Chevrolet has been making and selling cars since 1911. Over the years the company has shown the world why they are in the automobile business. Chevy’s prosperous and rich history are why so many drivers can turn to Chevrolet for trustworthy and reliable cars.

However, that did not seem to be the case with the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. See what issues the model experienced in regard to the steering functions and another recall for the new Chevy.

What are some of the highlights and features of the 2011 Chevy Cruze?

In 2011, Chevy rolled out the Cruze. Chevrolet’s fans were probably looking forward to having a small car option that wasn’t the lackluster Cobalt. In terms of performance, the Cruze’s powerful transmission stands out.  Owners of the Cruze have reported the model provides its drivers with comfy and quiet riding conditions.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both gave the model good reviews and ratings when the car’s safety was evaluated during the crash and roll test. Not to mention, the 2011 Chevy Cruze is also well-known for its use of fuel economy. Things seemed to be off to a good start for the 2011 Cruze, so where did things start to go wrong? 

What problem did a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze owner face after purchasing their vehicle? 

The Chevrolet Cruze was released in 2011 and it wasn’t long after until drivers began to experience problems with the car. It all started with a startling YouTube video that recapped an unbelievable story. 

The video slowly unveiled the horrifying and true story of one Chevy owner. A group of family members were driving together in a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze when the unthinkable happened. The car was traveling at 65 mph on the highway when the steering wheel suddenly fell off. A 19 month-old baby was in the car while this was happening. The driver was luckily able to abruptly swerve to a stop right before reaching a guard rail.

One of the most shocking pieces of the puzzle was the fact that the 2011 Chevy Cruze only had 1,600 miles on the car when the unfortunate event went down. Though it was probably incredibly scary, everyone remained safe throughout the incident. After the video became viral Chevrolet immediately took action. 

What recall did Chevy issue as a result of a steering issue associated with the 2011 Cruze? 

Chevrolet optimistically believed the video and the unfortunate instance to be an isolated event. Nonetheless, it led Chevy to put a recall out for 2,100 vehicles. The vehicles were inspected to make sure they would steer properly and work correctly. Unfortunately, this was becoming the norm for the new model. 

Prior to this Chevy issued another recall that affected around 154,000 models. Chevy speculated the issue might have been connected to the automatic transmission and steering shaft. The Cruze’s debut may have been a little too soon. It definitely seemed like Chevrolet still had a few things to work out. 

Chevy claimed they had a handle on the issues, but that didn’t seem to be the case. The recall related to the steering wheel only seemed to make matters worse for the 2011 Cruze. There are a grand total of seven recalls associated with this particular model. Drivers had the right to be worried.

However, now the model is discontinued in the United States. Most people can probably agree that this decision was for the best.