general problems of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze - part 1

54 problems related to vehicle speed control have been reported for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze based on all problems reported for the 2011 Cruze.

1 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 12/24/2021

As I was on the highway, I was unable to pick up speed without feeling resistance! after awhile I couldn’t go past 25 mph and my car eventually gave out before I made it home. I had to call a tow to have them tow me to my park lot! a couple days went by and my car was able to drive through the parking and park in different spots. I am not sure what the problem may be but I just bought this car and it has been causing unsafe issues for about a year now! please help!.

2 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 06/19/2021

The car cuts out and jerks (has no power) (no warning lights) when accelerating or staying at a steady speed with engine light coming on or flashing. I've reported to dealership. So far, don't know the cause of problem.

3 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 03/20/2021

Many occurrences of pushing the accelerator, and the car having a delayed reaction to accelerate. This has almost caused collisions with other vehicles when coming from a stop in a parking lot onto a main road.

4 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 03/11/2020

The Cruze sputters or hesitates when braked or idling, the service traction control, services stabilitrak came on along with a flashing check engine light. I loose power and feel like I'm needing to press a lot harder on the gas to accelerate.

5 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 07/18/2019

Cruze control fails to remain set and turns off on it's own resulting in reduction of speed when traveling. Rear seat belt buckles become non-functional and won't fasten, posing a safety hazard and making the rear seats unusable for passengers.

6 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 07/02/2019

Tl the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving 30 mph, when the contact released the accelerator pedal, the vehicle stopped abruptly. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was taken to david stanley Chevrolet (located at 614 w interstate 240 service rd, oklahoma city, ok 73139, (405) 632-3600), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 43,163.

7 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 05/06/2019

Well it would kind of stall when I began to give it gas the rpms would go up n rev but it didn't kick n go for a min than it would be ok until u stopped jbstarted to go again than one day I was driving n the drive went completely out on me so it goes in every gear but won't drive.

8 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 10/19/2018

On October 19,2018 my in laws were traveling north on route 61 in pennsylvania. They can to a red light and ran into the back of a minivan and the airbags deployed. Then we dont know what happened, but the car accelerated and went the length of a football field and they hit a pole and my mother in law died instantly and my father in law died at 5:10 am. My concern is why isn't it an industry standard that once the airbags are deployed the throttle doesn't shut down. If the throttle would have not worked they way still be alive. If you cant help me could you send me in the right direction.

9 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 06/11/2018

Vehicle has a very rough idle while stopped and while driving. When driving the vehicle will change roughly idle and speed up the vehicle. While in a stopping position the vehicle will roughly idle and the rpm indicator will bounce up and down. The engine light is on and the traction control warning and service esp warnings come on intermittently while in stopped position and then the vehicle will not accelerate properly. The most recent one revved and accelerated on its own, almost hitting the car at the stoplight in front of me.

10 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 04/17/2018

Vehicle was on highway going to lexington ky from louisville ky. Car begin to smoke. Hose that was supposedly fixed on radiator was rigged and oil spilled from the hose causing it to go into engine. Engine overheated while driving on highway. Engine died. Had to get car towed from one city to the next. Got stranded in another town because could not obtain a rental car because they were closed. Since 2016 I have spent over $7000 on getting the same issues or related issues fixed. I have spent over $5000 in rental cars and I still owe $9000 on my car which I purchased from bales automall/bachman in jeffersonville indiana in 2014 with on 28,000 miles. I have kept my services up to date on the vehicle and have documentation for that. It seems once I begin to get oil changes at this location my car begin to decline. I would be told that I had one problem, they would fix it, and then something else would happen. In addition, I have a witness who is a family member who is experiencing the same problems with the same year and model car that she owns. I see her going through the same down spiral steps with her car as I did. It is almost like clockwork. I have read consumer reports about these vehicles and none have been positive. In fact, many who have a turbo engine will or have experienced this same issue. The car is a lemon. . . It needs to be recalled!! it is unfair that I purchased a car that was no good and that only ran good for two years before having to replace the turbo twice and the engine. Let me reiterate. . I still owe $9000 on this car. At this point I am clueless and I feel as if I was taken advantage of. When I reported this to the bbb;GMC and other sources they led me on for weeks knowing that they would not assist in the matter. Because of this whole fiasco I have anxiety in which I am taking medication. Please help dont know what to do.

