What are the most common problems with the 2014 Chevy Cruze?

The largest complaint groups at NHTSA are the engine with 233 complaints and the electrical system with 187. Power train has 97 and steering has 93. In a sample of steering complaints we read, owners describe the wheel sticking during small corrections at highway speed.

How many recalls does the 2014 Cruze have?

NHTSA lists 10 recalls. They include three roof-rail air bag inflator recalls (23V674, 23V870, 25V764), a driver air bag recall (14V372) and two right front half shaft recalls (13V452, 14V151).

What MPG does a 2014 Chevy Cruze get?

EPA combined ratings range from 26 MPG for the 1.8L automatic to 32 MPG for the Cruze Eco 1.4L manual and the 2.0L diesel. The diesel is rated 44 MPG on the highway.

Is the 2014 Cruze a reliable car?

Compared with other Cruze years, complaints are high. Its 702 complaints are the third highest of the Cruze years from 2011 to 2019, and its 10 recalls are the most. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales.

What is the best year for a used Chevy Cruze?

Our data only shows complaint and recall counts. By those numbers, 2015 to 2019 have far fewer complaints, from 252 down to 23, and 4 or fewer recalls each.

Home › Chevrolet › Cruze › 2014

2014 Chevrolet Cruze: problems, recalls and fuel economy

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on NHTSA and EPA records. Published by Humblebee.

The 2014 Cruze has 10 recalls, the most of any Cruze year listed, and 702 owner complaints on file with NHTSA^[1]. Engine and electrical problems lead the complaints, and the recalls include roof-rail air bags, the driver air bag and the right front half shaft^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6].

702owner complaints^[7]

10recalls^[1]

26–32MPG combined (EPA)^[8]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[9]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 702 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Cruze^[7]. Of those, 70 mention a crash and 17 a fire. The complaints report 57 injuries and no deaths^[7]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one part of the car.

Component group	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Median miles at failure
Engine^[2]	233	6	3	65,000
Electrical system^[3]	187	9	4	59,000
Power train^[10]	97	3	3	44,750
Steering^[11]	93	10	11	52,000
Unknown or other^[12]	89	4	0	60,000
Air bags^[13]	77	46	46	36,000
Electronic stability control^[14]	69	3	2	67,000
Fuel/propulsion system^[15]	59	1	2	50,428

Here is what owners describe in a sample of complaints we read for the top groups.

Steering. Owners describe the wheel feeling stuck or having a dead spot near center when they make small lane corrections, often at highway speed. When they push harder, the wheel lets go and the car turns more than they wanted^[11]. One owner also describes a steering lock that would not release after parking^[11].
Electrical system. Owners describe trouble with the key, ignition or shifter, such as a key that would not come out or a shifter stuck in PARK^[3]. Some describe the car stalling while driving, which dealers traced to a loose ground or battery cables, and warning lights coming on at once^[3].
Power train. Owners describe the right front half shaft recall, including long waits for recall parts and having to get the repair done a second time^[10]. A few describe the car pulling to one side on its own^[10].
Engine. The engine reports we read are mixed, with no single pattern. They include smells that made people feel unwell, stalling, unusual engine noise and a check engine light that kept coming back^[2].

The air bag group is smaller, but it has the most crash and injury reports of any group: 46 crashes and 46 injuries across 77 complaints^[13]. Steering complaints include 10 crashes and 11 injuries^[11].

Recalls

NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2014 Cruze^[1]. Several cover only cars built in certain date ranges or with certain equipment, so check your own VIN.

