TO PRESS AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE POWER BREAK BOOSTER.

NHTSA ID

11145212

Incident

Nov 3, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

I PARKED MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY WORK AND I HAD THE BRAKE UP BUT THE CAR ROLLED BACK AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THANKFULLY, NOT A LOT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE CAR BUT I COULDN'T RELAX ABOUT MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAD THE CAR ONLY 1 1/2 YEARS AND THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 4 HOURS. WHEN I CALLED THEM, I FELT LIKE THEY WERE TALKING DOWN TO ME BECAUSE I'M A GIRL AND THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS WORKING THE WAY THAT THE MANUFACTURER DESIGNED IT. I HAVE DRIVEN A STICK SHIFT FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULDN'T BE DESIGNING CARS SO THAT THE BRAKES DON'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

11083145

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

Mileage

8,227 mi

CAR HAS LESS THAN 17,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE A FAILING TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVING AND STARTING UP AFTER STOPPING IT JERKS AND HESITATES. BRAKES ARE CONTINUOUSLY BEING BLOWN OUT AS THEY SQUEAL.

NHTSA ID

11064308

Incident

Oct 15, 2017

Mileage

14,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GROUND WAS DRY. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAD HIP SURGERY AND LACERATIONS TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,135.

NHTSA ID

10926924

Incident

Nov 5, 2016

Mileage

2,135 mi