Used 2013 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan Consumer Reviews

Amazing Cruze

I have owned the 2013 Cruze LT for two and half years, no issues. I love it, so does my wife. It should be better if the Chevrolet can increase the interior space and the armrest.

2013 cruze delight

I bought this for my wife new in 2013 a chevy cruze 1.8l non turbowith 15 miles on it since I've done regular oil changes with Mobil 1 very easy to do I've put a set of plugs in at 105,000 , I replaced the timing belt as sugested by GM but I waited until 135,000 miles and I've put one set of tires since new it now has 150,000 most reliable car I've bought has required nothing else runs excellent I havnt even needed to do brakes yet which is amazing to me but I bought a complete front set up at 90,000 and still waiting to need them we are very happy with all aspects of this car and very glad we went with the 1.8l and not the turbo set up , I would reccomend this car to anyone rarely do you buy a car that doesn't have issues all the way through 150,000 and this is still being daily driven

Design over function is not good

At 68000 miles I had to have 2 valve lifters and rocker arms replaced. At 73200 I now need to have the cylinder head replaced. This is unacceptable! If you go for strictly comfort and design this is a good car. Funtionally not so much!

Cruze cruiser

Love this car, great gas mileage. Stylish and comfortable, great storage

Bought a 2013 in 2020

I just bought this car about 6 months ago. When I bought it I changed the plastic pipe that runs coolant. Since then not much happened in the 7 K KM I drove. The motor doesn't burn oil and it's at 107K km

Inexpensive, and Yet, Still Overpriced

Chevys non-sport sedans are always a mixed bag, and it doesn’t get much worse then the 2013 Cruze. The Cruze falls into Ford Fiesta territory, it is one of those series that you expect to not last at all, but because the price tag is right it does. Before I list the huge amount of flaws, offers go over a couple good elements about it. The first is the size of the car. Chevy tries to sell this car as a compact car, but I’m not convinced it is. This is mainly because it is noticeably bigger than other cars in its class. The second is the transmission. For all of the cars faults, the transmission is not one of them. It has an amazing life span. Now onto the negatives. The biggest negative is the gas mileage. For a supposed compact car, it is the bottom of the barrel. I went through full tanks of gas on this car far quicker than any other compact car I’ve ever driven. Also, while the transmission is tremendous, the rest of the cars parts have an unusually short shelflife, even when being maintained on a regular basis. The radiator on the car is easy to damage, and the engine will sprout leaks at the drop of a hat. The car also has a habit of suffering from what a lot of SUVs suffer from overtime and that’s internal antifreeze leaks, which causes a really nasty smell to come through the vents. This particular issue is extremely problematic because a lot of mechanics that I went to weren’t able to find the damage because of the way the car is designed under the hood. While Chevy was extremely generous in putting many parts of the engine in plain sight, such as the battery, it does make certain internal problems difficult to spot. The cars V4 engine is a joke compared to others in it’s class. It has a very rough ride in comparison to others, and the acceleration is not that great. However, the 2013 Chevy Cruze does win a lot of points for its look. The car has a sporty look for a car that is not considered a sports vehicle, and I’m very convinced that has helped the car sell quite a bit. The computer system in the car is also very good. I don’t particularly care for the placement of the USB and Aux port placements but that’s a small issue. So overall, it’s a budget vehicle that will not do much for your budget because of all the repairs it’s going to need. While it boasts a very impressive transmission, the rest of it is very cheap

Purchased car with 48000 miles now has 64000 miles

Engine light came on bad valve cover Bad coil pack vacuum line split plugs saturated in oil from bad valve cover 865.00 in repairs in only 16,000 miles absolutely ridiculous not reliable at all. Can not recommend this car at all looking to trade and get something other than Chevy now.

Biggest Mechanical Nightmare Ever Created

I've had my Cruze 1.8 LS for 7 yrs. It now has reached 160K. I bought it when it had just under 10K on it. It had one previous owner. During that time it has been "Cruzed" on the back of a tow truck more times than I can recall. It's main problem has been the endless coolant leaks. I've taken the car to several dealers and several privately owned shops. NO ONE has EVER been able to stop the coolant leak completely. Have literally rebuilt the whole coolant system and still the coolant leak remains. I have spent thousands trying to keep it on the road for as long as I can. Some of its other problems include: Bad PCV valve Bad A/C condenser Steering/ StabliTrac problems Bad valve cover gasket Oil leak Car stalling/ turning off randomly Entire electric displays inside car turning off randomly while driving Electronic warning lights/ warning sounds no longer work On top of all of its mechanical problems I find it to be a very uncomfortable car to drive. It has the least amount of leg room in a car I've ever seen. After about an hour drive the seats become outrageously uncomfortable. Most of the interior of the car is made up of the cheap plastic that gets badly scratched up with even the slightest of pressure or touch. I wouldn't even recommend this car to a person that is dead broke and needs a car. They'd be better of walking. This will be my first and last GM vehicle. Still so pissed I got stuck with this god awful car.

