My transmission started acting up around 70,000 miles. I noticed symptoms like stalling when backing up, trouble coming to a stop from higher speeds, and an occasional stutter. My local transmission shop couldn’t replicate the issue, as it was intermittent, and recommended an oil change. At 100,000 miles, the transmission began slipping, so I changed the oil again, only to find it was black and…
2018 Chevrolet Cruze powertrain problems
severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
3crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 23 powertrain complaints filed for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Powertrain accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 11 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Cruze manual has a documented hydraulic clutch failure pattern that GM acknowledges in a TSB but won't recall; owners report the pedal sticks to the floor, leaving them stranded in traffic. Automatic models show transmission slipping and 9-speed failures around 100k+ miles, while some vehicles have shifted out of Park unprompted, creating crash hazards.
The most consistent complaint is the manual transmission's hydraulic clutch system failing with the pedal sticking to the floor, preventing gear engagement or disengagement. This happens at various mileages, sometimes repeatedly even after dealer service. Owners manually pull the pedal up to regain function. GM's TSB confirms contaminated hydraulic fluid causes the issue and covers warranty repairs on gasoline models only within 5 years/60k miles—diesel models get no coverage. A European safety recall on the same platform required replacing transmission and brake components, but GM has not recalled these vehicles in the USA.
Automatic transmission owners report slipping, jerking, and refusing to accelerate during highway driving, with transmission fluid turning black and burnt by 100k miles. Some transmissions fail completely around 100k+ miles. One owner's vehicle shifted from Park into Reverse while idling, causing it to roll backward into a telephone pole.
Additional powertrain complaints include rear axle failure with loud creaking, clutch and flywheel damage at very low mileage (12k miles), and 9-speed automatic failures losing 9th gear with torque converter and pump damage. Engine misfiring, stalling, and shaking are also documented, with dealers citing cylinder misfires and suggesting engine replacement.
Same Chevrolet Cruze powertrain reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Clutch pedal sticks to floor; loss of clutch function
Hydraulic clutch system fails, causing the pedal to get stuck at the floor and preventing clutch engagement/disengagement. Owner must manually pull the pedal up to regain partial function. This leaves the vehicle unable to shift into or out of gear, creating a safety hazard especially in traffic or on highways.
When: Occurs at various mileages: 22,000 miles, 50,500 miles, 64,900 miles, and after 22,000 miles of operation post-repair. Can happen intermittently or suddenly.
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal stuck to floor or very low without pressure; Inability to shift into or out of gear; Need to manually pull clutch pedal to regain function; Inconsistent clutch engage/disengage point; Intermittent failure, especially in traffic or at highway speeds
Codes mentioned: P08A8, P2817
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced hydraulic pipe (Part #55505687) and fluid (Part #19353126). Some owners report needing replacement of slave cylinder, clutch disc, throwout bearing, pressure plate, pilot bearing, and flywheel. Another owner cited cylinder kit (GM part 24295457) and pressure plate (GM part 55574768) at approximately $5,000. Hydraulic fluid contamination cited as root cause in multiple cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: General Motors has a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) acknowledging the issue, citing hydraulic fluid contamination as the cause. TSB states warranty replacement is available only for gasoline models within 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty; diesel models excluded. European Opel/Vauxhall models received a safety recall requiring replacement of transmission and brake system components. GM has not issued a recall in the USA. Some owners reported GM denied warranty claims citing unrelated prior accident damage.
Transmission slipping and jerking under acceleration
Transmission loses power during acceleration, causing the vehicle to shake violently, hesitate, or refuse to accelerate properly despite high RPMs. Vehicle slips between gears or fails to downshift correctly. Occurs intermittently but with increasing frequency.
When: At various mileages starting from 22,000 miles (certified pre-owned), 70,000 miles, and at 100,000+ miles. Incidents occur during highway merges, acceleration, and deceleration.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking when accelerating; Hard to steer during transmission issues; Vehicle refuses to accelerate or decelerates improperly; Transmission oil appears black and burnt; Transmission oil slipping despite multiple oil changes; Stalling when backing up; Trouble coming to stop from higher speeds; Occasional stutter or jerk; Difficulty shifting into 8th and 9th gears (automatic)
Codes mentioned: P2817
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports transmission oil was black and burnt after 100,000 miles despite multiple oil changes. Some transmission shops refused to service the vehicle due to past problems with these models. Forum consensus suggests replacing entire transmission around 100,000+ miles. One owner paid for multiple oil changes ($700+ inferred). No factory repairs documented in narratives.
