ok, I have a Cruze Eco, 6 spd manual. Car drives awesome, steering and handling good except at hwy speeds. I have tires inflated to 35 psi per label, but car feels like driving in a crosswind but there is no wind. Pavement not grooved. It's almost like the electric steering is doing something funky or a bad sensor in steering system? any thoughts?
I experience the exact same thing. I just wrote it off as something to get used to as a characteristic of the skinny little GY tires. I'm used to 275's(R) and 255's(F) that I had on my SRT8.
So question is, is this a real issue or is it something to expect from a Cruze and that many others experience as well?
I agree, it has to do with the toe in adjustment. Have you hit any pot holes lately or do you drive over rough roads or not take your time over railroad crossings? That could also knock it out of alignment. The suspensions on these cars are light and it doesn't take much to knock them out of alignment. I would have it aligned to eliminate the issue. Also, front wheel drive cars are generally squirrelier than RWD vehicles and tend to pull towards one side.
if an alignment does not fix the problem, then it has to be in the rack and pinion.
another suggestion - rotate the tires/wheels - front to rear and try that.
I have only had the car a week and have not hit any potholes. I have an appointment this Friday in response to member that was ? why I would post before going to dealer. Why wouldn't I post?
My company just provided me with a new Cruze. I've had it two days and it has less than 300 miles and I too, have noticed the feeling of driving through a cross wind. So, thanks for the tip about the toe adjustment.
However, I have another issue and it too, may be related to the alignment. When I'm on a dead-straight length of highway and traveling at a steady speed, if I let my foot off of the accelerator, the car wants to change lanes to the right. And when I'm on a dead-straight length of highway and traveling at a steady speed, if I accelerate the car wants to change lanes to the left.
Could this also be an alignment or tire pressure issue? Is this related to the car being a FWD? Are the drive shafts on this car of unequal length and could this be a contributing factor?
Other than these two issues, I really like the car. And I like the idea of helping to put my countrymen and women back to work. Go USA!
My company just provided me with a new Cruze. I've had it two days and it has less than 300 miles and I too, have noticed the feeling of driving through a cross wind. So, thanks for the tip about the toe adjustment.
However, I have another issue and it too, may be related to the alignment. When I'm on a dead-straight length of highway and traveling at a steady speed, if I let my foot off of the accelerator, the car wants to change lanes to the right. And when I'm on a dead-straight length of highway and traveling at a steady speed, if I accelerate the car wants to change lanes to the left.
Could this also be an alignment or tire pressure issue? Is this related to the car being a FWD? Are the drive shafts on this car of unequal length and could this be a contributing factor?
Other than these two issues, I really like the car. And I like the idea of helping to put my countrymen and women back to work. Go USA!
Mine does this also.
Always in the direction of the slope towards the side of the road, but if its perfectly flat I can let go of the steering wheel an she stays straight..
Its annoying till you get used to it.
I've noticed something similar in my car. I just write it off as a consequence of the factory alignment, the the tires, and a very sensitive electric steering.
My 2012 M/T rs has the same issue... strait as an arrow unitl about 65mph or so, then she likes to drift left! this is BS shoulda bought a civic. too many dumb issues that GM ignores and denies!!!!!
only 4500mi on this car... baby it never more than the same old ride to work and home on clean roads... no potholes or railways to pass thru.
What, you think you would have been happier with a civic? The 2012 Civic is complete crap compared to the Cruze. Its such crap in fact that they needed to completely redesign it just to stay competitive.
I don't see this as an issue. Other things to consider are the roads you're driving on. If you drive in the left lane, its usually banked a bit, so your car will have a natural tendency to shift to the left. Don't want to deal with it? Don't drive in the left lane.
I cannot believe that not ONE person mentioned the POSSIBILITY of defective tires! I had this VERY problem with my 1999 Chrysler 300M for 10 1/2 months until I took control of the issue. The dealer(s) started with the usual BS- it's the crown in the road. Sorry, I've been driving new cars since I was 16 and the same roads also and NEVER had a car that felt like someone was under the hood pulling the wheel to go left right into the Jersey barrier! Then, they started with alignments again and again, then tire rotations again and again, then replaced rack and pinion steering components- can't recall what else they tried. FINALLY, one day after months of this BS, I picked up the phone and called Goodyear Corporate Headquarters and explained my dilemma. I asked if I could bring my car to one of their authorized dealers and have them drive the car. They made the arrangements and told me that if the tires were defective, they would replace them. The tire dealer called me at work and said that the tires were defective and they were all being replaced! The steel belted treads had separated.
