2017 Chevrolet Cruze: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
201 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The first-generation Cruze (2011–2015) carries the 1.4-litre turbo's coolant-leak, water-pump and turbocharger complaints, plus the six-speed automatic's shudder; the 2012 and 2014 years are the worst. The second generation from 2016 is a better car in the data, with the 2017–2019 years scoring 86 to 93. Read the full note on the model page. 2017 specifically: a year the record favours — 201 complaints, score 87/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze and Equinox: the four-cylinder years to watch, including 2017 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 201 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 22.33
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The engine has excessive blow by from the oil filler cap. having a misfire on cylinder number 1 and idling rough. there are several threads online concerning this issue being caused by worn pistons and piston rings.
My airbag light came on. My vehicle has less than 100K miles on it. I took it to the Chevy Dealership that I purchased it from. The dealership indicated that the passenger side rail air bag is the issue. Apparently, that airbag is no longer available. If I wanted to repair it, they can't, because there is no airbag. As long as the airbag light remains on, NONE of my airbags will deploy. My car is now a useless lemon.…
Paint bubbling and rusting alone the car even though it’s washed and is no where near salt never even been hit there are tons of issues with GM paint yall need to fix these and recall every gm car with this issue and wipers are very rough scratching windshield
Recalls: 2 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 18V304000 | 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. |
| 17V057000 | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 34 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $1,900
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine73 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train39 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System33 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other31 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Service Brakes19 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Structure16 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
Other Chevrolet Cruze years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (73 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 87/100, computed from 201 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze's most common problem?
73 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze cost to run per year?
About $4,254 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $21,270 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 10/05/2018. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 201 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 201 NHTSA complaints on record (22.3/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (45.1/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems