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Holden Cruze 2013 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2013 Holden Cruze? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2013 Holden Cruze issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2013 Holden Cruze in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

2013 Holden Cruze engine is seeping oil

If the car in question has the 1.8-litre engine, then this is definitely a known problem. Plenty of these engines suffered cracked cylinder heads which could allow the engine's oil and coolant to mix, producing the symptoms you saw. Holden actually issued a service program to replace the cylinder heads and other components to address the problem.

The other major cause of these symptoms is a failure of the transmission's cooling system. This actually piggy-backs on to the engine's cooling system (they use the same radiator) but if the transmission cooler fails, it can allow transmission fluid into the radiator and coolant into the transmission. Eventually, this will destroy the transmission both mechanically and electronically.

My 2013 Holden Cruze won't start or lock

It sounds as though you either have a problem with the car's electrics or the electronics within the ignition remote. If the car's battery is dead flat, you'll get the symptoms you're reporting, but if the remote has a flat battery (or is faulty in some other way) then you an find yourself in the same boat.

But it could also be an electrical problem other than a flat battery. From memory, some of these Holdens had suspect battery terminals which lacked the grip they should have had and could lead to a loose connection which could produce these symptoms. This would be a good place to start.

But there's another trick you can try. On some Cruze models, there's a process that can over-ride the remote locking and ignition protocols. If the battery in the remote is weak or the remote itself is damaged, this is definitely worth a try. From the driver's seat, locate the small, round plastic bung in the cup-holder in the centre-console. Place the remote key over this hole with the Holden logo facing up. Then try the starter button. With luck, the engine will start and you're away to have the remote fob fixed or replaced. You may find you need to hold the stop/start button for two seconds to get the engine to stop.

Meantime, I have no idea why the actual physical key will not lock the doors from outside. That sounds more like a job for a locksmith.

Why is my 2013 Holden Cruze revving and losing power?

If the engine is revving but the car is not moving, you probably have a transmission or gearbox fault. If the problem was a broken driveshaft or CV joint, the car would just roll to a stop and not move again. But since it gradually lost drive before finally refusing to move, it’s more likely to be the gearbox that is the cause of this.

Sometimes, this sort of problem can be as simple as a leak from the transmission which has led to a low fluid level. And since it’s the fluid in an automatic transmission that actually provides the drive (by transferring the torque) this can bring on the symptoms you’re seeing.

At the other end of the catastrophe scale, you could be looking at a gearbox that has failed internally and comprehensively. And I’m afraid to say that this model Cruze did have a reputation for just that occurring. Sometimes the problem could be traced back to a torque-converter, valve body or sensor error, but other times complete transmission failure was the diagnosis.

Holden actually acknowledged this problem by extending the transmission warranty to 150,000km or five years after the date the car first went into service. Unfortunately, that ended in 2018 for your car. It would still be worth contacting Holden’s customer service department, however, but don’t be surprised if financial help is not forthcoming.

My 2013 Holden Cruze transmission has failed completely. Is it worth fixing the transmission or would there be other issues?

Although it was a reasonably popular car when it was brand-new, it’s fair to say Holden’s Cruze hasn’t aged terribly gracefully. In fact, there has been an ever-growing list of potential problems including (but not limited to) cracked cylinder heads, broken driveshafts, various oil and coolant leaks, not to mention the Takata air-bag recall fiasco. And, as you have discovered, the automatic transmission was a problem-child, too.

Holden actually extended the warranty of the six-speed automatic to five years or 150,000km, but your vehicle is well outside those parameters. Which means, as you’ve pointed out, you decision now comes down to repair or replace the car.

This model Cruze varies enormously in price, and your car could be worth anything from $5000 (at which point you’d be over-capitalising with a new gearbox) to $15,000 which would mean it’s worth fixing. Based purely on the kilometres your car has travelled, I’d say its second-hand value is somewhere right about the middle of those two numbers, which muddies the waters ever further.

Perhaps you should have the rest of the car checked out by a specialist who might be able to give you a more concrete idea of where you stand. Obviously, throwing several thousand dollars at a car that’s about to break somewhere else makes no sense. Remember, too, that selling the car with a broken gearbox means it’ll be worth almost nothing.

Does my 2013 Holden Cruze have a transmission control unit issue?

Yes, it could be something to do with the way the transmission is behaving. But it could also very easily be any one of a hundred other things. A faulty transmission can cause a car to surge while stopped, but so can a fault with the fuel, ignition and any number other systems found on a modern car.

But work backwards for a moment. Did this new problem occur immediately after the plugs and coil-packs were changed? Or was there a full week of normal driving before the new problem set in? I’d be checking the connections on those new plugs and coils and making sure that nothing has been left loose. A poor earth connection can be the source of many problems that seem like something else initially. From there, I think an electronic scan is probably the best advice as this will help pin-point what’s going wrong. The car’s own computer should have a very good idea of what’s amiss and can alert you to it quickly.

Holden Cruze 2013 or 2010: Are they worth buying?

