This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Chevrolet Cruze powertrain problems
moderate 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 31 powertrain complaints filed for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 31 powertrain 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.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin informs the technician of an alternate lift procedure that has been developed when the lift plate does not fit the top of the transmission case for 6T30, 6T35, 6T40, 6T45, and 6T50 Transmissions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report recurring cooling-system failures starting around 40,000–90,000 miles. Water pumps, thermostats, and plastic coolant housings fail repeatedly; dealers replace them under warranty, but leaks return within months. Several owners describe losing coolant without visible external leaks, then discovering water mixed into engine oil or inside cylinders, pointing to internal oil-cooler or head-gasket failures. One owner replaced the water pump, thermostat, and water outlet assembly himself, only to have the engine overheat again and seize with water in the crankcase.
Turbocharger failures appear multiple times, causing loss of power, stalling at highway speeds, and dashboard warnings like "Service Stabilitrak." One vehicle caught fire at the transmission at 15,000 miles.
Transmission problems include refusal to shift into park, sudden loss of drive while in gear, hard jerking on engagement, and difficulty shifting out of first gear. Clutch pedals stick to the floor and won't return, worsening over 60,000+ miles; TSB PIP5558C is cited.
Engine stumbling, stalling, and check-engine lights tied to sensor codes (O2, knock, air-flow, fuel pressure) recur after multiple dealer repairs. PCM failures are reported. One owner describes a piston/cylinder problem requiring full engine replacement at 90,000+ miles. Shifter mechanisms jam, forcing hard pressure to engage park.
Dealers acknowledge some cooling issues as "known problems" but claim GM won't recall due to repair costs.
Same Chevrolet Cruze powertrain reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Water pump and thermostat failure with internal coolant leaks
Water pumps and thermostats fail prematurely, often recurrently. Plastic coolant housings crack at clamp connections. Coolant disappears without visible external leaks; water migrates into the engine oil and cylinders, suggesting head-gasket or internal passage failure triggered by thermal stress.
When: 40,000–90,000 miles; first occurrence often 2 years after purchase; recurs within months of replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating; Coolant loss without visible external leak; Water mixed in engine oil; Water on top of pistons and in spark plug wells; Check engine light; A/C off / idle engine overheating dashboard message
Codes mentioned: P0299 (underboost/turbo failure related)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replace water pump, thermostat, coolant housing, water outlet assembly, radiator inlet hose, heater core hoses, turbocharger cooler hoses; owners report costs of $870–$3,500; one owner performed DIY replacement with OEM parts but still experienced failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered under drive-train warranty initially; one dealer acknowledged this as a 'known problem' with 2014–2016 Cruzes but stated GM will not recall due to repair costs. No recall issued.
Oil cooler internal failure
Internal oil cooler fails, allowing engine oil to leak into the coolant system. Diagnostically mimics head-gasket failure but is distinguished by oil in coolant only (not coolant in oil) and confirmed after removing oil cooler.
When: Mileage not consistently stated; at least one case around 90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive oil mixed in coolant throughout engine; Coolant on piston in cylinder 4; Coolant-saturated spark plug
Repairs/costs cited: Requires replacement of oil cooler inlet hose, turbocharger oil inlet and return pipes, full coolant system flush (4 iterations with warm water); no cost cited in narrative
Turbocharger failure
Turbocharger malfunctions, causing loss of boost, engine stalling at highway speeds, loss of acceleration, and vehicle shaking. One owner reports turbocharger fire at transmission.
When: 15,000–92,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power and acceleration; Engine stalling while driving at 45–60 mph; Vehicle shaking and vibration; Service Stabilitrak warning light; Engine shake with no accelerator response; Smoke and fire from transmission area (one case at 15,000 miles)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis and repair estimate $2,170 for turbocharger replacement; fire damage required towing; no repairs completed in cited cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall number A212338300 (11/05/21) issued for turbocharger failure (PO299 code); dealership confirmed problem but no repair completed in one case
Transmission shift and engagement failure
Transmission refuses to shift into park, or suddenly loses drive engagement while in gear. Hard jerking on engagement to drive. Difficulty shifting out of first gear. Shifter assembly may jam in intermediate positions.
When: 25,000–92,000 miles; one case early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Refusal to shift into park; shifter stuck between reverse, neutral, drive; Sudden loss of drive while in gear; turning engine off temporarily restores drive; Hard jerking when engagement shifts to drive; Difficulty accelerating beyond first gear; Inability to remove key from ignition when stuck in non-park position; All gauges stopped working concurrent with transmission issues; Multiple warning lights illuminated during shift failures
Repairs/costs cited: Entire shifter assembly replacement required in one case; converter module and wire-to-wire harness replaced in another case without resolving stalling (25,000 miles); repairs pending in others
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 'shift to park' problem in earlier Cruzes; owner notes 2016 model should have been included but was not
Clutch pedal sticking and master/slave cylinder degradation
Clutch pedal sticks to the floor and does not return to resting position without manual lift. Clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder degrade, rendering the vehicle undriveable. Issue documented in TSB PIP5558C.
