2nd generation (J400) · J400 (GM D2XX) · 882 complaints, 498 with mileage
Owners filed 882 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016–2019 Chevrolet Cruze, and 498 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 15,980 and 68,000 miles. The median is 40,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (23.2% of complaints, typically around 53,000 miles), the electrical system (12.2% of complaints, typically around 33,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (11.2% of complaints, typically around 35,000 miles).
6 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 205 | 23.2% | 53,000 | 19,000–75,000 |
| Electrical System | 108 | 12.2% | 33,000 | 13,000–61,263 |
| Unknown Or Other | 99 | 11.2% | 35,000 | 12,000–59,500 |
| Power Train | 99 | 11.2% | 45,000 | 24,725–72,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 56 | 6.3% | 36,500 | 8,000–67,240 |
| Service Brakes | 50 | 5.7% | 40,000 | 14,000–62,000 |
| Air Bags | 38 | 4.3% | 58,000 | 20,700–91,000 |
| Steering | 33 | 3.7% | 42,909 | 21,007–60,785 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 3.1% | 30,000 | 10,000–60,000 |
| Structure | 27 | 3.1% | 42,294 | 18,000–75,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 391 | 238 |
| 2017 | 295 | 159 |
| 2018 | 166 | 94 |
| 2019 | 30 | 7 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 40,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 23.2% of complaints (205 reports, 105 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 53,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,000 and 75,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 12.2% of complaints (108 reports, 67 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 33,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 13,000 and 61,263 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 11.2% of complaints (99 reports, 55 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 35,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 59,500 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 11.2% of complaints (99 reports, 47 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 45,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,725 and 72,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 6.3% of complaints (56 reports, 26 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 36,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 8,000 and 67,240 miles.
The brakes account for 5.7% of complaints (50 reports, 29 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 40,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 14,000 and 62,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2016 model year drew the most — 391 complaints — while 2019 drew the fewest at 30. The median year sits at 230.
The first year of the generation, 2016, sits above the median. That is a common pattern — early production of a redesigned vehicle tends to surface problems that later years do not repeat — and it is worth weighing when choosing between years.
NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 882 complaints filed against this generation, 73 reported a crash; 27 reported a fire; 44 reported an injury; 1 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.3% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 15,980 and 68,000 miles, with a median of 40,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 33,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Coolant leaks from the plastic thermostat/water-outlet housing and turbo coolant lines, plus continued PCV-system and valve-cover failures inherited in concept from the LUJ.
Head gasket failure and coolant loss reported at moderate mileage, often following the cooling-system leaks above.
DEF/SCR and DPF regeneration faults triggering limp mode and no-start countdowns.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V668000 | 2020-12-15 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission |
| 18V576000 | 2018-10-11 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper |
| 18V304000 | 2018-06-07 | Fuel System, Gasoline |
| 17V057000 | 2017-02-28 | Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint |
| 16V502000 | 2016-10-14 | Electrical System:Ignition |
| 16V498000 | 2016-08-11 | Exterior Lighting:Headlights |