Came to a stop at the stop sign we car wouldn't accelerate tap the gas pedal would accelerate so I pressed harder then car take off pressed breaks car would stop tell I crashed
2017 Chevrolet Cruze body problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 10 body complaints filed for the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
Among the 6 model years of Chevrolet Cruze in our records for body problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2017 Cruze has serious water intrusion issues—trunk leaks during normal rain that can damage the battery and cause rust, brake light seals fail allowing water in, and the trunk latch mechanism can jam or randomly pop open while driving. Paint and roof rust are also reported despite normal conditions.
Trunk water intrusion dominates these complaints. During normal rain, water collects in the trunk pan around the gasket seal and latch area, soaking the trunk liner and pooling in the battery compartment. Owners report rust developing in the trunk pan and batteries sitting in standing water. The high-mount brake light housing also fails to seal, allowing water to enter the trunk and potentially damage the fuse box and battery.
The trunk release mechanism misfires randomly. The interior and keychain buttons won't open the trunk; owners hear clicking like it's trying to unlock, but the lid stays shut. Meanwhile, the dash falsely shows the trunk as open. The trunk then springs open unexpectedly while driving—a safety hazard. This malfunction started occurring months into ownership for at least one owner.
Paint and body defects also appear: paint bubbles and rusts on the panels despite regular washing and no salt or collision exposure. One owner noted the roof separating from the body with rust at the seam. No recalls were identified by complainants for these issues.
Failure modes owners describe
Trunk water intrusion and rusting
Water leaks into the trunk during normal rain, affecting the trunk pan, battery compartment, and trunk liner. Owners report standing water around the bottom gasket seal and the area where the trunk latch sits. Rust develops in the trunk pan, and water can collect near the spare tire and battery. One owner found rust in the trunk pan of a 2017 model.
When: Occurs during normal rain events, mileage unknown for most reports
Symptoms owners cite: Water pooling in trunk around gasket seal and latch area; Soaked trunk liner at bottom; Rust visible in trunk pan; Water accumulation in battery compartment; Battery submerged in water
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer can replace the seal and/or housing to remedy; one owner was told repair would result in diminished vehicle value
High-mount brake light housing water intrusion
The high-mount brake light housing fails to seal properly, allowing water to collect inside the trunk. This poses a risk to the fuse box and battery if water accumulation goes unchecked. One owner observed a 1-inch crack in the third brake light with condensation leaking into the vehicle interior.
When: Unknown mileage or timing
Symptoms owners cite: Cracked third brake light; Condensation leaking into vehicle interior near pillar loop and seat belt area; Water collecting inside trunk from brake light housing; Condensation in trunk
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer can replace the seal and/or housing
Trunk latch and release mechanism failure
The trunk release button (interior or keychain) fails to open the trunk. Owners hear clicking sounds indicating the mechanism is attempting to operate, but the trunk remains closed. The dash display shows the trunk as open when it is not. The trunk may randomly open while driving.
When: Started occurring a couple months after ownership for one owner; occurred on 2017 model at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk won't open when release button is pressed; Clicking noise from mechanism; Trunk appears open on dash display but is physically closed; Trunk opens unexpectedly while driving; Intermittent failure—random occurrence
Paint bubbling and rusting
Paint bubbles and rusts on the body even though the vehicle is washed and has not been exposed to salt or collision damage. Owner reports widespread issues with GM paint quality.
When: Observed on 2017 model at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Paint bubbling on body; Rust forming under bubbled paint; Rust along car body; No apparent cause (not salt-exposed, not collision-damaged)
Roof separation and rusting
The roof is separating from the body and showing rust at the separation point.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Roof separating from body; Rust visible at separation point
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2017 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 body problem on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 40,186 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2017/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.