Lot of engine trouble

Lots of issues with the engine. Threw a rod a 140000 miles, got a used engine with 20000 miles and started having issues with that engine. ( smelling antifreeze in the car) also locks quit working and trunk locks quit working.

Great all-around car

our organisation purchased 5 Chevy cruzes at the beginning of 2013. I personally drove 3 of them for extended periods of time. In the first year of owning these cars, we put roughly 30,000 miles on them. We never had any serious problems with the vehicles. There was only one time that a light came on in one of the turbo diesel cruzes and it was just the self-clean feature for the engine. If that ever happens, just let the car run for about 30 minutes at 2000 RPMs.

My Luck

Don't know if i got a bad one but bought my Chevy Cruze in May 2013 a month later had to have a new bumper put on noticed the other one popped apart from the frame, speaker had to be replaced, car started leaking under the dash onto the carpet when it would rain had to have a header put on, break light in rear window is very dirty and claim this is normal, rear bow tie popped off at the top had to be replaced and yes when i come to a stop my car jerks too. I don't like that the windshield wiper dispenser won't work when it is very cold outside but i guess that is expected. No light in the glove compartment. And sometimes there is a odor when you have the heat on.

Will NEVER buy another one

This car was nothing but problems from day 1. I had the car for a total of 1 1/2 years before a dear ran out and wrote it off (Thank God) Its been in the shop for hail damage which isnt chevys fault. Then 2 months after getting the car I brought it in for an oil change and they said my engine seal was leaking so i brought it into the dealership and they fixed it. Not even 6 months later I was told it was leaking again. Then I drove to a store and the car was running perfect, I came out and started the car and it was fine, as soon as I put it in drive every light on the dash came on and it wouldnt move. I had it towed and the driver said that a previous thunder storm fried my computer. Wow..

Excelent car!!!!

I had this car for 7 years! It never gave me problems and it got me wrong. although I always did his maintenance. 100% recommended !!!

Owned Since New.

Bought it for my family. Currently went through 4 automatic transmissions before the warranty expired, at 60K miles. I’d go into the electronics, the engine and other crap but the main point is, ever since GM was bailed out, they’ve made their cars like crap and manipulate the public into thinking they make good vehicles. The only good things that they’re putting out are the 3/4 tonne and 1 tonne pickups with the Duramax. Everything else is electronic failures and transmission problems. Currently I’ve been enjoying my 2015 Ford F350, definitely doing what I need it to do, not break down. Never again GM, especially with that neglected sister as CEO.

First and last new chevy

1500 miles on my first new car EVER wish I would have read all the reviews about the transmission shifting problems. The car goes from 2 to 1 gear to the point it throws you forward GM that's the ways they are designed but I can test drive the other two new ones in there lot. I told them it sounds like you have two more headaches coming back. The door lock and unlock buttons are in the center console, what idiot decided after 50 years lets move the location? I trying to get GM to buy back we"ll see what happens I've owned all GM but that's about to change permanently! Not even close to 35 mpg more like 25 best so far was 28

Worst Car I've Ever Owned

Numerous problems as others have mentioned. Hesitant, jerky transmission that never shifts when you need it, like merging, lane changing, or accelerating after a turn. Transmission bucks while cruising at constant speeds. Car occasionally lurches forward, or hops with the brake pedal fully pressed. Steering wheel is off-center and car pulls to one side. Thinly padded seats offer no thigh or back support. Rear seats are even more uncomfortable and very cramped. MyLink randomly restarts and drops Bluetooth connections frequently, and radio reception is spotty. Sub-par 25 MPG in city driving. Steering wheel obstructs view of gauges. Bad blind spots. This will be my last GM vehicle.

Terrible vehicle

I bought this car on 2/11/13 and as of 3/7/13(less than 30 days!) it is in the shop getting a new engine placed. Why? Unsure, the Chevy dealership could not figure out the problem so I get a new engine placed. Lucky me, I get to make my first car payment while it is on a lift in the Chevy dealership. Reliability is gone! I was a former Toyota owner and wish now that I had purchased another one (12 years of absolutely no problems!) I just hope that this car lasts as long as my payments do. Very disappointed with this product. I wish I could just get a refund and be done with this!

Need Reassurance

I understand there's a recall on the airbags I've called GM numerous times and they WILL NOT give me any satisfaction as to why my car is not part of the recall. I know they check the vin # but they must have a list somewhere as to where the cars were manufactured, the date, etc.. How do they know which one to recall? They are giving me the run around and I guess I have no other choice but to sell it. Can anyone enlighten me?

