Is Chevy Cruze a good overcall vehicle?

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Nur O'Moore

Junior Member
Mar 6, 2020
1
0
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Depends on the model. Some potential buyers don't want a hassle free vehicle, because the process of doing it yourself is a hassle.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
Wow, thread necro! Anyway, here's my update...

DO NOT BUY a used Chevy Cruze! They leak oil! Mine was leaking about a quart a week by the time I got rid of it with 110,000 miles.
 

Hail The Brain Slug

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2005
3,778
3,093
146
Wow, thread necro! Anyway, here's my update...

DO NOT BUY a used Chevy Cruze! They leak oil! Mine was leaking about a quart a week by the time I got rid of it with 110,000 miles.

Mine didn't have a single issue when I sold it at 90k miles.

Of course I had to take Chevy up on most of the extended part warranties, sometimes twice. Two steering gears. 3 water pumps, a negative battery cable. But once I got the right combination of parts I had it the last 30k miles without so much as a hiccup.

Definitely no fluid leaks.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
Mine didn't have a single issue when I sold it at 90k miles.

Of course I had to take Chevy up on most of the extended part warranties, sometimes twice. Two steering gears. 3 water pumps, a negative battery cable. But once I got the right combination of parts I had it the last 30k miles without so much as a hiccup.

Definitely no fluid leaks.

My car didn't have any problems until it hit 100,000 miles and the powertrain warranty ran out. Then, everything magically wore out all at once.
 

pauldun170

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2011
9,291
5,345
136
Mine didn't have a single issue when I sold it at 90k miles.

Of course I had to take Chevy up on most of the extended part warranties, sometimes twice. Two steering gears. 3 water pumps, a negative battery cable. But once I got the right combination of parts I had it the last 30k miles without so much as a hiccup.

Definitely no fluid leaks.

I'm reading this as "On the day I sold it, it did not have any issues. Hence the buyer was sold a turn key car. However, prior to selling it I had a bunch of issues before it hit 60K"
 

Hail The Brain Slug

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2005
3,778
3,093
146
I'm reading this as "On the day I sold it, it did not have any issues. Hence the buyer was sold a turn key car. However, prior to selling it I had a bunch of issues before it hit 60K"


Chevy had bad batches/faulty revisions of specific parts. They assigned extended part warranties for them. I got to be the one to take it in for these warranties until the car finally had non-defective or updated parts.

The water pumps, for example, were never "fixed", it was just a matter of making the dealer keep swapping them until you got a non-defective one. That was an easy diagnose because the faulty ones made a signature screech at idle.

Also that's the entire idea behind the prevalent 60k power train warranty - most failures will show themselves within the first 60k miles.

I'll tell you I switched brands to Honda and I don't feel like I got a more reliable car out of it. I just got to switch a set of known problems for a set of undiscovered problems. My 2018 civic already has two special extended part warranties and likely more to come. My Cruze had 4.

With globalization in automotive supply chains and common OEMs making parts for several brands, issues like this happen to every car company. If you think you can buy a new car today and never have an issue, I have some bad news for you.
 
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ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
I don't know... it kinda felt like Chevrolet built a "disposable" car to me... like it was meant to self-destruct right after the warranty ran out.

That JD Power BS that Chevy is always touting is only for initial product quality, so don't buy into that nonsense if you're looking for a used car.
 

Hail The Brain Slug

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2005
3,778
3,093
146
I don't know... it kinda felt like Chevrolet built a "disposable" car to me... like it was meant to self-destruct right after the warranty ran out.

That JD Power BS that Chevy is always touting is only for initial product quality, so don't buy into that nonsense if you're looking for a used car.

I'd be interested to know more about your oil leak and "everything magically wearing out all at once". I also think knowing which powertrain you had is relevant. I had the Opel 1.4T in automatic.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
I'd be interested to know more about your oil leak and "everything magically wearing out all at once". I also think knowing which powertrain you had is relevant. I had the Opel 1.4T in automatic.

I had a Cruze Eco with a 1.4T and the 6 speed automatic. I wonder if the lighter weight components had something to do with their lack of durability.
 

Hail The Brain Slug

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2005
3,778
3,093
146
I had a Cruze Eco with a 1.4T and the 6 speed automatic. I wonder if the lighter weight components had something to do with their lack of durability.

There were no powertrain differences between the LT/2LT/LTZ and Eco until you got to the hubs. We had the same powertrain.

I wonder if you got hit with the turbo oil return line leak, which was really common and ended up with a redesigned part. That was the leak they cut all the aero/splash shields in half for, since the oil would pool under the turbo and could, under the right circumstances, catch on fire.

lol, chevy

who thought it was a good idea to seal a turbo oil return line with a couple o-rings?
 

debian0001

Senior member
Jun 8, 2012
464
0
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I have a 2012 Buick Regal. It ate oil too with the 2.4 EcoCrap engine. Timing chain broke @ 80,000 miles and I should have junked it at that point but I was going on vacation so I had it fixed. I figured I could keep it longer this way but I am so jaded. It's also got banged up and I kept the money from insurance to offset the engine costs. Now I just want to get rid of it.
 

Hans Gruber

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2006
2,500
1,342
136
This thread was revived by a bot. You guys just all get in line and chime in with your thoughts. It's nearly a 10 year old thread.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
This thread was revived by a bot. You guys just all get in line and chime in with your thoughts. It's nearly a 10 year old thread.

Hey... it was a good thread bump. People need to be warned about the problems with this car before they buy one used.

Go jump off of a building, will ya?
 

Hail The Brain Slug

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2005
3,778
3,093
146
This thread was revived by a bot. You guys just all get in line and chime in with your thoughts. It's nearly a 10 year old thread.

Cruzes are still on the road and being sold in the used car market. 10 years later we have a lot more information about the potentual issues and mechanical failures the vehicle is prone to.