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Free public service · Official NHTSA & EPA data

2016 Chevrolet Cruze

Verified August 31, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
4
of 5 stars
Recalls
4
on record
MPG
34
combined

Open recalls on record

4 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.

Vehicle Summary

2016 Chevrolet Cruze

4 recalls
247 complaints
34 MPG combined
4/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Confirm all 4 recalls were repaired — a dealer checks by VIN, free
Read the 19 complaints reporting a crash
Review the 247 owner complaints on record
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
4
Owner complaints
247
Complaints citing a crash
19

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

4 Recalls on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 18V304000high

    Fuel system issue

    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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

    Consequence

    A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy

    GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.

    Full campaign record
  • 17V057000high

    Safety restraint issue

    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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."

    Consequence

    In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.

    Remedy

    GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.

    Full campaign record
  • 16V498000high

    Lighting issue

    EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

    Consequence

    Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    GM will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a GM dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet Customer Service Department at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 50190.

    Full campaign record
  • 16V502000high

    Electrical issue

    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

    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.

    Full campaign record

NHTSA crash-test ratings

NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze.

  • Frontal crash

    Driver
    5 / 5
    Passenger
    5 / 5
  • Side crash

    Driver
    5 / 5
    Passenger
    4 / 5
    Side pole
    5 / 5
  • Rollover

    Rollover risk
    10.7%
    Dynamic tip
    No Tip

Driver-assistance technologies

Electronic stability control
Standard
Forward collision warning
Optional
Lane departure warning
No

What the ratings mean

NHTSA gives the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze 4 out of 5 stars overall, below the 5-star median for the 11 comparable 2016 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.

NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.

NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 10.7% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.

NHTSA crash tests

2016 Chevrolet Cruze Frontal crash crash test
Frontal crash Video
2016 Chevrolet Cruze Side crash crash test
Side crash Video
2016 Chevrolet Cruze Side pole crash test
Side pole Video

Fuel economy & emissions

EPA figures for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.

30

City

40

Hwy

34

Comb

Annual fuel cost
$1,800
Tailpipe CO₂
261 g/mi

How this compares

At 34 MPG combined, the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze ranks 1st of 17 compact cars EPA rated for 2016 — 6 MPG better than the 28 MPG median for that group.

That places it in the upper third of its class. Fuel cost is unlikely to be the deciding factor against its direct rivals.

EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $1,800, $500 less than the $2,300 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $9,000, a $2,500 difference against a class-median vehicle.

Tailpipe CO₂ is 261 grams per mile — about 3.9 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.

Consumer complaints

247 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

247
Total
19
Crashes
6
Fires
14
Injuries

Most reported components

  • ENGINE115
  • OTHER25
  • ELECTRICAL25
  • AIR BAGS21
  • BRAKES18

Notable Issues

247 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 14 reports involve injuries. 19 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)115
miscellaneous issues25
electrical issues (battery, wiring, infotainment)25

Safety timeline

Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, newest first.

  1. Recall

    Recall 18V304000

    A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

  2. Recall

    Recall 17V057000

    In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.

  3. Recall

    Recall 16V502000

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

  4. Recall

    Recall 16V498000

    Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Compact Cars
Drive type
Front-Wheel Drive
Engine
1.4L 4-cyl
Fuel type
Unknown
Transmission
Automatic (S6)
Seats
0

Fuel economy

30

City

40

Hwy

34

Comb

Annual cost
$1,800
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

NHTSA crash ratings

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Explore related

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 18V304000

    A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

  2. Recall

    Recall 17V057000

    In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.

  3. Recall

    Recall 16V502000

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

  4. Recall

    Recall 16V498000

    Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.