I was leaving work on 11-30-18 @ 5p.m. Started driving down la harpe blvd, like I do everyday after work. It was raining that afternoon when I was leaving work. I went through a small puddle of water and my car completely shutdown and would not go anywhere. I had it towed to crain Chevrolet where the vehicle was bought. The gm certified mechanic called us half an hour after they opened saturday…
2018 Chevrolet Cruze engine problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 14 engine complaints filed for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Of the 8 model years of Chevrolet Cruze we track for engine problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (14).
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Cruze shows a troubling pattern of engine-related failures across multiple systems—fuel pumps, internal compression loss, turbos, spark plug insulators separating, and oil pan leaks—some occurring at very low mileage and without warning. Several owners report Chevy dealerships providing inadequate diagnosis and service, particularly regarding known issues listed in GM technical bulletins that the manufacturer has not recalled.
Owners of 2018 Chevrolet Cruzes describe engine failures that range from sudden stalls to catastrophic fires. A fuel pump failure at 37,000 miles caused the vehicle to stall without warning during braking—no check engine light—and the owner reports this was the third fuel system failure in two years. Another vehicle seized after water ingestion during rain, and a third caught fire at 3,600 miles while the owner was driving 45 mph.
Spark plug center electrode insulators have separated inside the cylinders, causing misfires in cylinder #1. This matches GM technical service bulletin PIP5657D and NHTSA bulletin 10201263, yet one owner paid $400 for four spark plugs after warranty expired despite ACDelco's 7-year warranty on the plugs themselves.
Power and performance issues appear frequently: turbo lags at 5,148 miles, turbo leaks causing 2 weeks of reduced fuel economy and power, and ECM failures triggering check engine lights at 99,000 miles. Two owners report internal cylinder compression loss causing jerking, stalling at traffic lights, and vehicle immobility.
Oil pan gaskets crack, dumping oil. One owner lost 3 quarts in 3 weeks at 62,300 miles. EGR cooler failures have been confirmed by dealers, and one owner reports the dealer acknowledged "GM has issues" with these parts.
Across narratives, Chevy dealerships sometimes misdiagnose (claiming engine seized when water damage may have been caused by improper restart), provide inadequate service (refusing rental cars for undrivable vehicles under warranty), and refer owners to NHTSA rather than addressing known bulletins.
Same Chevrolet Cruze engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Fuel Pump Failure
Fuel pump fails without warning, causing sudden engine stall during braking or while driving. Vehicle stalls multiple times with no warning lights. One owner reported this was the third fuel system failure in two years of ownership on a diesel model.
When: 37,000 miles (low mileage); also reported at higher mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected engine stall during braking; Loss of power and power steering during stall; No check engine light or warning lights present; Engine restarts normally after stall
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed failed fuel pump; vehicle held 4 business days for repair
Engine Stall After Water Ingestion
Engine seizes or shuts down after vehicle passes through puddle during rain. Owner questions dealership diagnostic approach and suspects water forced deeper into engine by mechanic attempting restart without proper diagnostics first.
When: Rainy conditions; roughly 3 years old at failure
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown after driving through small puddle; Engine will not restart; Black smoke from engine
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership claimed engine seized; vehicle totaled and disassembled by insurance adjuster without full owner consent
Cylinder #1 Misfire from Spark Plug Insulator Failure
Spark plug center electrode insulator separates and slips down inside spark plug, causing cylinder #1 misfire. Issue appears in GM TSB #PIP5657D and NHTSA TSB #10201263 as known problem on 1.4L engines. Occurs shortly after warranty expiration.
When: 3 years, 7,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine performance drop; Cylinder #1 misfire; Engine roughness days before check engine light; Check engine light steady illuminate; Tire pressure system alert; Stability track turned off
Codes mentioned: Cylinder #1 misfire code
Repairs/costs cited: Four spark plugs replaced at cost of almost $400; ACDelco spark plugs warrant 7 years or 100,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM TSB #PIP5657D; NHTSA TSB #10201263; warranty issue acknowledged by dealer but not honored after 3-year coverage expired
Turbo Lag and Power Loss with AC Activation
Engine jerks, lunges, and loses power when accelerator depressed or air conditioning activated. No warning before failure. ECM reset performed but problem persists.
When: 5,148 miles (very early in ownership)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine jerks and lunges during acceleration; Loss of power with accelerator depressed; Loss of power when air conditioning activated; No warning light or message before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed turbo lag and reset ECM; vehicle not actually repaired and problem continued
Low Compression in Cylinder #1 from Internal Engine Failure
Engine develops low compression in cylinder #1 due to internal failure, rendering vehicle inoperable. No significant warning before failure occurred, though check engine light came on immediately before diagnosis.