Transmission shifts out of Park into Reverse without warning
Vehicle shifts from Park into Reverse while idling with no driver input. Causes vehicle to roll uncontrollably, creating collision and injury risk. Occurs when driver is outside vehicle with door open or ajar.
When: At 45,000 miles (one incident). Occurs during idle with engine running.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifts into Reverse without driver input; Vehicle rolls backward uncontrollably; No warning lights or alerts before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was destroyed in collision and not diagnosed or repaired. Driver sustained cuts and bruises.
Clutch assembly and flywheel damage
Dual mass flywheel and clutch assembly fail suddenly, rendering vehicle unsafe and requiring replacement of multiple components. Failure occurs early in vehicle life and makes vehicle unreliable and prone to stalling in traffic.
When: At 12,100 miles (sudden failure upon false start). Later highway driving confirmed clutch unreliability.
Symptoms owners cite: Dual mass flywheel and clutch sudden failure; Vehicle unsafe to drive after failure; Vehicle stalls in traffic after repair; Clutch unreliable for subsequent driving
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs required new flywheel and clutch hydraulic component replacement.
Rear axle failure with loud creaking noises
Rear axle develops loud creaking noises during turns, bumps, and dips that worsen rapidly over short period. Requires complete rear axle replacement to prevent failure.
When: Early in vehicle ownership; issue escalates rapidly over short timeframe.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud creaking noises during turns; Creaking noises over bumps and dips; Occurs at any speed, especially in parking lots at slow speeds; Issue worsens rapidly
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid approximately $1,800 out of pocket for entire rear axle replacement. Same issue recurred within 3 months of repair.
Engine misfiring and stalling
Engine misfires, causing vehicle to shake hard and stall unexpectedly. Check Engine light illuminates. Dealer indicates Cylinder 1 misfire code and engine replacement may be needed.
When: Since purchase with 0 miles. Recurring intermittently.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine misfiring code; Vehicle shakes hard; Check Engine light illuminated; Vehicle stalls; Warning sensors flash intermittently; Low power; Whistling sound from engine; Vehicle wants to stall
Codes mentioned: Cylinder 1 misfire code
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed Cylinder 1 misfire and indicated engine replacement may be required. Some dealers stated they forgot to check the issue despite multiple visits.
Automatic transmission 9-speed (9T50) component failure
9-speed automatic transmission loses 9th gear capability. Torque converter and front pump fail, wiping out valve body. Multiple owners report same problem with no manufacturer solution or upgrade available.
When: At 139,000 miles (in one documented case); issue appears common across multiple vehicles.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission loses 9th gear; Torque converter failure; Front pump failure; Valve body damage
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; owners report no solution from GM.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving approximately 68 mph when the contact crashed into a deer, the brake pedal was depressed however the vehicle continued to move forward. The contact stated that he had placed the vehicle in park but the vehicle continued to drive, the contact had to continuedly press the ignition button for the vehicle to turn off. The…
Manual transmission car. Clutch pedal began actuating much power in travel, eventually the pedal sticks to the floor. This prevents the shifter from being taking into or out of gear in normal fashion. Can either leave the car stranded in traffic or hinder efforts to stop in an emergent situation.
put car in PARK ,got out to check mail box 20 feet away [car door left open]. When retuning to car it began to slowly move backward.I ran around the back and tried to get in but was knocked down by the open door.I rolled away from the approaching wheel with minor scrapes. The car continued backing across the street,hit a pole then toward a group of people.I was able to alert…
When turning my vehicle it would make loud creaking noises. This progressed to making loud creaking noises while going over bumps, through dips, and turns. It would happen at any speed, but especially while going slowly through parking lots.this got much worse over a short period of time. The entire rear axel then had to be replced or it would have failed, especially since the issues was rapidly…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 33,000 and 64,900 miles, with the median around 52,727. A quarter of owners report trouble before 33,000; a quarter make it past 64,900. 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/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.