VehicleVerdict

2011 Chevrolet Cruze brakes problems

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze has 76 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and the first year with meaningful reports in this category.

76

Brakes complaints

7%

Share of year

13

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Cruze brakes complaints by model year152 complaints2011: 76 complaints2012: 152 complaints2013: 50 complaints2014: 30 complaints2015: 19 complaints2016: 18 complaints2017: 19 complaints2018: 14 complaints2019: 2 complaints
Cruze brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

13V360000BrakesAugust 15, 2013 · 292,879 units

Defect

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with 1.4L DOHC gasoline turbo engines and 6T40 front wheel drive automatic transmissions and equipped with an electric vacuum pump to provide supplemental vacuum for brake assist, when needed. In the affected vehicles, the pump may not activate, resulting in an intermittent reduction or loss of brake assist.

Consequence

A loss of braking assistance will require extra pedal force and/or distance to bring the vehicle to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace a microswitch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's recall number is 12213.

What owners report

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAD OVERHEATED AND WERE A BURNING RED COLOR. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · June 18, 2014 · fire

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze have?

NHTSA has 76 complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze brakes — 7% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 13V360000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.