2018 Chevrolet Cruze: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
109 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 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. 2018 specifically: a year the record favours — 109 complaints, score 85/100. 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 2018 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 109 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 13.62
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
My 2018 Chevy Cruz has developed a sticky or tacky surface discovered when I was cleaning my interior. I used warm water and soap to clean all plastics. Tried to dry off my dash with paper towels and discovered the issue . My car has been garage kept since its purchase so I have no idea as my previous vehicles never had this issue.
Coming to a stop sign or red light the car won’t accelerate or will go in traction control making it difficult to move or not accelerate. Had 2-3 fuel leaks this year also having problems to keep the car going sometimes the max speed it will go is 20-40 miles n won’t go up unless u keep letting it slow down slowly n then accelerating n even after that it won’t make it above 60-70 miles it usually goes with no problem…
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the windshield wiper compartment inadvertently opened. There was a failure with the seat belts. The contact stated that the driver’s side seat belt was excessively loose, and the front passenger’s side seat belt was overly tight. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the dr…
Recalls: 3 campaigns (2 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. |
| 20V668000 | 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. |
| 18V576000 | 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… |
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 33 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $1,950
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.
- Engine27 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other24 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train23 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System14 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Service Brakes13 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Steering9 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
Other Chevrolet Cruze years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (27 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 85/100, computed from 109 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze's most common problem?
27 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 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 2018 Chevrolet Cruze cost to run per year?
About $3,998 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $19,992 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 2018 Chevrolet Cruze have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze, 2 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 2018 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.
Moderate evidence — 109 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 109 NHTSA complaints on record (13.6/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (45.1/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems