YearToAvoid

2019 Chevrolet Cruze Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

11/100

#9 most-complained of 10 Cruze years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze ranks 9th worst out of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 11, making it one of the best years for this model. It has 21 complaints, 2 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls.

Complaints
21
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
32
28 city / 38 hwy

Top 2019 Chevy Cruze problems

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

  1. Engine6 (29%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain6 (29%)
  3. Electrical System4 (19%)
  4. Airbags3 (14%)
  5. Brakes3 (14%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (14%)
  7. Other2 (10%)
  8. Fuel System1 (5%)
  9. HVAC1 (5%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Some drivers report the engine failing to accelerate when pressing the pedal, including one case at 10,000 miles that led to a crash.
  • Owners describe brakes requiring hard pushing to stop the car, with one report of a grinding, air-like sound at 3,500 miles.
  • Several report the front windshield defroster losing power and fogging up the glass, sometimes requiring a full vehicle restart to fix, at around 1,500 miles.
  • One owner reports engine hesitation when driving uphill, requiring extra throttle pressure to maintain speed.
  • A recall repair for the transmission-related campaign (20V668000) was reportedly denied by a dealer who said the vehicle had no problem.
2019 Chevrolet Cruze complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2019Aug 2021Mar 2022Jan 2023May 2024Apr 2025Sep 2026
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2019 to Sep 2026; peak Jan 2022 (3).

2019 Chevrolet Cruze recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V668000Oct 29, 2020Transmission & Powertrain194,105 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

    Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

  2. NHTSA 18V576000Aug 30, 2018Brakes210,628 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

    Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

2019 Chevrolet Cruze fuel economy and fuel cost

City
28 MPG
Highway
38 MPG
Combined
32 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,050
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.

2019 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
2017Good33201232.5
2018Best22109333
2019Best1121232

All Chevrolet Cruze years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
Among Cruze model years, 2019 ranks 9th worst out of 10, with a complaint index of 11 and a 'Best' verdict relative to other years.
What problems does the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze have?
NHTSA lists 21 complaints for the 2019 Cruze, with Engine and Transmission & Powertrain each accounting for 29% of reports, followed by Electrical System issues at 19%.
Does the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for the transmission start-stop accumulator (campaign 20V668000) and one for the brake system (campaign 18V576000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
What year Chevrolet Cruze should I avoid?
Based on complaint index, 2011, 2012, and 2014 are listed as 'Avoid' years with indexes of 78, 100, and 89, respectively, unlike 2019 which scores 11.
What is the median mileage for engine failures in the 2019 Cruze?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 10,000 miles for engine-related complaints in the 2019 Cruze.

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.