2019 Chevrolet Cruze Safety Report
2019 Chevrolet Cruze Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Low (18) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 4 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2018 | Compare against the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze with 106 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze before buying across this generation. |
Chevrolet Cruze Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Chevrolet Cruze years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Chevrolet Cruze | 106 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2017 Chevrolet Cruze | 198 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2016 Chevrolet Cruze | 242 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Chevrolet Cruze | 250 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2019 Chevrolet Cruze Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Chevrolet onlyAir Bags
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Chevrolet onlyService Brakes
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Chevrolet onlyElectrical System,Seat Belts,Engine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Seat Belts,Engine issues Chevrolet onlyEngine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Chevrolet onlyPower Train,Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance issues Chevrolet onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze
Reliability Score
The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission Recall General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Timing Chain Rattle Timing chain rattles, due to the chain tensioner not having motor oil at early morning start-up. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic Foundation Component General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Transmission Leak Transmission leak coming from the main seal on the transmission. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze:
Automatic transmission issues are a common problem.
Timing chain rattles are a common issue.
Service brake hydraulic foundation component issues are a common problem.
Transmission leaks are a common issue.
Recall Details for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze by NHTSA:
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this r...
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 3 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 2 reported injuries or fatalities.
I am leasing this vehicle and it continues to have warning light on staring the vehicle engine power reduced as I'm driving and holds back vehicle and also airbag restraining system light continues also to be on. This is not normal wear and tear and I read previous years had this issue as well. This is still an issue concerning of my safety. Paying for inconvenience
Timing chain rattles, due the the chain tensioner not having motor oil at early morning start-up. This causes the chain to be loose and eventually engine damage. Europe already issued recalls to this issue. They solved this issue by installing a seal, TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FOR CHEVROLET GMC OPEL FEBI BILSTEIN 181945.
The vehicle needs the transmission bolts replaced has a recall need repaired as as possible. The automatic transmission jerk
When going in to get new tires, I was infomred the Primwall 205/55R16 I had had put on the car less than 2 years ago are now seperating. So far, the company is unwilling to replace them.
The bolts on the transmission accumulator needs to be replaced I see an unrepaired recall
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting into drive(D), the SRS warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the air bag warning light had been illuminated for months prior to experiencing the new failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who failed to determine the cause of the failure. T...
Transmission leak coming from the main seal on the transmission
Unknown I purchased this vehicle in 2019 About 2 and half years now. This car engine is malfunctioning. When i am driving uphill the speed is not transitioning and it had caused other vehicles behind me to slow down. Second major problem is during the summer season the speed does not adjust easily . I would have to press on the gas so hardly to be able to proceed. The worst of all is when am at a ...
I was driving and the car slide and went up a small hill and came down hard ending locked there was no ice
The airbags did not deploy, and the driver hit the windshield.
Brakes on vehicle failed while driving down the freeway, when I needed to slow down to take my exit. Brakes were hard, and would not stop the vehicle. I shifted into neutral, and used the ramp to stop the vehicle. Car is currently at the Wilsonville Chevrolet for repairs. When I spoke with the Shop lead, he is aware of the problem, but stated my vehicle is not included in the recall for the same ...
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that in January of 2021 she had taken her vehicle to the dealer to be repaired due to a recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V668000 (Power Train). The contact stated that when she had taken her vehicle to be repaired, the dealer advised her that her vehicle was fine and that there were no problems with the vehicle. The contact stated that Dec...
Carvana
Front window defrost loses function/power, where the front window fogs up and can't see road ahead. Vehicle must be fully restarted to re-engage the defrost function. Radio also has the same issue.
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the front windshield defroster failed to operate properly causing the windshield to remain foggy. The failure caused a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 1,500.
THE WINDSHIELD THAT CHEVROLET PUTS IN THESE CARS IS NOT VERY CLEAR, I WORK IN THE GLASS INDUSTRY AND I NOTICE IT EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. YOU CAN SEE DISTORTION IN THE FILM OF THE LAMINATED GLASS. THEY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD ONCE, AND I STILL SEE THE DISTORTION.
MY CAR IS BRAND NEW BROUGHT IT AT 9MILES ON DASH. EXACTLY 2 MONTHS LATER OUTTA NOWHERE THERE WAS THIS GRINDING SOUND WHEN I WOULD BRAKE LIKE THE SOUND OF ROOTERS GRINDING AS IF BRAKES WHERE BAD ,,4 OTHER PEOPLE HEARD AND WITNESSED IT,, I PUMPED BRAKE IT FELT LIKE AND SOUND LIKE ONLY AIR BUT LOUD AIR AND GRINDING, TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER NEXT DAY ,,AND THEY DID NOTHING (MARLOW HEIGHTS) HE TOLD ME T...
I WAS STOPPED IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS A HIGHWAY. WHEN I TURNED LEFT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PRESSED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN BUT THE CAR WAS CREEPING. I COULD NOT CROSS THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STRUCK IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS GIVEN A TICKET FOR FAILURE TO YIELD. I HIT A VEHICLE AND WAS CHARGED AT FAULT IN THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS A RENTAL CAR.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze
Has the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE been recalled?
Yes, the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE have?
The 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE has 18 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 3 involved crashes. 3 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE?
The 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE involve power train (3 complaints), air bags (2 complaints), service brakes (2 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system,seat belts,engine, engine, power train,electrical system,forward collision avoidance.
How many crash reports does the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE have?
There are 3 crash reports associated with the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE out of 18 total complaints (16.7% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE out of 18 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE.
How many injuries are reported for the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE?
3 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE is generally recommended. It has 18 complaints, 2 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE?
The components with the most failures on the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE are: 1. POWER TRAIN (3 complaints), 2. AIR BAGS (2 complaints), 3. SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS,ENGINE (1 complaints), 5. ENGINE (1 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 3 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE?
Be cautious of automatic transmission recalls and timing chain issues. Regular maintenance is crucial to avoid transmission leaks and service brake problems. The 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE has 18 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE?
The 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 18 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 4 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Automatic Transmission Recall and Timing Chain Rattle.
What are the known issues with the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE?
Known issues with the 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE include: Automatic Transmission Recall, Timing Chain Rattle, Service Brakes Hydraulic Foundation Component, Transmission Leak. These are based on patterns found across 18 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze?
Yes, there are recalls for automatic transmission and service brakes.
What are the common issues with the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze?
Common issues include automatic transmission problems, timing chain rattles, service brake hydraulic foundation component issues, and transmission leaks.
Can the airbags deploy properly in a collision?
There have been reports of airbags not deploying in collisions, so it's important to check the system.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of automatic transmission recalls and timing chain issues. Regular maintenance is crucial to avoid transmission leaks and service brake problems.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2019 Chevrolet Cruze
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. The data includes 18 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 3 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 3 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-14