VehicleVerdict

2014 Chevrolet Cruze problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 1,096 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.8 times the median Cruze year — the 2014 model ranks #3 of 10 Cruze years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 90 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (256), engine (233), and transmission (95), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

1,096

NHTSA complaints

10

Recalls

0

Investigations

109

Crash-involved

31

Fires reported

90

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2014 compare to other Cruze years?

Cruze NHTSA complaints by model year, 2014 highlighted1,353 complaints2010: 2 complaints2011: 1,115 complaints2012: 1,353 complaints2013: 934 complaints2014: 1,096 complaints2015: 383 complaints2016: 391 complaints2017: 295 complaints2018: 166 complaints2019: 28 complaints
Cruze NHTSA complaints by model year, 2014 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Cruze years to avoid →

What are the most common 2014 Chevrolet Cruze problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System25623%
Engine23321%
Transmission959%
Steering938%
Other908%
Airbags767%
Fuel System605%
Visibility & Wipers474%
Speed Control394%
Brakes303%
Lighting192%
Body & Structure131%
Suspension111%
Tires & Wheels111%
Seat Belts111%
Driver Assistance71%
Seats40%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)10%

Does the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze have recalls?

10 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

25V764000AirbagsNovember 6, 2025 · 2,099 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators located on the roof rails above the headliner, may rupture at the inflator weld joint.

Consequence

An inflator that ruptures may partially inflate the air bag and cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252530830. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 23V674 and 23V870.

23V870000AirbagsDecember 21, 2023 · 20,712 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators may rupture at the inflator weld joint. This recall is an expansion of Recall 23V-674.

Consequence

An inflator that ruptures may partially inflate the air bag and cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 22, 2024. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232425640.

23V674000AirbagsSeptember 20, 2023 · 9,264 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. The left and/or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflators located on the roof rails above the headliner, may rupture at the inflator weld joint.

Consequence

An inflator that ruptures may partially inflate the air bag and cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the left and/or right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2024. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232408490.

16V502000Electrical SystemJuly 5, 2016 · 8,367 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence

If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

15V442000SteeringJuly 10, 2015 · 10 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.

Consequence

Separation of the tie rod from the steering gear could result in the loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15386.

14V417000Electrical SystemJuly 2, 2014 · 2,990 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

Consequence

Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

14V372000AirbagsJune 26, 2014 · 29,019 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's front air bag inflator may have been manufactured with an incorrect part.

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike and potentially seriously injure the vehicle occupants. Additionally, if the air bag does not inflate, the driver is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14305.

14V151000TransmissionMarch 31, 2014 · 174,046 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with a 1.4L turbo engine, and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and March 7, 2014. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.

Consequence

If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right half shaft, as needed, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. GM will send an interim letter to owners in May 2014. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's number for this recall is 14079. This is an expansion of recall 13V-452. NOTE: Some vehicles subject to this recall were subject to the recall campaign initiated in 2013. Some of those vehicles were repaired using defective parts. Those owners will be advised that they must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign and that having the earlier recall completed did not remedy their vehicles.

14V092000TransmissionFebruary 21, 2014 · 355 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence

If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy

General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Buick owners at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC owners at 1-800-462-8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.

13V452000TransmissionSeptember 23, 2013 · 3,161 units

Defect

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) and manufactured January 24, 2013, through August 1, 2013. On the affected vehicles, the right front half shaft may fracture and separate.

Consequence

If the half shaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured half shaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

General Motors has notified owners. Dealers will replace the half shaft assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 15, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300. This is General Motors campaign number 13276.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

MY CARS POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING FOR SHORT BURSTS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE POWER CABLES TO THE BATTERY WENT BAD BUT THAT IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. THIS CAUSED ME TO HAVE A SMALL ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 17, 2016 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · July 1, 2015 · fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT INDEPENDENTLY AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A FENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · January 16, 2014 · crash

BRAKES LOCKED UP (ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAULTY) CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID RATHER THAN SLOW DOWN DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND COULD NOT EVEN TRY TO SWERVE TO AVOID THE OTHER VEHICLE. CAR WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND THERE WAS A COLLISION. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · November 21, 2014 · crash

My radio was getting hot all the time I had a touch screen the dash would get hot and the glove box on top got hot. The sides of consoles would get hot to. I think my car had no engine shield it only happen when my car was running other ppl with 2014 cruzes say the samething.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · August 18, 2021 · fire

2014 Chevrolet Cruze — common questions

Is the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,096 complaints put the 2014 model at #3 of 10 Cruze years. It is one of the Cruze years to avoid.

What are the most common 2014 Cruze problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (256 complaints), engine (233 complaints), transmission (95 complaints).

Does the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns affecting the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Chevrolet Cruze years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Cruze years to avoid are 2012, 2011, 2014, 2013. The cleanest record among Cruze years belongs to 2010.

How safe is the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

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.