Very Uncomfortable Seats - Hard Ride - Lots Road Noise

Seat bottoms have very skimpy padding so I cannot use the car for long drives. Suspension is too firm so bumps are not absorbed. Lots of road noise on coarse surfaces. Overall it's a primitive driving experience. Corollas and Elantras I have rented were far more refined and comfortable. Also, dash controls are difficult to see (tiny icons) and figure out how they work. Corolla dash controls are straighforward. Thick door pillars create blind spots

Smell

Everything has been great about the car, until I got the first oil change. After the oil change and my 20min drive home, there was an awful smell coming into the car from the heat vents. I thought they spilled oil on something. It went away and then came back about a week later. Took it in to have them look at it and they found nothing. Now the smell is back again and I am having them keep it over night and figure out what the smell is. It no longer is as strong, but there is a faint smell of chemical coming in, and I don't need my kids or myself smelling this when the winter is so cold.

cruzer

great economical car! fun to drive . 6speed transmission makes for a fun ride with easy ways to customize to make it your own

2013 cruze 1.8l

These cars are crapt. Chevy really screwed themselves on this one. Stay away from chevy buy foreign. Got rid of my crappy cruze for a toyota. Best thing i ever did.

Not worth it.

First off, the car had a lot of issues. Got it with 30,000 miles. - water pump went out. Paid a bunch for it to be replaced. Blew up AGAIN while still under warranty of the first one, it was replaced for free. - Now this one is fault of dealership. My cruze was acting weird when i would start it. I took it in twice and they could not figure out what it was. Paid hundreds and they didnt know what was wrong. I lost faith in them and started learning about cars. I changed my spark plugs and the car ran fine. SUCH AN EASY FIX. - my pcv valve went out. Replaced that. Ran better. - turbo broke. Normal. Didnt fix that. Cherry on too. Just sold it after that. I give it a two because i did manage to take it off roading because after so many issues i was going to just run in to the ground but surprisingly did well in the mountains on dirt roads I cant remember what else i replaced on the car but i do remember the headache this car caused me.

Reliable little car

I purchased this car used for my daughter, one owner but it had 160,000 miles on it and that was 3 years ago. It has been a great little car and very reliable!

chevy cruze 2013

I've owned this car for over 5 years. When I bought it it had 25000km it now has 51000km. Its been a great car regular oil changes is all I had to do. I would definitely buy another chevy cruze

Save your money

I’ve had this car since 2015 but I’ve had to take it in the mechanic an average of 6 times a year have in mind it only has 113,000 miles. This car will save you money in gas but will destroy your pockets in the long run

With me half the time and the mechanic the rest

costly problems with heating and cooling system. Plastic parts that continually break.

No More Chevys

My first car I ever bought and also the last chevy or American car that I will ever buy, Constant coolant leaks, turbo failures, you name it. This car gave me so much stress and problems I went out and bought a 20-year-old 1500-dollar Toyota beater that ran better and gave me less issues than this chevy piece of crap. DO NOT BUY ANY CHEVYS EVER.

Has left me stranded 16 times and counting!

I bought the 2013 Chevy Cruze Eco brand new. I initially thought the car had an issue because it has dangerously bad lag when taking off from a stop but apparently the transmission and turbo lag are just that bad. The car drove alright for 50,000 miles. I had many interior pieces break but the car was still functional. Just after 50,000 miles a plastic fitting on the thermostat housing break and the car started overheating. I got that issue fixed and then from then on every plastic fitting and sensor was brittle and would randomly start leaking. I’ve had so many issues with this car that it’s sickening. On top of coolant related issues I have had the oil cooler fixed twice, the valve body in the transmission replaced, valve cover gasket replaced twice, serpentine belt tensioner broke and replaced , cast engine mount disintegrated had to replace , eps boot torn, water pump replacement , catalytic converter replaced but light is still on, vacuum leak so hoses replaced, and many more issues. This car has left me stranded or limping it home 16 times so far. Today was the 16th time. This car has been the least reliable vehicle over ever owned or seen. I’ve always been a Chevy guy but I don’t think I’ll touch one again. I wouldn’t recommend anyone to buy a cruze , especially used or out of warranty. The good mpgs are not worth the constant fear that you’re going to break down.

Chevy Cruz 2013 lt

DO NOT BUY THIS CAR ! Only 120000 km and so many issues. Car engine overheated due to water pump/coolent leak, took into shop to get fixed and when it was “fixed” I drove it home and noticed its hesitating and stalls… feels like I’m driving a manual car even though it’s automatic. Every time I come to a stop the car jerks back and forth and the rmps are going up and down. Not even 3 minutes into getting the car back I took it back to the shop and it came back as a misfire and they couldent find anything wrong but the engine check light remained on…. They told me to keep driving and it would go away however 2 hours later while driving to work the traction control light warning turned on and every time I pressed to acccelerate it hestitated and felt like the car was stalling…. The car is made of nothing but plastic and important parts under the hood are prone to break because of them being plastic parts and the heat of the engine. I’m a new car owner hardly drive the car and have only owned it for hardly a year. Do not buy this car it’s not only small and ugly but unreliable and a mechanical nightmare

Love my Cruze!

