2015 Chevrolet Cruze

Photo: MoCars / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons

2015 Chevrolet Cruze: common problems and reliability

· 2009-2016

An average Cruze year.

252 owner complaints, most about engine. 4 recalls.

Should I buy a 2015 Cruze?

The 2015 Chevrolet Cruze has 252 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and electrical system. Owners most often flag cooling system leaks (water pump, thermostat housing, coolant outlet, reservoir, hoses, turbo lines).

Safety record for the 2015 model year

252
Owner complaints
4
Recalls
20
Crash reports
4
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Cruze years only. How we score it

Is 2015 a good year for the Cruze?

Across the 10 Cruze model years we track, complaint volume runs from 2 (2010) to 865 (2012). With 252 complaints, the 2015 Cruze sits below the model's median of 490.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

engine
99
electrical system
49
power train
37
electronic stability control (esc)
30
steering
24

Recalls affecting the 2015 Cruze

electrical system:ignition

Campaign 16V502000

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."

parking brake

Campaign 15V113000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured February 4, 2015, to February 9, 2015. The left-rear or right-rear parking brake cable brackets may not have been properly fastened during the assembly process. As a result, the fastening bolts may back out completely, causing the parking brake bracket to separate and the parking brake to not hold the vehicle in place. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

seat belts:front:anchorage

Campaign 15V876000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured September 24, 2014, to May 29, 2015. In the affected vehicles, one of the driver-side seat belt assembly bolts may not be properly tightened.

steering

Campaign 15V442000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.

What owners report on the 2009-2016 Cruze

Owner discussions about this generation are predominantly negative, with the cooling system and turbocharger reliability being the most frequent complaints.

  • Very frequentCooling system leaks (water pump, thermostat housing, coolant outlet, reservoir, hoses, turbo lines)
  • Very frequentPlastic cooling system components cracking and degrading over time
  • RecurrentPCV system failure requiring valve cover replacement
  • RecurrentTurbocharger failure or leaks
  • RecurrentHead gasket failure

Owner insights for the 2009-2016 Cruze. Read the full 2009-2016 owner report.

Typical used price

Used Cruze listings typically run $6,848–$10,698 across 2011 to 2019 model years.

Other Cruze model years

Compare every Cruze year side by side to see how 2015 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Cruze against its rivals

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