Roof-rail air bag inflator (25V764). The side air bag inflators in the roof rails above the headliner may split at a weld. A ruptured inflator can partly fill the air bag and send sharp metal pieces into the cabin, which raises the risk of injury. Dealers replace the left and/or right roof-rail air bag modules for free. Owner letters went out December 5, 2025, and this recall expands 23V674 and 23V870^[4].
Roof-rail air bag inflator (23V870). Same inflator problem and risk as above, with 20,712 units potentially affected^[16]. Dealers replace the roof-rail air bag modules as needed, free of charge. Owner letters went out July 22, 2024^[16].
Roof-rail air bag inflator (23V674). The earliest of the three inflator recalls, covering 9,264 units, with the same risk of metal fragments^[17]. Dealers replace the modules free of charge. Owner letters went out July 12, 2024^[17].
Electronic park lock lever (16V502). Some 2011 to 2016 Cruze cars may have been serviced with a faulty replacement park lock lever that lets the key come out when the car is not in PARK. The car could then roll away as people get out. A dealer checks the car and puts in a new key cylinder lock housing if needed, at no cost^[18].
Inner tie rod (15V442). On some 2014 and 2015 Cruze cars built between November 8, 2013 and March 12, 2015, the inner tie rod may not have been tightened properly and could come loose from the steering gear. The recall lists 10 potentially affected units in total, including some 2015 Volt cars^[19]. That can cause loss of steering. Dealers replace the steering gear assembly for free^[19].
Engine block heater cord (14V417). On Cruze cars built August 7, 2012 to August 16, 2013 with a Calix oil pan/block heater, the cord insulation can be damaged in cold weather and expose wires^[20]. That can shock someone handling the plugged-in cord. Dealers replace the cord with one rated for minus 40 degrees Celsius^[20].
Driver front air bag (14V372). The driver air bag inflator may have been built with a wrong part. In a crash it could rupture and throw metal fragments, or the air bag may not fill. Dealers replace the driver air bag for free^[5].
Remedy pending
Right front half shaft, 1.4L turbo (14V151). On 2013 and 2014 Cruze cars with the 1.4L turbo built November 28, 2012 to March 7, 2014, the right front half shaft may break, with 174,046 units potentially affected^[6]. The car would then lose power and coast to a stop, or it could move if parked without the parking brake^[6]. Remedy not yet available: the recall notice says parts were not available and a second letter would follow when they were^[6]. Some cars fixed under the earlier campaign got defective parts and need the repair again^[6].
Shift cable adjuster (14V092). On some 2014 cars with automatic transmissions, the shift cable adjuster may come off the transmission shift lever. The shifter could then show PARK while the transmission is not in park, so the car could roll away. Dealers inspect and replace affected adjusters for free^[21].
Right front half shaft, manual transmission (13V452). On Cruze cars with manual transmissions (MF3/MR5) built January 24 to August 1, 2013, the right front half shaft may break, with the same loss of power and rollaway risk^[22]. Dealers replace the half shaft assembly free of charge^[22].

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for the 2014 Cruze depend on the engine and gearbox.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Est. annual fuel cost
Cruze Eco 1.4L turbo, manual 6-spd^[23]	28 / 40 / 32	$2,100
Cruze 2.0L turbo diesel, Automatic (S6)^[8]	27 / 44 / 32	$3,000
Cruze Eco 1.4L turbo, Automatic 6-spd^[24]	26 / 37 / 30	$2,250
Cruze 1.4L turbo, manual 6-spd^[25]	26 / 37 / 30	$2,250
Cruze 1.4L turbo, Automatic (S6)^[26]	26 / 36 / 30	$2,250
Cruze 1.8L, manual 6-spd^[27]	25 / 35 / 29	$2,300
Cruze 1.8L, Automatic (S6)^[28]	22 / 34 / 26	$2,600

The diesel has the best highway rating at 44 MPG but the highest estimated fuel cost at $3,000 a year^[8]. The 1.8L automatic is the thirstiest at 26 MPG combined^[28]. EPA fuel cost uses its current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the 2014 Cruze 4-door FWD 5 stars overall, 5 stars in frontal crash and 5 stars in side crash tests^[9]. It gets 4 stars for rollover, with a rollover risk of 10.9%^[9]. Good crash scores do not replace the air bag recalls above, so check that those repairs are done.

Engine and size

Horsepower comes from the EPA test car list. The 1.4L 4-cylinder is rated 138 to 140 hp depending on version^[29]. The 1.8L 4-cylinder is also rated 138 to 140 hp^[30]. The 2.0L 4-cylinder is rated 148 hp^[31], and EPA lists the 2.0L as a turbo diesel^[8].

Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US cars.

	Sedan LS/LT/LTZ/ECO	Sedan diesel
Length	181 in	181 in
Width	71 in	71 in
Height	58 in	58 in
Wheelbase	106 in	106 in
Curb weight	3,102 lb	3,474 lb

How 2014 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Cruze model year. The 2014 is highlighted^[1].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2011	732	7
2012	865	7
2013	587	5
2014	702	10
2015	252	4
2016	250	4
2017	201	2
2018	109	3
2019	23	2

With 10 recalls, 2014 has the most of any Cruze year from 2011 to 2019^[1]. Its 702 complaints are the third highest, behind 2012 with 865 and 2011 with 732, and ahead of 2013 with 587^[1].

