YearToAvoid

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Engine Problems

Engine problems account for 82 of 201 total complaints (41%) filed on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze, with median mileage at failure around 40,000 miles. NHTSA lists no related recalls for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
82
41% of 201
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
40,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden stalling or engine shutdown while driving at highway speeds, sometimes dropping from 70 mph to 40 mph without warning.
  • Some vehicles lost power and shook or vibrated abnormally while accelerating or cruising at lower speeds like 25-35 mph.
  • Several complaints describe smoke or fire coming from the engine area, in some cases requiring a fire department response.
  • The auto start/stop feature reportedly shuts the engine off in traffic and fails to restart when the brake is released, forcing drivers to shift to park and restart.
  • One owner reported fuel economy running below EPA estimates across multiple driving conditions and seasons.

When 2017 Chevrolet Cruze engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 7, 2017, latest May 20, 2026.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter112017 Q32019 Q12020 Q22021 Q32023 Q12024 Q32025 Q4
82 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2023 Q3 (11).

Engine recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Cruze model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20100 (0%)
  2. 2011337 (46%)
  3. 2012338 (39%)
  4. 2013254 (43%)
  5. 2014265 (38%)
  6. 2015114 (45%)
  7. 2016114 (46%)
  8. 201782 (41%)
  9. 201833 (30%)
  10. 20196 (29%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA lists 82 engine-related complaints for the 2017 Cruze, which is 41% of all 201 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze engine?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to this engine complaint category.
At what mileage do 2017 Cruze engine problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 40,000 miles.
Do 2017 Cruze engine complaints involve fires or crashes?
NHTSA records show 3 fires, 1 crash, and 2 injuries among the engine-related complaints for the 2017 Cruze.
Are engine complaints worse in the 2017 Cruze than other years?
The 2017 Cruze's 41% share of engine complaints is lower than earlier years like 2011 (46%) and 2016 (46%), but higher than 2018 (30%) and 2019 (29%).

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.