11 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 03/19/2018

Car does not properly accelerate, so much so that I need to use the hazard lights to avoid being hit by the car behind me when accelerating after stopping at a stop sign or red light. This is not safe. I have small children. I drove 40+ miles (city miles) and had no issues getting there, but then when I attempted to turn the car on again to return home, the temperature gauge showed the engine go from cold to hot very quickly, displayed the message "engine hot a/c off" and it started making a loud squealing noise. At this point I swerved the car off the road because my daughter and I feared for our safety and thought it was going to explode. I put the car in park, we both opened our doors and took off running from the car until we reached a safe distance. I had to have it towed 40+ miles to my home. The mechanic checked the vehicle again and found that the radiator had cracked and that the water pump needed to be replaced. He replaced the radiator and also the water pump, and ensured the proper amounts of all fluids. Also, whenever I attempt to drive on the highway, the front end of the car gets very hot and the "transmission hot idle engine" message comes on and the ac, which was working fine, does not work now. Still, the mechanic could find nothing wrong with the transmission! the heat from the engine and transmission come straight through the front of the vehicle, which with no ac gets super hot in addition to the 80+ degree weather in central florida (and it's not even summer yet!). Every time I have to have tried to refuel the car within the past 2 weeks of me having purchased it, the engine stalls and stalls and stalls. It takes 10-15 tries to turn the car back on every time I refuel. In addition to this, once you actually get the car back on the car jerks when put in drive. I have to keep my foot on the gas or the car will shut back off.

12 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 11/15/2017

Set up the airbag and the car mileage does look.

13 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 06/30/2017

I purchased a certified pre-owned car on Jan. 2015. Since mid-2016 (one and a half year since I owned the car) I've been noticing that my check engine light turned on every now and then, and gear shifting became significantly lagging around 30mph. Every single time in a service appointment (which I took strictly on schedule for every 3 months), I would point that out to the service department, and every single time they would claim that they tested everything and there was no problem they detected. While last week (late June 2017, 2 and a half years since I owned the car, and interestingly 5 months after all my warranty expired), I was trying to drive back home from office via the highway. While entering the highway and speedup, I noticed that my engine speed went ups and downs in a serious, uncommon, rapid manner. There was also an unpleasant noise coming out of the transmission system. My car seriously shakes, and all gear shifting attempts became useless. The car went out of control and went to neutral gear on the highway--which pushed me to a very dangerous emergency situation. Fortunately I made it stopped by the side of the highway and managed to call the roadside assistance. My car was finally towed to the closest chevy dealership, and upon diagnostics they replied that to replace the transmission part, it would cost me $4100. It was the same amount for selling the same model with good condition !!!! I read every complaints for 2011 chevy Cruze regarding the transmission problem, and found very similar experiences for all the cases. It all happened on the 2011 module, transmission system got failed around 50k~60k mileage, and the only solution is to replace the whole part.

14 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 03/21/2017

Bought this car used with 51k miles a month ago. Drove great the first week, after that loses powerupon acceleration and is slow to get up to speed. While driving just now, the car was losing power so I decided to hit the gas harder and instead of going faster the the stability track light came on. I am starting to wonder if I made a bad decision purchasing this car. It had trouble going up hill on the highway last wk. This car is too compact to have speed issues.

15 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 03/13/2017

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact called on behalf of her son. While driving 20 mph or less, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the reduced power, traction control, check engine, and electronic stability control warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,468.

16 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 12/09/2016

While driving down a city street, the vehicle was stopped at a stop light. Just as it was about to move forward as the light turned green, it went into engine power reduced mode and prevented the vehicle from moving forward at a normal rate of speed. Thankfully was able to get the car off the road. Had to be towed to mechanic. The conditions were cold (about 20 degrees), with no ice. Further warnings included traction control servicing, but there were no issues with the traction control system. Mechanic is saying it is a throttle body issue.

17 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 08/01/2016

Transmission jerks extremely hard. When air is on car fails to accelerate at all. Idles on its own, jumps gears always. Fuel system is bad, it chokes constantly and wont start some days. It vibrates extremely hard and I had it serviced 1 month ago for shaft case. This is the worst car ever!!!!!!! its a danger to drive it wont pick up speed and when the air is on it wont move at all. If still at a light, it will jerk extremely hard to where it jerks me. When in park it idles itself. If I'm entering onto the highway it wont pick up speed even if the air is not on. When I reverse and go back to park it jerks extremely hard. I hate this car!!! sometimes it doesn't want to stop.

18 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 08/01/2016

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not immediately accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who could not duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000.

19 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 07/04/2016

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving 25 mph, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle accelerated independently. As a result, the contact crashed into a fence. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic after the crash. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.