Later years have far fewer complaints on file: 252 for 2015, 250 for 2016, 201 for 2017, 109 for 2018 and 23 for 2019^[1]. Those years also have 4 or fewer recalls each^[1]. These counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Should you buy a used 2014 Cruze?

The 2014 Cruze earns 5 stars overall from NHTSA and up to 32 MPG combined^[9]^[23]. It also has 702 complaints and 10 recalls, more recalls than any other Cruze year listed^[1]. Engine and electrical reports lead the complaint list^[2]^[3], and owners in our sample describe sticky steering at highway speed^[11]. If you are shopping, ask for proof that the air bag recalls and the 13V452 half shaft recall were done^[4]^[16]^[17]^[5]^[22]. For 14V151, ask a dealer about its status, since the recall notice said parts were not yet available^[6]. Later model years show far fewer complaints, though those counts are not adjusted for sales^[1].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Chevy Cruze?: The largest complaint groups at NHTSA are the engine with 233 complaints^[2] and the electrical system with 187^[3]. Power train has 97 and steering has 93^[10]^[11]. In a sample of steering complaints we read, owners describe the wheel sticking during small corrections at highway speed^[11].
How many recalls does the 2014 Cruze have?: NHTSA lists 10 recalls^[1]. They include three roof-rail air bag inflator recalls (23V674, 23V870, 25V764), a driver air bag recall (14V372) and two right front half shaft recalls (13V452, 14V151)^[4]^[16]^[17]^[5]^[6]^[22].
What MPG does a 2014 Chevy Cruze get?: EPA combined ratings range from 26 MPG for the 1.8L automatic^[28] to 32 MPG for the Cruze Eco 1.4L manual and the 2.0L diesel^[23]^[8]. The diesel is rated 44 MPG on the highway^[8].
Is the 2014 Cruze a reliable car?: Compared with other Cruze years, complaints are high. Its 702 complaints are the third highest of the Cruze years from 2011 to 2019, and its 10 recalls are the most^[1]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales.
What is the best year for a used Chevy Cruze?: Our data only shows complaint and recall counts. By those numbers, 2015 to 2019 have far fewer complaints, from 252 down to 23, and 4 or fewer recalls each^[1].

Facts and sources

Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet Cruze model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
233 complaints name the engine component group (6 crashes, 10 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,000). NHTSA vehicle records
187 complaints name the electrical system component group (9 crashes, 8 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 59,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 25V764, filed November 6, 2025: Air Bags › Side / Window. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V372, filed June 26, 2014: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V151, filed March 31, 2014: Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft. NHTSA recall database
NHTSA has 702 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze (70 mention a crash, 17 a fire, 57 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
EPA rating for Cruze, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Diesel, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 44 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,000. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
97 complaints name the power train component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 44,750). NHTSA vehicle records
93 complaints name the steering component group (10 crashes, 1 fires, 11 injuries, median mileage at failure 52,000). NHTSA vehicle records
89 complaints name the unknown or other component group (4 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
77 complaints name the air bags component group (46 crashes, 2 fires, 46 injuries, median mileage at failure 36,000). NHTSA vehicle records
69 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 67,000). NHTSA vehicle records
59 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,428). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 23V870, filed December 21, 2023: Air Bags › Side / Window. NHTSA recall database
Recall 23V674, filed September 20, 2023: Air Bags › Side / Window. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V502, filed July 5, 2016: Electrical System › Ignition. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V442, filed July 10, 2015: Steering. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V417, filed July 2, 2014: Equipment › Electrical. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V092, filed February 21, 2014: Power Train › Automatic Transmission. NHTSA recall database
Recall 13V452, filed September 23, 2013: Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Cruze Eco, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 40 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Cruze Eco, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 37 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Cruze, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 37 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Cruze, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 36 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Cruze, 1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 35 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Cruze, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 34 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Chevrolet Cruze with 1.4L 4-cylinder: rated 138 to 140 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Chevrolet Cruze with 1.8L 4-cylinder: rated 138 to 140 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Chevrolet Cruze with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 148 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CRUZE 4DR SEDAN LS/LT/LTZ/ECO: length 181 in, width 71 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 3,102 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CRUZE 4DR SEDAN DIESEL: length 181 in, width 71 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 3,474 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.