When: Unknown mileage; check engine light 2/9/26, diagnosed 2/10/26
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Vehicle becomes undrivable; Low compression in cylinder #1
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Confirmed by both independent mechanic and authorized Chevrolet dealership; vehicle available for inspection
Engine Fire
Engine ignites while driving at 45 mph. Pop noise from rear followed by black smoke and flames from front passenger side that quickly engulf entire vehicle. Vehicle totaled at very low mileage.
When: 3,600 miles (extremely low mileage)
Symptoms owners cite: Pop noise from rear of vehicle; Black smoke from front passenger side; Flames covering entire vehicle; No warning before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; police and fire reports filed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer denied responsibility; GM referred matter to insurance company
Cylinder #1 Misfire with Vacuum Leak
Recurring cylinder #1 misfire after spark plug and coil pack replacement. Subsequent diagnosis reveals vacuum leak from PCV valve and MAF sensor issues. During repair, engine dumps all oil from leaking oil pan gasket.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Cylinder #1 misfire code recorded; Service Stabilitrak warning; Engine oil dumped on ground during test drive; Oil loss requiring pan gasket replacement
Codes mentioned: Cylinder #1 misfire
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs and coil packs replaced; PCV valves replaced; MAF sensor replaced; oil pan gasket replacement needed; owner notes GM points bulletin on fuel pressure sensors and fuel pump reliability concerns
Check Engine Light After Car Wash
Check engine light illuminates every time vehicle goes through car wash. Dealership advises driving fast on highway to clear filter rather than diagnosing or repairing root cause.
When: 9,900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light illuminates after car wash; Recurring issue with each car wash
Codes mentioned: Check engine light triggered by car wash
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired; dealership suggested highway driving to clear filter
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; case number 94989017128
ECM Failure
Engine Control Module fails, causing check engine light. Owner links failure to Product Emission Recall 18239.
When: 99,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light illuminates
Codes mentioned: ECM failure code
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; related to Product Emission Recall 18239
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred contact to NHTSA Hotline
Turbo Leak Causing Power Loss and Poor Fuel Economy
Turbo develops leak causing greatly reduced fuel economy and engine power. Issue not resolved for two weeks despite being under bumper-to-bumper warranty. Dealership refused to provide rental vehicle while car was undrivable.
When: Unknown mileage; issue lasted 2 weeks after diagnosis
Symptoms owners cite: Greatly reduced fuel economy; Greatly reduced engine power; Loud jet-like noise upon acceleration; Engine not operating as designed
Repairs/costs cited: Turbo leak diagnosed and fixed after 2 weeks of operation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle under bumper-to-bumper warranty; Chevy acknowledged issues existed but refused to provide rental and made owner drive unsafe vehicle
Internal Cylinder Failure with Jerking and Stalling
Engine jerks while driving and stalls at traffic lights. Compression test reveals internal cylinder issue. Vehicle barely runs. Owner bought vehicle less than three years prior.
When: Close to 3 years ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking while driving; Stalling at stop lights; Check engine light on; Poor engine performance
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Compression test confirmed internal cylinder failure
Oil Pan Cracking and Leaking
Lower oil pan cracks and leaks, requiring 3 quarts of oil in 3 weeks while driving less than 500 miles. Replaced under warranty but owner notes this should not occur on a well-maintained 3.5-year-old vehicle.
When: 3.5 years, 62,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil drips on ground; Need to add oil frequently; Excessive oil consumption
Repairs/costs cited: Lower oil pan replaced under warranty; 3 quarts lost in 3 weeks of light driving (under 500 miles)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered under warranty
Turbo Sensor Malfunction with Engine Power Decrease Message
Check engine light illuminates with turbo code. Message displays 'Engine power decreased' but no actual power loss observed. Light went off then returned. Owner uncertain if sensor failure or actual turbo issue.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Engine power decreased message displayed; No observed power loss; Intermittent warning light
Codes mentioned: Turbo code
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed; owner questioning if sensor or actual turbo
EGR Cooler Failure
EGR cooler fails. Owner reports GM has known issues with these components. Check engine light illuminates.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light on; EGR cooler failure confirmed by dealer
Codes mentioned: EGR cooler fault
Repairs/costs cited: Confirmed by dealer; dealer states GM has known issues with EGR coolers
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledges GM has issues; owner believes recall should be issued
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Engine unexpectedly stalled when braking for neighborhood stop sign. Lost power steering and engine power but did not lose power to gauges or accessories. No check engine light or other warning lights or messages on dash. Put car in park and restarted engine. Normal start. Turned onto major city street and drove half mile. Started braking for traffic light but didn't come to full stop because…
Had engine trouble with your 2018 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 engine problem on the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 26,664 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2018/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.