When: Around 60,000 miles onset; worsens through 118,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal does not return to proper position; Inability to shift gears when pedal stuck; Brake system wear accelerated and lifespan shortened; Risk of complete brake failure (reported in other vehicles)
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch master and slave cylinders require replacement; TSB PIP5558C applies; no cost cited
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB PIP5558C documents the issue; no manufacturer-initiated repair program mentioned
Engine stalling and stumbling under load and idle
Engine stalls unexpectedly while driving, accelerating, or idling at stop lights. Vehicle shakes, stutters, hesitates on acceleration, and loses power. Check engine light illuminates; multiple sensor codes recur after repairs.
When: 25,000–92,000 miles; one case early in ownership (under 17,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden stalling while driving at 45 mph or under load; Stalling at red lights when auto-stop activates; Engine stuttering and hesitation during acceleration; Vehicle bobbing back and forth on initial ignition; Loss of power steering during stall; Inability to accelerate beyond 5 mph; Jerking as if transmission failing (under 17,000 miles); Check engine light illumination
Codes mentioned: O2 Bank 1 Sensor 2, P0299 (boost/turbo underperformance)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replace throttle body, converter module, wire-to-wire harness, fuel induction system, turbo, fuel induction solenoid, and other emission components; multiple repairs at same dealership fail to resolve issue; one owner reports five service visits for check-engine light with no lasting fix
Powertrain control module (PCM) failure
PCM malfunction causes warning lights and drivability loss. One complaint alleges software issue in auto-stop system that allows vehicle to roll backward when engine shuts off on inclines without registering wheel speed.
When: 92,000 miles (confirmed case); early in ownership for software issue
Symptoms owners cite: Service Stabilitrak and PCM warning lights illuminate; Strange noise when brakes depressed; Vehicle rolling backward on incline when auto-stop engages; Speedometer does not register speed during rollback; Engine restart risk during rollback
Repairs/costs cited: PCM replacement required in at least one case; independent shop unable to diagnose initially; software issue unresolved
Emission and sensor code recurrence
Check engine light recurs persistently after multiple component replacements. Fuel pressure sensor, air-flow intake sensor, and knock sensor fail prematurely and repeatedly.
When: 48,000 miles (one case); knock sensor replaced at least twice
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light continuously illuminated; Engine stumbling and rough idle
Codes mentioned: Fuel pressure sensor malfunction, Air-flow intake sensor malfunction, Knock sensor malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel induction system, turbo, fuel induction solenoid, and sensors replaced multiple times; knock sensor replaced twice; check-engine light returns after each repair
Piston or cylinder wall damage requiring full engine replacement
Internal engine damage (piston/cylinder problem) develops, requiring complete engine replacement. Likely triggered by prolonged overheating or coolant system failure.
When: 90,000 miles (at time of diagnosis)
Symptoms owners cite: Severe shaking; Unable to accelerate beyond 5 mph; Service Stabilitrak error code; Loss of power
Codes mentioned: Service Stabilitrak code
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required at estimated $9,500; vehicle purchased used in 2018 with 54,000 miles; PIP5421 service bulletin not disclosed to buyer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin PIP5421 exists but was not made known to used-car buyer; manufacturer warranty expired at 90,000 miles (still within 5-year period)
Coolant system leaks (hoses, reservoir, connections)
Coolant hoses crack or disconnect, and plastic coolant reservoir develops large cracks. Visible fluid leaks under engine.
When: Under 17,000 miles (one case); timing varies
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaks from under engine; Cracked coolant hose connector; Cracked coolant reservoir; Rainbow-colored fluid visible under engine
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report receiving bills for hose and reservoir replacement; specific costs not detailed in all narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership told one owner 'there is nothing they can do' regarding leaks
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
My cars cam shaft was replaced six months ago, and it was still under warranty. Now I'm having a bunch of other issues some of the problems are because the Chevy dealership, that replaced it my cam shaft wheel they had to to take parts off and back on to fix it now those parts they took off and now bad plus other bottoms up. It won't keep coolant. And keeps over heating, and the dealership, is…
While the engine is running, the transmission suddenly and without warning fails. Car is in gear but doesn't move. First occurrence was when car was parked in the morning and put into reverse to blackout and second occurrence was a couple weeks later when stopped at a red light. Turning the car off for a few minutes seems to temporarily correct the problem. I am worried the transmission will…
My car is parked looks like a rainbow color is coming out from under the engine. It looks like water from a distance until you get closer. I have notified the dealership where I bought it and he tells me there is nothing they can do
Coolant reservoir cracked, possible blown head gasket, or bad water pump.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 31 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 40,000 and 72,000 miles, with the median around 53,825. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 72,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Chevrolet/Cruze.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.