Defect Summary: 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."
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Executive Vehicle Verdict
The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is associated with 249 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 4 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.
The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 42 reports (17% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 9 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.4l 4-cyl and 1.8l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 26 to 34 MPG combined.
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 249 consumer reports filed
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 4 official campaigns
- • Primary Defect Domain: Engine (42 / 17%)
- • Field Incident Signals: 19 crash / 6 fire / 12 injury reports
- • NCAP Crash Safety: 4 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
- • EPA Certified Range: 26–34 MPG across 9 powertrain trims
What is the fuel economy and range of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruze | 1.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 30 MPG | 40 MPG | 34 MPG | — | $1,800 / yr |
| Cruze Premier | 1.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 30 MPG | 40 MPG | 34 MPG | — | $1,800 / yr |
| Cruze Limited Eco | 1.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 28 MPG | 40 MPG | 33 MPG | — | $1,850 / yr |
| Cruze | 1.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 28 MPG | 39 MPG | 32 MPG | — | $1,900 / yr |
| Cruze Limited Eco | 1.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic 6-spd | 26 MPG | 37 MPG | 30 MPG | — | $2,050 / yr |
| Cruze Limited | 1.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 26 MPG | 36 MPG | 30 MPG | — | $2,050 / yr |
| Cruze Limited | 1.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 26 MPG | 37 MPG | 30 MPG | — | $2,050 / yr |
| Cruze Limited | 1.8L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 25 MPG | 35 MPG | 29 MPG | — | $2,100 / yr |
| Cruze Limited | 1.8L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 22 MPG | 34 MPG | 26 MPG | — | $2,350 / yr |
What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | 10.7% |
Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Chevrolet Cruze models.
What defect complaints are reported for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
Summary of 249 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Chevrolet Cruze problems & component breakdown (80 categories) →Are there open safety recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA
Defect Summary: 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."
Defect Summary: 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."
Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze
Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze
How many safety recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze have?
The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is associated with 4 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.
If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA records list 249 consumer defect complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Engine, appearing in 42 filings (17% of submissions).
Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze earned an Overall Safety Rating of 4 out of 5 stars across 1 tested configuration(s).
Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.
What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze get?
Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze range from 26 to 34 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.
Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.
The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
- NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
- U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.
Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.