2015 Chevrolet Cruze problems: recalls, complaints and whether this is a year to avoid

Is 2015 a good year for the Chevrolet Cruze?

The spread across this nameplate is wide: the 2012 draws 3 times the complaints of the 2015. On a run like that the model year you buy matters more than the badge, and 2015 sits near the bottom of it.

Older years have been on the road longer and collect more complaints for that reason alone, and a year that sold in higher volume collects more while being no worse.

The 2015 accounts for 8% of every complaint filed against the Chevrolet Cruze in this retrieval, which works out to 22.9 complaints per year on the road across the 11 years since it was sold new — the figure to compare against other years, because it removes the advantage a newer car gets simply from having had less time to accumulate reports.

Complaints fell against the preceding year: the 2015 carries 36% of the 2014’s reports. Some of that is age, but a drop this large between consecutive years often marks a fix.

Which recalls cover the 2015?

NHTSA records 4 recall entries against the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze. The campaign text for this year was not part of the stored sample — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, which is the only way to know whether a specific car’s campaigns were carried out.

What do owners report on the Chevrolet Cruze?

Across every Chevrolet Cruze year, not the 2015 alone — NHTSA does not split component totals by model year.

• Power Train — 532 reports
• Engine — 508 reports
• Electrical System — 444 reports
• Steering — 342 reports

Which other Chevrolet Cruze years should you compare?

← 2014 Chevrolet Cruze · All Chevrolet Cruze years

If you are deciding between years, the table above is the short answer and the Chevrolet Cruze page carries the full run with the component breakdown. Before money changes hands, run the VIN for open recalls and read the inspection checklist — ten minutes in the seller’s driveway finds most of what matters.