The big difference between the two Cruzes you’ve nominated is that the earlier car was built in South Korea while, from 2011 on, production moved to Holden’s Australian production facility in Adelaide where it was built alongside the Commodore. There’s a school of thought that suggests the locally-made versions would be of better build quality than the Daewoo-made version, but in reality, there’s not much in it.

That said, we’d go for the later, Australian-made car, as these had a much better range of engines from which to choose. Specifically, the locally-made Cruze could be had with a 1.4 or 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine either of which was smooth and pretty zingy. Or, you could opt for the two-litre turbo-diesel or the non-turbo 1.8-litre petrol as seen in the early, imported Cruze.

The diesel is very frugal and offers a relaxed driving experience, but the two turbo-petrol engines are the pick of the crop for smoothness and performance. The one to avoid? The non-turbo 1.8. It was breathless, noisy and generally unpleasant.

Holden Cruze 2013: Are manuals reliable?

If you’re happy to drive a manual you should be fine, but if you’d rather be driving an automatic look at something else. Perhaps a Toyota Corolla or Mazda 3.

Used Holden Cruze review: 2009-2016

Holden’s compact family car offering from a decade ago was the Cruze, a front-drive vehicle that can be broadly divided into two camps for the duration of its production.

From its launch in 2009, through 2010 and up to March 2011, the Cruze was available as a sedan with just two engine options and was built in South Korea by GM-owned Daewoo.

From the 2012 model-year until its demise in 2016, the car was built by Holden in Adelaide and in a much wider range of trim levels, engine choices and even body styles.

It can be confusing, so make sure you can identify any Cruze you’re looking at to avoid paying too much.

The imported Cruze was available in just one bodyshell (a four-door sedan) while the range consisted of two trim levels, CD and CDX.

Engine choices were limited to a four-cylinder petrol or a turbo-diesel.

Once the car was being made locally, Holden ramped up the choices with a five-door hatchback joining the sedan and a much wider range of trim levels, adding Equipe, Z Series, Sri, Sri V and a couple of new engines including a 1.4 and 1.6 turbo petrol.

The used price of these variants can vary enormously, so take the time to learn to identify what’s what.

How much a Cruze will cost you now has much more to do with specification and its engine that simply what year it was made or its RRP at the time.

The Cruze seemed to attract a fairly conservative buyer, so you don’t see a lot of them with aftermarket rims or other sporty accessories like body kits, a rear spoiler or side skirts.

Most dealers threw in floor mats and a lot of buyers opted for dealership add-ons like paint protection and rust-proofing that will add nothing to the price now.

With an early example, the only real decision is petrol vs diesel, but if you’re looking at a locally made Cruze, the model comparison gets tougher as the models range from the base-model to the top of the range with a lot in between.

The Cruze defied modern size protocols by being bigger than a compact but smaller than a medium-sized car.

Inside, though, it was about as big as a medium car of just a few years ago thanks to efficient packaging.

Many Cruze buyers were traditional Holden owners (many of whom got a surprise when the Cruze turned out to be something else altogether) and since many regional centres still had Holden dealerships, a surprising number of Cruzes lived in the sticks.

You’ll spot some of them by their budge bar (although a bull bar is unlikely) and maybe even an LED light bar.

Certainly the exterior design of the car allowed for these fitments, although it’s important that any nudge bar is air-bag compatible.

All Cruzes had cruise-control, air-conditioning, power steering and a decent range of safety gear.

It would be worth checking with a Holden dealer, too, if any warranty applies to a used Cruze.

Holden was extending the warranty of some later Cruzes, beyond the standard three-year time limit, so a late version may still have factory cover.

Check the boot for a spare tyre, too.

Some Cruzes had just an inflation kit, others a space-saver spare tyre.

The Cruze’s interior dimensions were about the same as a mid-sized car, so the packaging was pretty good.

That meant plenty of interior space as well as a really good boot size for better-than-average luggage capacity.

Even so, plenty of Cruzes sported roof racks come family holiday time.

The five-door hatch is a more practical car than the sedan.

Don’t forget, either, that between 2012 and 2016 Holden also sold the station-wagon version (still made in South Korea) alongside the locally-made Cruzes.

Externally, the wagon is about the same size, but the luggage space is huge.

The catch was that the wagon was not available with either of the perky turbocharged petrol engines, so it was the turbo-diesel or the 1.8 petrol or nothing.

Inside any of the Cruze variants there was a ton of storage spaces including bottle-holders in each door and even an overhead console.

The early Cruze had an AM/FM radio (no digital) sound system with six speakers and was MP3 compatible although there was no Apple CarPlay or Android connectivity.

Examples from the mid-2013 update also got Holden’s MyLink infotainment system which included a touch screen, and Bluetooth streaming.

Those cars also got keyless entry.

Upmarket versions the Cruze could be had with leather seats, a sunroof was optional and air-conditioning and power steering were standard across the board.

A satellite navigation system had been available on some versions, but that was replaced with the 2013 upgrade as MyLink was able to offer the same functionality with added voice control.

The biggest gripe with the Cruze’s cabin is that the plastics can look and feel a bit cheap.

Imported Cruzes had just two engines to choose from, a 1.8 litre petrol and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel motor.