20 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 04/16/2016

Tl- the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet cruz. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, there was a drastic reduction in speed below 40 mph with no warning. The dealer mike anderson Chevrolet, 119 e main st, gas city, in 46933, (765) 327-7326 had scheduled an appointment, diagnosed and had replaced the pcv valve under a warranty however the failure recurred. The contact was uncertain if it was the oem part that may fail if it was replaced again. The contact as a mechanic, diagnosed that the same code showed for the diagnostic testing from southward Ford, 1430 n baldwin Ave, marion, in 46952, (765) 662-2561 indicating that the pcv valve failed again. The manufacturer was notified of the failures, provided no remedy other than taking the vehicle back to the dealer for repairs. The manufacturer had issued 209 TSB on electrical, 75 TSB on the engine, 96 TSB on engine and engine cooling and 1 TSB for vehicle speed control but had not issued a recall campaign to provide a permanent fix for this failure yet. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000. Dyd.

21 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 03/04/2016

My car has a check engine light and I took it to dealer they do not know what the code is, its p057c and I was driving on highway going 70 and car all of a sudden loses power went from 70mph to 5mph in a split second almost got rear ended by a semi truck I am afraid to drive my car for my safety. Dealer wants hundreds of dollars just to try and figre out the issue but after diagnostic they still have no clue. So thir plan was to dissect my car like a science project and maybe fix it. They want the car for a week and do not offer any loaner cars. Chevrolet northridge dealership California. Today 03/04/16 driving to work going 40mph and get to a red light, it turned green I hit the gas and the car just revs and wont go more than 5pmh . I had to pull over and turn car on and off 2 times before I could get to work. And got there late because of this. And again almost got rear ended. I press the gas and the car revs as if it is idling. Please make this a recall and help get this fixed. Its going to be a reason why a driver loses their life. This is a true emergency since it just feels like the car has a mind of its own. And dealer does not know what to do. Please please help!.

22 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 02/29/2016

Car will slow to 2 mph with the warnings "low engine mode" and "service stabilitrack". Can be going any speed and this happens. Have had the car towed 3 times for this same problem. Each time they tell us it is another part that is defective. We have spent approximately $2,000 on repairs for this same issue. My main concern is that my 20 year old son who drives this vehicle is going to get killed. If this happens on a highway with a semi behind him, the semi will not be able to slow down to that speed that fast and will run right over him. There are numerous reports of this same issue on 2011-2015 Cruze vehicles that you can find anywhere on the internet (even on gm forum). I would like to know how many people have to die from this issue before a recall is made on these vehicles?.

23 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 01/11/2016

Whife driving down the road traction control light comes on slows down to about 20 very dangerous 4th time it has happened to her. Chevy dealer fixed it said it was accelerator pedal. Did it again. On the way home and to work.

24 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 12/09/2015

In addition to two complaints filed about this vehicle already. The u. S has no concern for human life in the u. S and is allowing white supremacy to endanger minority drivers and other drivers. The testing of satellite radiological dispersal weapons and remote control systems involving, hacking, backdoor access, remote control, surveillance and vehicle compromise persists. On 12/10/15 and 12/09/15 the vehicle was halted by force from a satellite tracking the vehicle. Ample evidence of electrical problems in the car, cellphone tracking and home tracking is available. A federal lawsuit was filed and dismissed without reason of cause to further the hate crime. On these two days I was driving the vehicle one again, and lost control over the vehicle steering and throttle. The issue occurs at stop signs to cause an accident there or at a intersection. The vehicle is purposely tampered with during transit to cause loss of control and throttle. The vehicle throttle is gone, the gas peddle goes limp and the engine stops throttle for a duration. The engine then kicks in full force after a series of hard sputters on throttle jerking the car forward up a hill or into to a stop. I was in highland NY leaving a plaza, where this occurs, and other intersections with lights.

25 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 11/14/2015

Stability trac and traction control light appears, vehicle experiences immediate loss of power. Experienced while driving on freeway attempting to change lanes. Due to the sudden loss of power I was nearly struck by a big rig. Dealer can not identify codes only code that appeared was po171,fuel trim lean code was addressed by dealer, dealer claims original complaint was tied to the p0171 code. While driving home experienced sudden loss of power and rough shifting. No warning lights or indicators appeared. Vehicle smells like burnt oil, and noticed a loud ticking noise. Notified dealer and was told it is normal vehicle will be fine after 400 miles of driving. My families life will be placed in jeapordy for the next 400 miles. The unresponsive acceleration and sudden loss of power is a serious safety issue.

26 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 10/03/2015

Almost to into a huge accident driving on the high way at a speed of 35mph when my car slowed down with my foot still on the gas. It felt like my gears were shifting without me shifting them. I really don't know to much about cars but I know this wasn't supposed to happen while driving.

