[ChevyGuy]

How many tries did you do it try and start it? The classic failure of a GM starter is that it will make a normal click, but nothing turns. If you try a few more times, it works. On older cars, you turn turn the key back to "run" and then to "start" for another attempt. That's a little bit tricky in the Cruze, because it's the computer that does the actual starting. Turning the key (or pushing the button) only sends the command to the computer. I think you have to turn the car off before making another attempt at starting. If it starts on subsequent attempts, then I'd think you have a starter problem.

 

[ChevyGuy]

On saturday... It started after I tried a few attempts..

Either a bad starter, or something that's keeping the starter from fully engaging with the engine. I notice that a number of times it happened when the engine was hot or had heat soaked a bit.

 

[ChevyGuy]

You posted in the Gen2 section, but since this is a "2016", I have to ask - is this the "all new 2016", or the "2016 Limited"? The reason I ask in the Gen1 car tended to have problems with the battery ground cable.

In a normal car, a bad battery would be obvious due to the dash lights going out or rapid clicking as the battery wasn't strong enough to power the starter. With the computer controlling the starter in the Cruze, I'm not entirely sure how it would behave. When the battery in my Gen1 died, I could tell by the slow crank. I can't remember if it saw it in the dash lights (which are LED).

If all indications are that the voltage is holding steady, then I'd say it's the starter.

No real opinion on the dealer. Intermittent problems are the hardest to fix. It's really hard if it won't act up for the dealer.