YearToAvoid

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#7 most-complained of 10 Cruze years

The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze ranks 7th worst out of 10 model years, with a Complaint Index of 33 and a 'Good' verdict relative to other Cruze years. NHTSA lists 201 complaints, 2 recalls, 8 crashes, and 6 fires for this year, with Engine issues the top problem area at 41% of complaints.

Complaints
201
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
8 / 6
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
32.5
29 city / 39 hwy

Top 2017 Chevrolet Cruze problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine82 (41%)
  2. Electrical System43 (21%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain39 (19%)
  4. Other31 (15%)
  5. Brakes25 (12%)
  6. Structure & Body22 (11%)
  7. Fuel System15 (7%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (4%)
  9. Airbags7 (3%)
  10. Steering6 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the automatic headlight system failing to activate or aim properly at night, contributing to intersection collisions.
  • Some drivers describe the engine emitting smoke while driving at low speeds, sometimes followed by a warning light and, in a few cases, an engine fire.
  • Electrical shorts have been reported both while driving and while the vehicle was parked, with some leading to interior fires and total vehicle loss.
  • Airbags have failed to deploy in some crash situations, including a rollover-type impact where only the side curtain airbags fired.
  • A driver seat-back frame reportedly broke during a rear-end collision, twisting the occupant's torso and causing spinal injury.
  • One owner described unintended acceleration at a stop sign followed by a loss of braking that resulted in a crash.
2017 Chevrolet Cruze complaints: complaints filed per quarter242016 Q42018 Q12019 Q22020 Q32021 Q42023 Q12024 Q22025 Q3
286 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2023 Q3 (24).

2017 Chevrolet Cruze recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V304000May 10, 2018Fuel System111,966 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

    Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.

  2. NHTSA 17V057000Jan 26, 2017Structure & Body17,197 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:head restraint

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."

    Risk: In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29 MPG
Highway
39 MPG
Combined
32.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,075
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other Cruze years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Good44252430
2016Caution56250430
2017Good33201232.5
2018Best22109333
2019Best1121232

All Chevrolet Cruze years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
Relative to other Cruze model years, the 2017 is rated 'Good,' ranking 7th worst out of 10 years with a Complaint Index of 33, well below the worst years like 2012 (index 100).
What are the most common problems on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze?
Engine issues make up 41% of complaints (82 of 201), followed by Electrical System problems at 21% and Transmission & Powertrain issues at 19%.
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2017 Cruze: one for a fuel system leak risk after rear-impact and one for an incorrectly welded seat-back recliner bracket. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
Are there fire risks with the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA has recorded 6 fire-related complaints for the 2017 Cruze, several tied to the Engine and Electrical System problem areas.
How does the 2017 Cruze compare to other years?
The 2017 Cruze has a lower Complaint Index (33) than the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016 model years, but a higher index than the 2015, 2018, and 2019 model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.