27 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 09/25/2015

While attempting to accelerate into an busy intersection, I floored my car and quickly realized my engine had drastically reduced power. The car was hardly moving. The engine was running but there was no acceleration. There were no warning lights or anything, just no acceleration. Luckily, the driver barreling up behind was able to move over into the other lane or it would have been a horrible accident.

28 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 02/05/2015

While driving I lost engine power and had no foot throttle. The check light came on that stated reduced engine power and check stabilatrak. Shutting car off and restart did not fix. My car would not go over 4mph and I was nearly rear ended.

29 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 02/04/2015

Intermittent service traction control and stabilitrak while at a stop when attempting to drive after the service light came on the vehicle lacked power and high temp fan turn on. The only way to get the car out of the service lock was to turn the ignition off and turn it back on. I took the car to a dealer where they were unable to duplicate the issue. This issue has been covered under a recall on other chevy vehicles such as the equinox.

30 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 01/28/2015

While driving my car home from work at the end of January, I felt it suddenly slow down on its own. I had a message on my display to service stabilitrak and engine power reduced. I had no power to the car and had to pull off the road. I turned my car off for a couple of minutes and then back on, it started and ran fine the rest of the way home. Then again today, Feb. 24th, 2015, while driving to work, it did the exact same thing. I had to move over to the side of the road in early morning traffic (not an easy thing to do!), and turn my car off. I waited for a couple of minutes, started it and drove the rest of the way into work without problems. After reading the many complaints of the exact same situations, I would think it's time for a recall before someone gets hurt due to the sudden reduction of power!!.

31 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 10/15/2014

I was pulling out of a gas station, use to my normal power and almost got hit because my car wouldnt go over 15mph floored. Then looked down and saw a engine power is reduced, service stabili trak and service traction control. So I took yo a mechanic he hooked it up and the code showed up as my throttle body position sensor. They replaced it and drove it and it drove fine for about two weeks. I was just going down the road then all of a sudden my car did the same thing. I lost power so fast that I about got reer ended. Took it back to the body shop and showed the same code so they replaced tge part again. And two days after all this my car is doing this again. This is extremely dangerous at how it looses engine power. It looses it so fast that someone can get hurt extremely bad.

32 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 08/11/2014

Tl- the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the service stability traction control warning light randomly flashed each time the failure happened and the accelerator pedal was slow to respond. The first time the contact was driving 20 mph and the vehicle stalled while in traffic on the highway, the second time the vehicle stalled while the contact was entering the highway from an on ramp and the third time the failure happened while driving approximately 35 mph on the highway. The contact was able to restart the vehicle each time but the failure was progressing more frequently. The failure caused the vehicle to go into a limp mode each time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice and they were not able to replicate and diagnose the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer a third time who diagnosed that the alternator assembly needed to be replaced and they were unable to replicate and diagnosis to determine the electronic stability control failure. The vehicle was left af the dealers until the contact could confirm with the manufacturer that that was the correct remedy to repair the condition of the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000. Dyd.

33 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 08/09/2014

My car keeps shutting off while im driving it. . It is now not even turning on at this point. I try to start it and wont turnover. Last week while driving down the highway at speed 35-40, my radio and a/c turned off, then the car began to slow down, then shut off in the middle of the highway. I want to add how extremely dangerous this is for me (7 months preganant, and 2 little girls in car). I tried scheduling an appointment several times for the electrical recall and have been scheduled far out.

34 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 07/08/2014

The transmission does not engage from a stop to move and almost caused a collision. Even on the highway the vehicle does not shift properly and hesitates and when it finally shifts it slams into gear. The mostly occurs from a stopped position and then during acceleration. The dealership said that is how it is designed and nothing is wrong. But the problem just keeps getting progressively worse. Longer hesitations and harder shifting.

35 Vehicle Speed Control problem

Failure Date: 05/08/2014

The 2011 Cruze should be taken off the market. This car has caused me to almost crash 10 times in the past month that I have had it. There has to be a defect with the acceleration of the car. When I merge on to the interstate and try and speed up the car stalls out and has a hard time shifting. Thousands of others have complained about the same issue. This is a hazard to vehichle owners as well as other motorist. When will something be done about this? gm should have to fix these units. . Read more...


Other Vehicle Speed Control related problems of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze


Safety Ratings of Cruze Cars
Fuel Economy of Cruze Vehicles
Cruze Service Bulletins
Cruze Safety Recalls
Cruze Defect Investigations