Showing the 2016 Cruze LT. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
26–34 mpgcombined; city 22–30, highway 34–40; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$9,550–$12,490U.S. average; Ohio $8,540–$11,160 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2016 Cruze. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 250 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Cruze. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
102
3
2
1
Electrical system
59
2
4
1
Unknown or other
43
2
2
1
Fuel/propulsion system
35
1
0
1
Power train
31
0
1
0
Air bags
21
12
0
8
Service brakes
18
2
0
1
Steering
18
1
0
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
16
1
0
1
Vehicle speed control
11
2
0
1
Structure
8
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
6
0
1
0
15 more parts
Exterior lighting
6
0
0
0
Wheels
5
1
0
2
Seats
4
0
1
0
Seat belts
3
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
2
0
0
0
Back over prevention
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, other
1
0
0
0
Lane departure
1
1
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Suspension
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Cruze over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. A bracket used in the driver or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism may have been incorrectly welded to the seat-back frame, as a result, in the event of a crash, the head-restraints may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."
Risk: In a crash, the seat-backs for the front seats may break, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seats, replacing any with seat-back frames that are incorrectly welded, free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17035.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cruze vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to May 26, 2016. The headlight assemblies are not marked with a three-digit identifier code used to properly aim the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
Risk: Without the identification code, the headlights may be improperly aimed during service, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will mail owners instructions and adhesive labels, with the correct code, to install on their headlight assemblies. Owners may also bring the vehicle to a GM dealership for any assistance with applying the label, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet Customer Service Department at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 50190.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 1,332 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2016 Cruze, the latest on Sep 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (532), electrical system (276), engine and engine cooling (184), engine (146), power train (101).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2016 Cruze.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 6–8 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Cruze Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
30 / 40 / 34
Cruze Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
28 / 39 / 32
Cruze Limited Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
26 / 36 / 30
Cruze Limited Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
26 / 37 / 30
Cruze Limited Front-Wheel Drive
1.8 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
25 / 35 / 29
Cruze Limited Front-Wheel Drive
1.8 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
22 / 34 / 26
Cruze Limited Eco Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
28 / 40 / 33
Cruze Limited Eco Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
26 / 37 / 30
Cruze Premier Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
30 / 40 / 34
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data