I absolutely love my Cruze. It handled beyond my expectations this past winter.

No reliability

I purchased the car in 3/16, from a Cadillac dealer. I had taken my Saturn there for many years, and the service manager made certain everything was done correctly. But, the dealer never disclosed it had been in an accident - just before it was purchased at auction. The dealer tried to cover up the signs of salvage parts, the last time I went to the dealer. I spent Christmas Day, 2018, broken down ~45 miles from home - the thermostat housing had split, which stops the engine. The Stabilitrac needed to have its memory restored. Currently, I just spent $630 on having an oil cooler (???) seal kit replace, requiring 4 labor hours @ $120/hour, kit was $50, plus costly fluid. I kept smelling some kind of chemical, occasionally a burning rubber smell, but only when the heat was on and at an idle. This was Monday this week - yesterday (Thursday, same week), the driveway is flowing fluid in the same place there were spots from the same fluid. Obviously, I cannot go back to the dealer; there are a few after-warranty items still under coverage. Just do not buy one of these. The fuel efficiency (35 city; 69 BEST highway) is not a good enough reason to buy one of these. This is a 2013 Cruze ECO, with Turbo, 6 speed. UPDATE: Feb 2, 2021, I enjoyed getting stuck on a state road, at 20 degrees, with a blown head gasket. The car had been purging antifreeze for many months - dealership aware of the problem but never duplicated the problem, only kept charging for insanely expensive "repairs" that did nothing to correct the antifreeze purging. Stay away from this car! I know am the proud owner of a 2015 Mazda 3 & will sing its high praises. Update: I never had this car, after the head gasket blew. Dealer had to eat all its "efforts" at "repairs" Also, stay away from Cadillac of Knoxville - all they are interested in is your money...and lots of it. They care about their bottom-line; no respect for the customer's vehicle or the customer's pocketbook.

Run Away

Owned a Cruze for a few years from 65k-120k miles. Up until the 100k point the car was reliable. Only issues I’ve ever had were the PCV valve which was an easy fix. Once I hit 100k just about everything but the tires failed. I basically rebuilt the entire coolant system because ever part either began leaking or blew apart completely. I had to replace the oil cooler, and during that process discovered the turbo was cracked and needed replacing, which was over $2k once the mechanic was finished. At this point the transmission started jumping up to 6k RPMS when shifting between 3rd and 4th gears. The Bluetooth system also started not playing music for more than 10 seconds when connected to my phone. It was a happy day to get rid of this POS and needless to say last Chevy I would ever own.

Got rid of it after 60k miles

So apparently after about 50k miles, GM [non-permissible content removed] big time, by giving the engine a timing where the gasket would break. Every 2 years, I'd have to get a new head gasket. And mainly driving it at ocean levels (high pressure, high oxygen content), and hot temperatures (87-110F ambient). This car does particularly bad (especially the ECO version), when driving at highway speeds above 60MPH, when ambient reaches past 95F. No power whatsoever, forcing me to downshift gears. Had I known that this car required mid-grade due to GM advancing the timing too much, I would have used it, rather than have a $1200 headgasket repair bill every 2 years! Not to mention, the cabin heater core always leaked! Not recommended in cold weather either!

Worst car I’ve owned. Good gas mileage tho

I’ve had this car for about 3 years now. And has 86k miles. Ive had to repair the car 6 times, and it’s left me stranded multiple times. Please do not buy this car.

First car I ever owned

This was my first car that I bought when I was still in high school and owned it from 2013-2024. During the time I had it I’ve had to replace both window motors in the driver and passenger windows, oil pan/screws ( my dad said it was already kind of going bad but the boyfriend I had at the time made it worse when he changed my oil), the trunk sensor went out, and I had to replace the timing belt and serpentine belt. The timing belt was wearing out at again at the time I was getting rid of it. The only reason I got rid of it was because it unfortunately got totaled in a wreck which seemed to withhold the damage pretty well. I would have kept it a lot longer had that not have happened. I have mostly good things to say about this car but I am partial as it was my first and only car. The main issue I had with it was the gas mileage, the newer cars today you can get a lot more bang for your buck. It was also pretty small for the gas mileage. I’d imagine you can probably get a bigger car today with better gas mileage. It’s a great first car buy I wouldn’t purchase it again with those facts alone.

Phil's Cruze