2011 Chevrolet Cruze: Transmission failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2011 Cruze report: transmission failure. CarComplaints.com lists 35 owner complaints, average mileage 65,250 miles.
NHTSA has 193 owner complaints for the 2011 Cruze in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11745175 (filed 06/19/2026): “I’m unsure if the person i bought this vehicle from had the codes wiped before selling to me, but there were no lights on dash for 3 days after minimal driving only to work and back, then all of a sudden the check engine light came on, and in the info box it w…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11728928 (filed 04/02/2026): “The primary failure is a total loss of engine power and electrical systems while the vehicle is in motion. the dealership (ray skillman southside mitsubishi) has diagnosed this as a failed engine/body control computer system. the vehicle is currently located a…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: new transmission (21 reports) compressor replaced (2 reports) the transmission has been replaced twice now (2 reports) had to trade in car (1 reports) replace transmission module (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $3,320 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Estimated repair cost: transmission replacement (automatic or CVT, remanufactured unit)
Average shop cost
$835
Range $400–$1,390 (labor)
4.0–10.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$1,255
Range $600–$2,085 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimates only, not a quote. Actual prices vary by vehicle, shop and location. See the estimate for your city → · About this repair and its cost
Same repair on other models: 2015 Dodge Durango: Transmission failure · 2015 Jeep Cherokee: Transmission failure check engine light on · 2015 Nissan Murano: Transmission failure · 2016 Subaru Forester: Transmission failure · 2018 Nissan Sentra: CVT failure · 2019 Nissan Pathfinder: Check engine light came on transmission failure
Page last updated .