For all that it was about the right size on paper, the 1.8-litre four-cylinder was a bit harsh and was only just adequate.

The diesel, meanwhile, with its diesel particulate filter to clean up its emissions was sweeter and more flexible especially when paired with the six-speed automatic (there was also a five-speed manual gearbox available).

When manufacture switched to Australia, Holden doubled the number of engine choices, keeping the two original powerplants and adding a 1.4 litre and 1.6-litre petrol four cylinder unit, both running a turbocharger.

Of all these engines, the later ones are the picks and the 1.4 is smooth and willing while the 1.6 turbo petrol is the performance option for those who want a little more acceleration.

Even so, a lot of buyers pondered the diesel vs petrol equation and chose the former for its flexibility and fuel economy.

These are the Cruzes you’ll find fitted with a tow bar, although the rated towing capacity is just 1200kg, not bad for a car this size, but not huge.

Much of that is down to the Cruze being front-wheel drive (there was no AWD or 4WD option).

In fact, the diesel option meant that buying a petrol Cruze and converting it to LPG in the name of running costs just wasn’t worth the effort.

Most buyers chose the auto transmission but the manual Cruze is a surprisingly liveable alternative, too, if you can find one second hand.

When it comes to horsepower and engine specs, all Cruzes were rated from 103kW to 132kW, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

The diesel was super flexible and the turbocharged petrols were smooth and zippy.

Which leaves the 1.8 non-turbo as the one you’re best avoiding.

Some Cruze engines use a timing chain which should be good for the life of the car while other use a timing belt which needs periodic replacement.

Fuel mileage will be best with the turbo-diesel while the 1.8 non-turbo petrol is likely to be a bit thirstier because it has to be driven so hard in the first place.

At around 1400kg, the Cruze is quite heavy for its size and it has a fuel tank capacity of 60 litres.

That’s not a huge tank, making the diesel fuel economy even more impressive.

The Cruze’s compact dimensions mean it’s an easy drive in and around the city and suburbs with a good turning circle and enough ground clearance for clearing speed humps.

That’s provided an ambitious previous owner hasn’t messed around with the suspension or added odd-sized alloy wheels and super low-profile tyres.

But even on standard suspension, the Cruze is hardly a race car and while it points okay, the electrically assisted power steering can feel a bit vague at first.

But overall, there’s a decent combination of ride quality and handling and the cabin is pretty quiet unless you’re in the 1.8 petrol and driving it hard.

The turbo-diesel is super grunty and hardly needs a gearbox at all, while the turbo-petrols are both sweet little things that spin nicely and sound pretty good into the bargain.

Straight line performance figures were never what the Cruze was about, but 0-100km/h comes up easily and the car has enough grunt and acceleration to stay with modern traffic as well as be a convincing inter-stater.

Again, though, if you can afford any of the turbocharged versions, they’re a vastly nicer car.

Safety features on any Cruze included six airbags including side-curtain airbags, ABS brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, stability control, and traction control.

As a result, all Cruzes sold here scored a five star safety rating for crash safety.

Parking sensors became standard from the mid-21013 upgrade on, but a reversing camera was not standard on any Cruze in any trim level.

The Cruze did, however, have ISOFIX child restraint mounting points as standard.

Like a lot of modern cars, there’s a bit to watch out for when it comes to common faults, issues, problems and owner complaints.

The diesel particulate filter becoming full and clogged is one source of these and many owners have reported multiple fault messages caused by this filter.

If the filter became clogged enough, the computer would sometimes cut engine power and ultimately, a trip to the dealership was needed to clean or replace the filter which was neither cheap nor simple but was the most common of the Cruze’s diesel engine problems.

A few cars have also experienced automatic transmission problems, including complete failure of the unit.

Symptoms are a car that shifts erratically or can’t make up its mind what gear to be in.

If the problem is bad enough, the car may not be able to select some gears or may lose the ability to move altogether.

When inspecting a car, make sure the auto transmission fluid is clean and doesn’t smell of burned toast.

Manual cars are less prone to transmission issues, but the clutch can still take a beating from a previous owner.

Make sure any manual Cruze takes off smoothly from the lights with no shuddering or noises.

Check that all the electronics work as they should and drive over some bumps to check for squeaking or rattling interior trim pieces.

To add to that model’s reliability woes, the non-turbo 1.8 was also susceptible to a cracked cylinder head which can be spotted by poor running, hard starting, mis-firing and engine overheating.

Service costs may be a little lower than some of the competition as Holden specified 15,000km service intervals (versus 10,000km for many cars).

MORE: If anything crops up, you’ll probably find it on our Holden Cruze problems page.

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I missed my car's service

If you missed the recommended service interval by 15,000 km – that’s like missing a whole service – then I don’t think you have any grounds on which to make a claim. The only thing you can do is to repair the engine.

Is a Holden Cruze unreliable?

It’s cars built around 2010/2011 that are the ones affected with the transmission problem, which is the most concerning one. You should be safe in buying the 2013 model, and you have done the right thing in checking the service history.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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Complete guide to Holden Cruze 2013
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