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Chevrolet Cruze years to avoid

Ranked from 8 documented faults · reviewed by the VehicleFaults Research Team

Quick answer

On documented faults and where each build sits in the production run, the Chevrolet Cruze years to approach most carefully are 2011 and 2012. The 2019 and 2018 cars carry the least risk. No year is automatically a bad buy · service history and condition still decide it, so use the year-by-year table below as the starting point and then check the specific car.

The years to approach most carefully

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Most risk

A 2011 car is first year of the generation, so it carries the launch teething faults and most of the recall activity. At roughly 203k miles, 6 of the 8 documented faults are usually already due.

2012 Chevrolet Cruze

Most risk

A 2012 car is an early build, while launch issues were still being worked through. At roughly 189k miles, 6 of the 8 documented faults are usually already due.

The best years to buy

2019 Chevrolet Cruze

Safer buy

A 2019 car is the final year of the generation, usually the best-built cars in the run. At roughly 95k miles, 5 of the 8 documented faults are usually already due.

2018 Chevrolet Cruze

Check carefully

A 2018 car is a late-run build, generally the most sorted part of the generation. At roughly 108k miles, 6 of the 8 documented faults are usually already due.

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Year-by-year risk

Faults due is how many of the 8 documented faults an average example of that year has usually already reached at typical mileage.

YearTypical milesFaults dueVerdict
2019~95k5 / 8Safer buy
2018~108k6 / 8Check carefully
2017~122k6 / 8Check carefully
2016~135k6 / 8Check carefully
2015~149k6 / 8Check carefully
2014~162k6 / 8Check carefully
2013~176k6 / 8Most risk
2012~189k6 / 8Most risk
2011~203k6 / 8Most risk

Guidance only · built from documented fault patterns and where each build sits in the production run, not from an individual car's condition.

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