RoadVitals

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
11
Latest Feb 22, 2024
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.
5%
of 201 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.
1
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 22, 2024

Several times during ownership (Bought used in 2021 with 13,000 miles at purchase, currently 35,000 miles on car. Entire instrument cluster including center screen and center console shifter selector goes completely dark. This includes both speedometer indicators. No apparent cause, no advance warning, screen(s) just "black out". After some time...30-40 seconds to as long as 2-3 minutes all console and instruments lights come back on. Happens during daytime and nighttime usage, with heater and/or air conditioning in use.

NHTSA ID
11573424
Incident
Feb 7, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 26, 2023

Seal on rear break lights malfunctioning causing water to leak into light and trunk causing mold and mildew buildup and possible electrical issues.

NHTSA ID
11528977
Incident
Jun 26, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 13, 2022

During rain or carwash, water leaks into rear passenger cabin along ceiling. Suspect coming from cracked rear third brake light which is a known Cruze issue that may also cause battery issues. My third brake light has two cracks (one on each side).

NHTSA ID
11479150
Incident
Jul 1, 2022
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 13, 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze. While refueling, the contact discovered that cracks had formed on both sides of the middle brake light housing. She then noticed that water from the cracks had leaked into the top rear headliner of the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where they confirmed the failure and provided her an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle has been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000. Consumer paid $312.82 for the repairs.

NHTSA ID
11447375
Incident
Jan 12, 2022
Mileage
15,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 1, 2021

Third rear brake light on my Chevy Cruze hatchback broke off from its mount, and is now dangling against the rear window glass, obstructing the view, obstructing the rear windshield wiper from being able to operate, and held on by nothing but the wiring. It is at risk of falling off into the road, makes the car less visible to drivers while braking, and obscures my view out of the back window, especially when it is raining, as I can no longer use the wiper. It is unable to be reattached without replacing the entire rear spoiler (approximately $1,000 repair according to multiple dealerships I have contacted, with photographs), and it is a manufacturer defect, not caused by outside force. It appears the bolts that hold the spoiler in were over-torqued at the factory, causing excess stress on the plastic holes they mount into, as the plastic surrounding both mounting holes cracked.

NHTSA ID
11438916
Incident
Aug 15, 2021
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 9, 2021

Third brake light cracked and letting water in my trunk. Where my battery and other electrical components are located.

NHTSA ID
11420321
Incident
Jun 9, 2021
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 27, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A FRACTURE ON ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ON THE SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECENTLY A PASSENGER IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE POINTED OUT THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS FRACTURED ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE INTO THE HEAD VISOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY NOTICED THE SEAL AROUND THE BRAKE LIGHT AND SURROUNDING AREA WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
11414186
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
Mileage
60,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 28, 2020

EXTERIOR FRONT HEAD LAMP CONDENSATION ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. HAD BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES IN PAST 2 YEARS. DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL AND TO LIVE WITH IT. THE CONDENSATION HAPPENS STANDING OR IN MOTION. ALL DEPENDING ON OUTDOOR WEATHER.

NHTSA ID
11312019
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Mileage
2,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Jun 18, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HIGH MOUNT BRAKE SEAL WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOMETOWN CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (2009 BARNES ST, REIDSVILLE, NC 27320, (336) 634-0050) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THIRD HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,829.

NHTSA ID
11220961
Incident
May 21, 2019
Mileage
36,829 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 15, 2018
Crash reported

THIS VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT NIGHT DUE TO THE "AUTOMATIC" LIGHTING SYSTEM EITHER WAS NON OPERATIONS, NOT FOCUSED IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION OR NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH. THE CRUZE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING SOUTH BOUND TO A LIGHTED INTERSECTION FROM A STOP SIGN A BLOCK AWAY. THE NORTH BOUND CAR WAS AT A STOP WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. UPON TURNING GREEN AND AFTER VIEWING THE OPPOSITE LANE TO YIELD, THE NORTH BOUND CAR PROCEEDED TO TURN LEFT AND DID NOT SEE THE CRUZE UNTIL IT WAS ALREADY IN A TURN AND LATER STATED THAT THE CRUZE CAME OUT OF NO WHERE. THE CRUZE WAS TOTALED. THE WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT, ANOTHER NORTHBOUND CAR, STATED THAT THE NORTH BOUND CAR WAS GOING EXTREMELY SLOW AS THE LIGHT JUST TURNED GREEN. IT IS NOTED THAT THE 2016 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11073159
Incident
Nov 27, 2017
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 24, 2017

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR BUT IT IS THE LS MODEL WHICH DOES NOT HAVE SEPARATE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS. INSTEAD OF DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON ANYTIME THE IGNITION KEY IS IN THE RUN POSITION. WHETHER OR NOT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS SET TO "AUTO" OR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON MANUALLY MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IN HEADLIGHT INTENSITY. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THAT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHEN I DRIVE ON HE FREEWAY AT NIGHT I CAN TELL THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON NEIGHBORING CARS ARE BRIGHTER. I AM OFTEN FORCED TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN THERE ARE NO OTHER SOURCES OF ILLUMINATION. I WONDER IF THE LIGHTING "COMPUTER" IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE POWER OF THE HEADLIGHTS. I'VE NOTICED THAT CHEVY CRUZES WITH DISCRETE DT RUNNING LAMPS (LEDS) STILL UTILIZE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS (PROJECTOR BEAM) BUT IN A DIMMED MODE. MY VEHICLE HAS OLD FASHIONED HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS. I NEED TO DETERMINE IF THE LIGHTING COMPUTER IS DIMMING MY HEADLIGHTS BECAUSE IT CAN'T DIFFERENTIATE NIGHT FROM DAY. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS AT ALL TIMES. IT COULD BE THAT THIS VEHICLE MODEL HAS POOR HEADLIGHTS. I'VE OWNED AND DRIVEN MANY CARS OVER A LONG STRETCH OF TIME. BUT RARELY HAVE I DRIVEN A VEHICLE THAT HAD SUCH POOR HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA ID
11039332
Incident
Mar 7, 2017
Mileage
2 mi

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.

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