Drove the same roads after that- NO pulling, drifting etc. STRAIGHT as an arrow! Some problems can be resolved with "life experience".
ONE other note- back in 1999, the tires were guaranteed by the tire company and not Chrysler. That said, NONE of the 3 "award winning 5-STAR" dealers ever suggested that MAYBE the tires were defective. Now that I think of it, 13 years later LOL..., why would they when they could continue to do warranty work and get reimbursed by Chrysler. I did find out from someone working at Chrysler in Auburn Hills, MI that they paid out about $3,600+ in warranty work on that lemon for the 3 years, 35,000 miles that I had the car!
Not sure if the tire companies are still responsible for tires. I have NEVER had that problem again since 1999.
I have the same issue with my 2013 1LT RS. The dealer found that the left side was toe'd out 0.1 degrees and reset the toe to specs. It did not cure the issue. I think the electric steering is too sensitive at dead center so that breathing on the steering wheel on the highway causes the car to wander. Back to the dealer to ask more questions.
rodneyiii,
I understand your concerns with this. I would like you to keep me posted on the progress with your dealer in regards to this. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me anytime.
Thank you,
Stacy Chevrolet Customer Service
I noticed this when I first got my Cruze. I think part of it was that I drove a minivan before, and was used to making a lot of small, quick adjustments on the steering wheel. The Cruze's steering is a lot quicker, and the EPS is a lot more sensitive than the hydraulic PS on my old van. You can feel the EPS giving the wheel a nudge when you move it quickly. My preference would be for less power assist at highway speed, but since that's apparently not possible, I tried adjusting my driving style. Once I got used to using less pressure on the steering wheel and moving my hands slower, it got a lot better. After 4,000 miles as of today, I don't notice it so much.
I too had that feeling when driving on the OE Goodyear tires (Good name for them cuz they're only good for a year! LOL) and made me even more nervous when roads were wet, or heaven forbid when there was snow! I pretty much noticed that problem disappear after I replaced the OE tires with Michelin Primacy MXV4 tires w/service description 94H (do NOT buy Defenders!). The difference is like night and day, and I've also noticed that the cruise control doesn't turn off going around bumpy curves in the road or speeding down Interstate on-ramps due to the traction/stability control taking over. I feel much safer in the car in wet & snowy weather conditions now as well, and when my kids are in the car, that's what matters to me most!
I too had that feeling when driving on the OE Goodyear tires (Good name for them cuz they're only good for a year! LOL) and made me even more nervous when roads were wet, or heaven forbid when there was snow! I pretty much noticed that problem disappear after I replaced the OE tires with Michelin Primacy MXV4 tires w/service description 94H (do NOT buy Defenders!). The difference is like night and day, and I've also noticed that the cruise control doesn't turn off going around bumpy curves in the road or speeding down Interstate on-ramps due to the traction/stability control taking over. I feel much safer in the car in wet & snowy weather conditions now as well, and when my kids are in the car, that's what matters to me most!
Thank you - I might actually try these Michelins. I have had nothing but poor handling in snow/ice with Michelins when compared to Bridgestones. I'm still on my OEM Goodyears and I'm starting to get the notch when I lane correct in the afternoons. I don't get it in the mornings when it's colder out, which really makes me think it's the tires. Are the Primacy MXV4s LRR tires? Off to get a tire rotation today to see if that helps.
I have 30,000 miles on my car right now and I cannot wait to get rid of these crappy Goodyear tires. I absolutely am going to throw on a set of Michelin tires. In the meantime I have my tire pressure set at 40 psi and my Cruze Eco drives very nicely.
I'll report back this evening. I just had my tires rotated. Like I said earlier I only notice this when the tires can get warmer in the afternoons. I have had other tires go bad in strange ways as they aged and cause odd steering problems.
I put the Continental DWS on my wife's Toyota because of their snow traction. They stick so well that they caused the normal Toyota rightward drift to be so bad the car spent a week being aligned. The final fix, which I declined, was to replace the brand new Continental DWS with Michilen MXV4s because they don't stick to the road as well. Bridgestones tend to ride harsher than Michelins, but they stick to the road better in slick conditions.
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