ChevroletCruze2010Overview/chevrolet/cruze/2010/base/

2010 Chevrolet Cruze

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2010 Cruze.

The 2010 Chevrolet Cruze launched the nameplate's decade-long run with what remains its cleanest reliability record, logging just two owner complaints and zero recalls—issues filed under the airbag system representing the entirety of the data. That floor is especially notable when set against the model's subsequent arc through 2019, which crested at 864 complaints in 2012 and quickly reshaped any early impressions of the vehicle's dependability. For a researcher, the inaugural year functions as the quietest data point in a far more turbulent series, useful for context precisely because it sits so far from the pattern that followed.

Model year201920182017201620152014201320122010

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Cruze of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.6–9.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.60 sec — 2016 LT Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
20112LT Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-48.00 sec16.40 sec138 hpFWD
2011Eco Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-48.00 sec16.30 sec138 hpFWD
2011Eco Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-48.40 sec16.60 sec138 hpFWD
2011LTZ Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-48.90 sec17.00 sec138 hpFWD
2011LTZ RS Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-49.00 sec16.90 sec138 hpFWD
20112LT Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-49.20 sec17.10 sec138 hpFWD
2011LS Sedan 1.8L I-49.40 sec17.20 sec136 hpFWD
2012Eco Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-48.10 sec16.20 sec138 hpFWD

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2010 Chevrolet Cruze shows an unusually low baseline of 2 consumer complaints, zero recalls, and no investigations, with 278 Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) – the smallest complaint count across the 2010‑2019 span. Starting in 2011, complaints surge dramatically to 731 and remain elevated (864 in 2012, 585 in 2013, etc.), while recalls and investigations also appear, indicating that later model years experienced more reported problems and corrective actions. The TSB count rises steadily from 278 in 2010 to a peak of 1919 in 2014 before gradually declining, suggesting that early‑year issues were largely addressed through service bulletins rather than formal recalls. Because 2010 sits at the low‑end of both complaints and recalls, it implies fewer documented consumer issues compared with subsequent years, though the high number of TSBs hints at underlying service‑related concerns. **Takeaway:** 2010 is a comparatively clean year from a complaints and recall standpoint, making it a reasonable choice for a used purchase, provided the buyer verifies that any TSB‑related fixes have been performed.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
278
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Air Bags1
Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 278 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G2025-11-20Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Cruze. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2010 Cruze have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.