2013 Chevrolet Cruze brakes problems
severe 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Owners have filed 28 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 8 model years of Chevrolet Cruze in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Expect significant brake issues with 2013 Cruze: pedal travel excessive and unresponsive, complete failure in reverse, squealing that won't stop, and early rotor wear are well-documented across owners. Dealers often can't fix these problems and deny they exist in service bulletins, so get a thorough pre-purchase inspection of the entire brake system including booster function.
Brake problems dominate complaints for the 2013 Cruze. Most common: brake pedal requires excessive travel before engagement or must be pressed to the floor to stop the vehicle, with some owners reporting 4–5 second delays before braking takes effect. The problem appears random—dealers test-drive the car and can't reproduce it, then the failure happens again in real driving.
Brakes failing completely in reverse is a recurring theme. Multiple owners report total brake loss when backing up or out of parking spaces, forcing them to use the emergency brake. One owner noted a recall existed for this exact issue on 2011–2012 models but was never extended to 2013, despite identical complaints from that year.
Loud squeaking from the brakes occurs frequently, particularly when braking is first engaged. Dealers acknowledge the noise, duplicate it in service, but tell owners they can't fix it—claiming humidity or wet conditions cause normal squealing on these brake types.
Additional issues include the vehicle lurching forward while stationary with brake applied, brakes that grab and pulsate erratically, and rear brake light flickering during braking. One owner documented that front rotors and pads wear out under 10,000 miles on the 1.8L non-turbo engine, while GM installed larger rotors and pads for the 2014 Cruze Diesel without issuing a recall for the undersized 2013 parts.
Same Chevrolet Cruze brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal doesn't engage or requires excessive pressure
Brake pedal travel extends too far before brakes respond, or pedal must be pressed all the way to the floor to achieve any stopping power. Owners report needing to depress the pedal completely or multiple times before brakes work.
When: From early ownership (7,000 miles) through higher mileage (85,000+ miles); may occur intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travel excessive before engagement; Pedal must be pressed to floor to stop vehicle; Slow brake response or delay of 4-5 seconds before braking; Hard/stiff brake pedal; Multiple pedal depressions needed to achieve braking
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers often cannot reproduce the issue in test drives. Some replaced brake boosters; narrative #9 mentions brake vacuum pump replacement. Narrative #15 suggests master brake cylinder replacement as potential fix.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Narrative #15 states dealer said no service bulletins exist for soft brake pedal problem. Narrative #16 indicates this was a recall issue for 2011 and 2012 models but appears unaddressed for 2013. Narrative #27 mentions 'there is a recall on this' (unspecified).
Brakes fail completely when reversing
Brake pedal fails to engage or produces no braking action specifically when vehicle is in reverse gear. Drivers must use emergency brake to stop the vehicle.
When: Various mileages from 500 miles to 100,930 miles; occurs when backing out of driveways or parking spaces
Symptoms owners cite: Complete brake failure in reverse; No braking response when pedal depressed in reverse; Must apply emergency brake to stop vehicle; Vehicle continues rolling backward despite pedal pressure; Intermittent occurrences
Repairs/costs cited: Narrative #14 documents brake booster replacement diagnosis at dealer, though repair status unclear. Most dealers unable to reproduce or fix the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Narrative #10 notes 'there was a recall for this exact problem but it is under different VIN numbers.' Narrative #16 states this was a recall for 2011 and 2012 models but unaddressed for 2013. Narrative #25 documents same observation—2012 recall exists but not for 2013 despite common reports.
Brake squealing noise unresolved by dealer service
Loud squeaking or squealing sound occurs when applying brake pedal. Dealers acknowledge the noise and can duplicate it but claim inability to repair. Noise persists after service attempts.
When: From purchase (new vehicle, 2,000-7,000 miles); recurs months after initial service attempts
Symptoms owners cite: Loud squeaking noise when brakes engaged; Squealing at various speeds; Noise particularly in humid or wet conditions (per dealer explanation)
Repairs/costs cited: Narrative #2 documents technician able to duplicate but unable to provide remedy. Vehicle returned for service 3-4 times over 6+ weeks with no resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Narrative #2 states 'manufacturer was notified of the defect and hasn't solved the issue' and owner suspects Chevrolet is hiding the problem.
Vehicle lurches or accelerates forward while stopped or in neutral
Vehicle moves forward unexpectedly while stopped at lights or with foot on brake, or lurches when in gear. Can occur without driver input to accelerator.
When: While stopped at traffic lights or in neutral; intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lunges forward while at complete stop with brake applied; Unwanted forward motion at traffic lights; Vehicle moves despite brake pedal being depressed; Requires emergency brake to prevent drift
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Narrative #13 states manufacturer notified owner 'there were no recalls on the vehicle' and vehicle was not repaired.
Brake pulsation, grabbing, or ABS engagement issues
Brakes grab, pulsate, or engage ABS unexpectedly. Vehicle shakes or 'jumps' when braking. May be confused with or related to ABS function.
When: Occurs in snow or on normal roads; shaking noted at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes grab then release unpredictably; Pulsating brake action; Brakes shake or vibrate at highway speeds; Vehicle feels like it's 'jumping up and down' when braking; Rear brake light flickers when brake pedal applied
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented.
Premature rotor and pad wear (front brakes)
Front disc rotors and brake pads wear out prematurely, well before normal service life. Owner alleges rotors and pads sized too small for engine, particularly 1.8L non-turbo models.
When: Under 10,000 miles reported by narrative #12; standard wear patterns not observed
Symptoms owners cite: Premature rotor failure; Premature pad failure; Dangerous stopping situation when brakes worn prematurely
Repairs/costs cited: Narrative #22 documents dealer recommendation to replace brakes and calipers at 5,800 miles (very early).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Narrative #12 states GM installed larger front rotors and pads for 2014 Cruze Diesel but refuses to conduct recall for 2013 non-turbo models with defective smaller parts.
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 10,400 and 53,000 miles, with the median around 37,047. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,400; a quarter make it past 53,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.