2018 Chevrolet Cruze Steering Problems

Purchased new in 2019 – 32k miles - Oil changes every 6 months. Lightly driven, no modifications, all original engine components and tune. Engine developed a significant miss. Several warnings on Stabilitrak, ABS, and P0300. Significant oil leak at front of engine, oil is splashed all over the passenger side of the engine compartment. There is significant ‘chugging’ of air and oil from the dipstick tube and from the oil filler cap. This condition indicates excessive pressure leakage to the crankcase that is caused by a crack or failure to the #1 piston which is a very, very, very common failure with an extensive and indisputably documented history with the 1.4 engine throughout the history of the Chevrolet Cruze since its introduction. Compression test shows cylinder #1 at about 80 PSI while cylinders 2, 3, and 4 are at 190 PSI. This proves that there is a catastrophic compression leak down into the engine crankcase causing the misfire P0300 and the resulting excessive crankcase pressure causing the oil leak at the front of the engine and the expelling of air and oil from the dipstick tube and from the oil filler cap. This needs to be a warranty repair and the cost covered 100% by GM as it is a known defect with this engine since it has been first been used in their cars. Refer to: GM Bulletin: 18-NA-171 - [XXX] GM Bulletin: PIP5490D - [XXX] GM Bulletin: PIP5421 - [XXX] Reading through the extensive volume of posts on the #1 piston failure, GM/Chevrolet should have acknowledged this and a recall should have been issued and the warranty extended to cover an piston and/or piston ring failures with the 1.4 engine no matter what year or what vehicle it was installed in. I have additional links documenting the frequency of the piston and/or piston ring failure in the 1.4 engine: INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11634068

Incident

Dec 20, 2024

9/28/2024 abs light and traction control light came on my 2018 chevy Cruze LT along with steering assist reduced while driving home making car hard to steer above 50 mph and coming into curves Chevrolet needs to be made to recall and repair this problem, I have noticed a lot of Cruze owners having the same problem could be dangerous while driving without some previous indication or prior warranting.

NHTSA ID

11617114

Incident

Sep 28, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while making a turn, the vehicle went in another direction. While her son was driving at 2–3 MPH, making a turn, the vehicle went in another direction. The frame was rusted and secured with chicken wire. While her son was driving at 20 MPH and driving up the parking garage, the steering wheel was straight, but the wheel went towards the left, and he crashed into a pole. The vehicle was drivable. The air bags deployed and went to the floorboard. The ABS and stability track control. There were no reported injuries, police reports, or fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 105, 000.

NHTSA ID

11572925

Incident

Feb 9, 2024

Mileage

105,000 mi

I was pulling out of a parking lot and all of a sudden my steering wheel locked up. I was able to move it but it took a lot of force to turn it. I was 1/2 a mile from my house so I attempted to make it. I almost ran off the road trying to turn left at a red light and when I turned on my street. I almost drove into my gutter at the end of my driveway too. The next day it worked again. I do not know if it was a one time glitch or something more serious.

NHTSA ID

11434962

Incident

Sep 24, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE SERVICE POWER STEERING- DRIVE WITH CARE, AND SERVICE STABILI-TRAC WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED HAWK CHEVROLET OF JOLIET LOCATED AT: 2001 W JEFFERSON ST, JOLIET, IL 60435, (815)725-7110, AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED, WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,909.

NHTSA ID

11327722

Incident

Jun 7, 2020

Mileage

42,909 mi

WHEN EITHER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR WHILE ACTIVELY TRAVELING AT SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL DROP SPEED AND SHAKE TO THE POINT THAT YOU BELIEVE YOU MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND/OR YOU MAY GET REAR-ENDED OR HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE TURNING FROM A STOPPED POSITION ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND I WAS ALMOST KILLED BY BEING STRUCK BY A VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE SECOND MAJOR INCIDENT WAS WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING AND THE CAR WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO BE CONTROLLED. THE FREEWAY INCIDENT TOOK PLACE 6/6/2020

NHTSA ID

11327631

Incident

Jun 6, 2020

Mileage

24,600 mi

ON I35 SOUTH BOUND JUST NORTH OF OSEOLA IA. AT 73 MILES AN HOUR SOMETHING CAME LOOSE ON LEFT FRONT CAR TOOK A HARD LEFT NO CONTROL CRASHING INTO CABLE BARRIER IN MEDIAN. 3 PEOPLE ON BOARD 2 FRONT 1 REAR. NONE CAN EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED IT HAPPENED SO FAST. LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND AXLE WERE NOT FOUND AT THE SEEN OF THE ACCIDENT LEFT FRONT WAS COMPLETELY GONE. ONLY 4 AIRBAGS OF THE 10 ON BOARD DEPLOYED. RECEIVED ONSTAR NOTIFICATIONS ON STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM (STABILITRAK}, ANTILOCK BRAKING, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, AND FLAT DRIVERS SIDE REAR ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA ID

11297324

Incident

Dec 29, 2019

Mileage

18,000 mi

IT STARTED AROUND THE 18TH OF THIS MONTH. WHEN I GO TO TURN MY CAR MAKING A POPPING SOUND... I TAKE IT INTO MY CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY STATE ITS THE STEERING RACK.. THEY REPLACE MY STEERING GEAR AT N/C BECAUSE AT THAT TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET IT IN WARRANTY, WE ARE NOT ON MY THIRD VISIT NO LONGER UNDER GM WARRANTY DUE TO MILES AND I STILL HEAR POPPING WHEN TURNING..

NHTSA ID

11252432

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

Mileage

36,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 60MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE DASH WENT COMPLETELY DARK. NO POWER, NO STEERING. DRIFTED TO SHOULDER. PUT IN PARK, TURNED KEY TO OFF THEN ON. VEHICLE STARTED. (NO WARNING OR SERVICE CODES) REPLICATED AGAIN ABOUT 10 MINS LATER. ON CITY STREET TRAVELING 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING DASH WENT DARK AND CAR SHUT OFF. SAME PROCEDURE TO START. (NO WARNING OR SERVICE CODES) UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED MASSIVE FAILURE. NO INDICATORS.

NHTSA ID

11185508

Incident

Mar 8, 2019

Mileage

11,015 mi